The daily sentinel., 1908-08-25
TRUTHS THAT STARTLE
ARE TOLD TODAY BY KERN


unpledged to any special interests,
under no obligations to any unlawful
or other combination of capital, look
ing to no corporation for campaign
contributions-absOl free to
serve the people by carrying out the
pledges of his party's platform. While
he Is the foe to unlawful monopoly,
and is prepared to lay heavy hand
upon the lawless, whether rich or
poor, without fear or favor, and to
combat the encroachments of greed
upon honest endeavOr, he is the
friend of every legitimate business
enterprise, whether conducte>- by in
dividuai or corporation, and Will sym
pathiZe with the promotion On every
movement which makes for the well
fare and prosperity of the country.
"A distinguished Republican the
otner day referred TO his influence
with his party as a one man power.
If by that he meant to say that Mr..
Bryan possessed the power, in
marked degree, to influence the
thought and arouse the conscience of
the republic as no other man of his
time, or if he meant that by his up
right life, his consistent course, his
appeals for right living, and patriotic
action, he has earned the confidence
and personal affection of millions of
his countrymen, and gained the re-
spect and admiration of all the peo-
pie of the world who love liberty and
humanity-then the distinguished
genueman was right, with respect to
the one man power of William j.
Bryan.
''Nir. Bryan has eXerted no other
power. He has had no subordinate
TO command, no office holders to di-
I mi n ha
that there We're no postmasters, nor
other federal office holders or en-
pIoyes in the Denver convention. Ev-
cry delegate to that convention car
ried his sovereignty under his own
hat and rs an independent American
freeman owing no allegiance save to
country and flag, cast his vote for
Bryan because in his heart he be-
lieved that the nomination and cleo
ton of such Il man were demanded
by the best interests of the republic.
"The Republican nominee for vice
president in his recent speech of ac-
ceptance affected the belief that the
question. Shall the People Rule i'm
piled charge of venality against the
American electorate. He affirmed,
with great emphasis. that under re-
cent Republican administration the
people have ruled without let or
hindrance. IL is passing strange that
in II republic like this there should
he occasion for u discussion of this
question II is a government of the
people. and by the people. They pre-
sumably govern themselves through
their servants whom they send to
represent them in congress. Their
will. when known, ought to be SUI
preme, and should be given immed-
late effect.
"And if the will of the people
once known is not given effect, then
the people do not rule.
"Will any intelligent man claim
that there is or has been any sub
stantial diversity of opinion in this
country on the question as to whether
the tariff duty on wood pulp used in
the manufacture of paper should be
reduced or removed? In this case
the tariff tax operated for the benefit
of the paper trust alone, allowing
that combine to levy millions of tri-
butte each year upon the newspapers
of the country and their readers. The
press of the country without regard
to party united in demanding relief
The people of the republic unani-
mously seconded the demand. The
president of the United States threw
the influence of his great office in
favor of the demand of the press, but
without avail. The dominant forces
within the Republican party had es-
tablished in the lower house OF con-
gress parliamentary condition, in
the interest of monopoly, under
which the sole power to determine
whether u measure should he allowed
to become IL law or not was lodged in
the speaker of that bouy and his
committee ON rules. and by the fiat of
that one man the will of the press.
the people and the president was set
at naught. Behold the spectacle. On
one side eighty millions of free peo-
pie demanding Legislation to right
and admitted wrong. On the other
side, II few men engaged in public
plunder, aided by the dominating
power within the Republican party,
reprcsentedIy the presiding officer
of the once popular branch of con-
gress. And the plunderers and those
unfaithful public servants prevail
over the people of this great repub-
lie. In this instance did the people
rule?
Mr Kern then told of an effort
made several years ago by Congress
man Babcock to get a bill through
reducing the tariff on certain articles,
and the details of how that bill was
defeateu, altnouSh tnree-lourtHS oi
the congressman were for it, were
given by Mr.. Kern. He then told
of the work of the house committee
on labor and how that committee has
been turned into a mockery. The
great power of the speaker of the
house and how he rules with an iron
hand, was dealt with by Mr.. Kern in
most interesting manner. He de-
nounced the reign of the one man
power in congress as disgrace to
the country.
Thine forbids the multiplication of
instances where the popular Will has