The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1908-08-14
WILLIAM ]. BRYAN
FORMALLY NOTIFIED
OF His Nomination for President
BY Democratic Party-Sum-
mary of Speech of Ac-
ceptanCe.

William j. Bryan was formally
notified Wednesday by the com
mittee at his home Fairview, Lin
coin, Nebraska, of.his nomination
by the Democratic Party for
president. The following is q
summary of his speech of ac-
lance published by the New Or
leans States:
Mr.. Bryan opens with an expression
of the belief that his third nomination
after two defeats represents a substan-
tial and undisputed growth in the
principles and policies for which he.
with q multitude of others, has con-
tended.
He promises a more formal reply in
the future, but indorses the Democrat
ic platform in whole and in part and
will if elected regard its declarations
as binding on him.
He affirms that the Republican plat
form openly and VIGOROUSLY disap-
points the hopes and expectations of
reformers. whether Democrats or Re-
publicans, so much so that its candi-
date felt the need of adding to it and
thus rebuking the leaders of the party.
The overwhelming issue is, ''shall
the people ruler"
President Roosevelt's message Of
January. describing the conditions
which have grown up under the influ-
ence of predatory wealth, and Mr..
Taft's Endorsement of it are quoted,
and Mr.. Bryan calls attention to the
fact that during all the past ten years
the executive department, the cabinet,
Congress and the judiciary have been
controlled by Republicans. Hence the
Republican party is responsible for
the abuses which the President and
Mr.. Taft deplore. If existing laws
are sufficient, why have they not been
enforced? Are new laws necessary?
Why have they not been enacted?
If the past a be taken as q guide,
the Republican party will be SO obi
gated by campaign contributions from
the beneficiaries of protection as to
make that party powerless to bring to
the country any material relief from
the present tariff burdens.
It is the Republican party which has
been responsible for the failure to en-
large the powers of the Interstate
Commerce Commission. 1t was the
present Senate which defeated an
amendment authorizing the ascertain
ment of the value of railroads. That
amendment the Republican conven-
ton overwhelmingly rejected From
the disastrous results of that act Mr..
Taft is now trying to rescue his party.
Mr.. Taft complains of the over is
sue of stocks and bonds of railroads.
Why has not the Republican party
STOPPED It?
He calls attention to the repudia-
ton by the Republican convention of
the publicity plank. Even Mr.. Taft
apologies for that act. He offers a
weak substitute for it, of publication
after the election. Why should the
locking of the door be delayed until
the horse is gone?
Mr.. Bryan charges the Republican
Senate with impudently and arro-
gantly o~bstructing the movement for
the election OF Senators by popular
vote, declares that next to the corrupt
use OF money the present method of
electing senator's is most responsible
or the obstruction of reforms and in
sists that the Republican convention
having by q vote of I to / refused the
relief, only through a Democratic vic
tory can the people c III the popular
election of senator's.
Denouncing the despotic rules of the
House, which rob the people of their
right to rule, he urges that a Demo-
cratic victory is necessary to bring
the House into harmony with the
ideas of those who framed our Con-
stitution and founded our government.
The Democratic party is not the en-
envy Of any legitimate industry or Of
honest accumulations. It is, on the
contrary, q friend OF industry and the
protector of that wealth
which represents q service to society.
Il does not seek to annlhilate all cor
poratfons; it simply asserts that as
the government creates corporations
Il must retain the power to regulate
and control them and prevent them
from becoming m~onop0lies.
The Democratic party seeks not rev.
olutfon, but reformation. Blood
may Be stopped BY the loss !