The Monticellonian., 1908-08-13

for Bitter Criticism in the Speech
OF observation-disclosures Country
Needs Change in Ruling Party
Publicity for Campaign contribu.
tons, He Says, Is Democratic Idea
Not Foe to Wealth Honestly
Acquired-If Elected, Promises
Justice TO All
Lincoln, Neb.-William Jennings
Bryan was formally notified of his
nomination by the Democratic party
for the presidency of the United
States. Henry D. Clayton of Alabama
was the spokesman of the notification
committee Mr.. Bryans speech of ae-
ceptanee follows:
Mr.. Clayton and Gentlemen of the No
LITIGATION Committee: | can not accent
the nomination which you officially ten
der. without first acknowledging nv
deep Indebtedness TO the Democratic
party for the extraordinary honor which
1t has conferred upon me. Having twice
before been candidate for the presiden-
ey. in campaigns which ended IN defeat
third nomination, the result of the free
and voluntary act of the voters of the
party. can only be explained by a sub
stantial and undisputed growth in the
principles and policies for which 7. with
multitude of others. have contended.
AS these principles and policies have
given me whatever political strength
possess. the action of the convention not
only renews my faith in them. but
strengthens my attachment to them.
A Platform Is Binding
shall. in the near future prepare a
more formal reply to your notification.
and. in that letter of acceptance. VII
deal with the platform in detail 1t Is
sufficient at this time. Ia assure you that
j am III hearty accord with both the let
ter and the spirit of the platform | in
ddrse it in whole and in part. and shall,
If elected. regard its declarations as bind
ing upon me, And, l may add. plat
form is binding as to WHIT it omits as
well 10 what il contains. According
to the Democratic idea. the people think
for themselves and select officials to car
ry out their wishes The voters are the
sovereisHs; the officials are the servants
employed for fixed time and at a stated
salary to do what the sovereigns want
done. and to do it in the way the SOW
ereigns want it done. Platforms are
entirely in harmony with this Democratic
idea. platform announces the party's
position on questions which are at issue;
and an official is not at@libertv 70 use the
authority vested in hm to urge personal
views which have not been submitted to
the voters for their approval II one is
nominated upon a platform which is not
satisfactory to him. he must, If candid,
either decline the nomination. or in ac-
cepting it, propose an amended platform
I'm lieu of the adopted by the con-
yention. No such situation. however
confronts your candidate, for the plat
form upon which WAS nominated not
only contains nothing from which l dis
sent. but II specifically outlines all the
remedial legislation which we can hope
to secure during the next four years.
As SHALL in separate speeches discuss
the leading questions at issue, shall at
this time confine myself to the paramount
question and TO the far-reaching pur-
pose OF our party. as that purpose is set
forth in the platform
Shall the People Rule?
Our platform declares that the over
shadowing issue which manifests itself in
all the questions now under discussion.
is Shall the people rule?" No matter
which way turn. no matter to what
subject address ourselves, the same
question eonfronts us: Shall the people
control their own government, and use
that government for the protection of
their rights and for the promotion of
their welfare? or shall the representa-
tives of predatory wealth prey upon a
defen seless public, while the offenders
secure immunity from sHhservient off
Gals whom they raise TO power by UNI
scrupulous methods? This is the issue
raised by the known abuses" to which
Mr.. Taft refers.
Mr.. Taft Endorses the Indictment.
Mr. Taft says that these evils have
crept in during the last ten years. He
declares that. during this time some
prominent and influential members OF
the community, spurred by financial sue
cess and In their hurry for greater
wealth, became unmndful of the com
mon rules of business honesty and hdel-
ity, and of the limitations imposed by
law upon their actions, and that the
revelations of the breaches of trusts, the
disclosures to rebates and discrlmlna-
lions by railroads, the accommodating evil
dence of the violations OF the antitrust
laws. by a number of corporations. and
the oVcr-issue of stocks and bonds OF IN
terstate railroads for the unlawful en-
rching of directors and for the purpose
of concentrating the control OF the raii-
reads under one management, ali these.
he charges. 'quieNened the conscience
of the people and brought on moral
awakenNg''
Way No Tariff Reform?
The presidents close friends have been
promising for several years that he would
attack the iniquities Of the tariff we
have had intimation that Mr. Taft was
FESTIVE under the demands of the highly
protected industries. And yet the inilu-
ence of the manufacturers, who have tor
% years contributed to the Eepublcan
campaign fund and who in return have
framed the tariff schedules, has been
sufficient to prevent tariff reform. As the
present campaign approached. both the
president and Mr. Taft declared in favor
of tariff revision. but set the date OF
revision after the election. But the pres
sure brought to bear by the protected
interests has been great enough TO pre-
vent any attempt at tariff reform before
the election; and the reduction prom
fsed after the election IS hedged about
with qualifying phrases. that no one can
estimate with accuracy the sum total OF
tarin reform to be expected in case OF