Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1908-03-13
COMMONER
COMMENTS
Mr.. BRYAN'S ADDRESS At
SPRINGFIELD. ILL.
REVIEWS HIS CONNECTION WITH
DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

CHARGES of Attempted Dictatorship
Refuted-Will Be Candidate Only
in Answer to Call from the
United Party.
AT Springfield, ILL.,, February 81, the
Democrats held a great state rally.
Mr.. Bryan was invited to address the
meeting, and spoke as follows:
II appreciate the honor Mr.. Steven
son does me and the sacrifice he
makes in accepting the position OF
president of the Federation OF Bryan
Clubs, and am touched by the gooa
will and confidence which you mani
fest at this season of the year 70
prepare for the coming campaign. AS
you have declared yourselves III
favor of my nomination, can speak
to you frankly and in a personal way.
1 have been called dictator and yet
you can testify that no one has been
less dictator. have no inclination
to dictate and no power to dictate,
even If I wished to do SO. ] have
had no patronage with which to bride
you, no money with which to hire you,
and no corporate power, believe me,
with which to terrorize you. was
nominated at Chicago In 1896 without
any organization or literary bureau to
bring me to the attention OF the dele
gates. was renominated by unant-
nous vote in 1900, after those who
had helped to defeat me in 1895 had
spent four years in trying to drive
me out Of politics. Immediately after
the election Of 1900 announced that
would not be candidate In 1904.
/ made this announcement then so
that the party might test the truth
of the charge that my radicalism had
defeated the party. l did not try
to pick out candidate or force any
man on the party. / opposed Mr..
Parker's nomination because he re-
fused to discuss the issues and con-
cealed his views on public questions.
I went to the st. Louis convention
from sense of duty, feeling that
owed it to those who had voted for me
to do what l could to secure plat
form that would not sacrifice the prin-
ciples for which the party had been
fighting. Jared better than ex.
pected, and we do not have to apollo.
gize for the platform Of that year.
When Mr. Parker was nominated
went out and did what / could for
him. His platform committed him to
several important reforms, while the
Republican platform did not promise
anything. worked for him as hard
as could have worked for myself,
and plead for him as earnestly as ]
could have plead for candidate OF
my choice.
All those who were prominent in
support of me supported him, but
when the vote was counted it was
found that his vote was about mil
lion and a quarter short of that of
1900. His vote fell off in the east
and south as we'll as in the west-in
only two states, believe, did his
vote exceed the vote of 1900.
1t was evident the day after the
election that the Democratic party
would be again positive, aggressive,
reform force. The reaction immediate
ly brought my name before the coun-
try again, and my denomination was
predicted.
In 1906 when l was out of the coun-
try and not in correspondence with
any one, about half the state conven-
tions Endorsed me. appreciated
the compliment, but I waited more
than year to see If anyone would
appear upon whom the party could
center with better prospects of sue
cess. Finally, last November, in order
to put an end to demonstrations of
my silence and Misrepresentation Of
my intention, announced that would
be candidate if the Democrats de-
sired it. l said that would obey the
party II it summoned me and would,
If the party wished, carry the stand
ard no matter whom the Republicans
might nominate and no matter wheth-
er the chances favored victory or de-
feat. This is my position to-day.
If have retained your confidence 1t
is because l have spoken from my
heart to your hearts and have cher
ished the same ideals that you have
cherished.
If am nominated want the nom
ination to come from the voters rath-
er than from the convention. The
convention is but the servant of the
yoters-the voters are the masters.
They have right to determine both
the platform and the candidates. If
you want me nominated instruct for
me. Instructions are democratic. No
one has any right to represent others
unless they want him to represent
them.
believe in instruction do not
care upon whom your choice falls.
Whoever he is he should have dele.
gates instructed by the people who
elected them. They should represent
the wishes Of the people.
If am to be your candidate, 1 want
your delegates instructed for me. II
l am your candidate again it will be
In answer to a call from the party,
and upon that condition only am a
candidate. If the voters of the party
want me for their candidate they will
instruct their delegates to that eff
feet.
And there is more needed than In.
structions. The delegates should be
men who are willing to be instructed.