The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-08-12
BRYAN STANDS FOR
RULE OF THE PEOPLE

sill the republican leaders learn to
study public questions from the
standpoint of the Masses"
Bryan pointed out that the repub-
lican convention, by vote of $50
to "a, defeated a plank for publicity
of campaign contributions, and
characterized Taft's apologize
promise to urge such law as un-
certain.
"Of course 1t satisfies a natural
curiosity to find out how an cleo
ton has been purchased even when
the knowledge comes too late to be
of service, but why should the peo-
pie be kept in darkness until the
election is past? Why should the
locking of the door be delayed un.
til the horse is gone?'
Bryan in advocating direct cleo.
ton Of U. S. senators declared the
present method, next to the cor
rupt use of money, the most re-
sponsible for the obstruction of re-
forms. He showed that resolutions
for a constitutional amendment had
been adopted in the Sind and 63rd
houses, both democratic, but the
return of the republicans put an
end to further action along this
line. Two thirds of the states
have endorsed the amendment, he
said, but the senate, a number Of
members of which owe their cleo
ton to corporate interests, AFRO
gantly obstructs passage of the ne
cessary resolution. Bryan here
criticised Roosevelt for luke
warm attitude in the matter.
He went further into the senate
method Of obstructing the peoples
rule and pledged himself that if
elected he would call an extra ses-
sion of congress for the fulflllment
of the platform pledge to submit
the direct election of senators to
the people.
Bryan then took up obstructive
republican methods in the house
and scored the policy by which the
will of the majority is bent to the
manipulation Of the organized mi
nority Of party workers under the
lead Of the speaker. He enlarged
upon the promise of the democratic
platform to remedy this arrange
ment.
In his plea for the principles for
the democratic party and it's claim
for confidence Bryan displayed the
same eloquence and power of ar
gument that has made him
famous. He concluded as follows:
There is d divine law of re-
wards. When the Creator gave us
the earth with its fruitful soil, the
sunshine with it's warmth and the
rains with their moisture, He pro-
claimed as clearly as if his voice
had Numbered from the clouds, Go
work and according to your indus
try and your intelligence so shall be
your reward Only where might
has overthrow, cunning under
mined or government suspended
this law has a different law pre-
vailed. To conform to the govern
ment of this law ought to be the
ambition of the stateman, and no
patty Sol nave AiSACl
than to make it a reality wherever
governments can be legitimately
operated.
Recognizing that l am indebted
for my nomination to the rank and
file of our party, and that my cleo
ton must come, If it comes at all,
from the unpurchased and unpur.
chasable SURFACES Of the American
people, l promise if entrusted with
the responsibilities of this Office,
to consecrate whatever ability l
have to the one purpose of making
this In fact government in which
the people rule-a government
which will do justice to all and of,
fer to every one the highest posi-
BILE stimulus to great and persistent
effort by assuring to each the en-
joyment of his just share of the
proceeds of his toll, no matter to
what occupation, profession or call
ing he devotes himself