Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-01
BRYAN in. THE SOUTH
Speaks to Legislature at
Jackson, Miss.
"W0RLD IS WAKING UP"
Spread of Education in Japan and
! the Philippines.
RISE OF FREE GOVERNMENT
Election of Senator's by Popular
vote-Favors Initiative and
Referendum.
RISE OF FREE GOVERNMENT

JACKSON. Miss. February 29.-Before
the members of the state legislature and
several thousand Mississippians. William
| j. Bryan made a characteristic speech to-
day. Mr.. Bryan arrived from Memphis
at an early hour and was met by Gov
1 Noel and a reception committee. He was
escorted to the governors mansion, where
he spent the forenoon. Mr.. Bryan then
went to the Century Theater, where the
members of the house and senate toge Their
with a large number Of spectators, were
gathered. He was introduced by Gov.
Noel. who paid the democratic leader a
glowing tribute.
Mr. Bryan pfefaced his remarks by say
ing that he was glad once more to visit
Mississippi. No one could accuse him Of
coming here from selfish motive. unless
it was selfish to enjoy once more meeting
his old friends. 1t was not necessary for
him to come to Mississippi for delegates,
Tor he had already been assured that the
vote Of the state would be cast for his
nomination.
Spread of Education.
Mr.. Bryan said that he had learned
something by observation during his
travels in the past three years.
| First, the intellectual growth of the ma
| tons was one of the signs. In Japan
fifty years ago hardly man or woman
in the nation could read or write. Now so
universal is the study of English in that
country that he found it very often not
necessary to employ an interpreter. Rus
STA, China and India and, in fact all ma
tlons were now undergoing an intellec-
tual awakening. and in all of them the
idea of government by the people was
] gaining ground. America has been re-
| sponsible for much of this. The best thing
America had ever done for the IFilipinos
was to educate them. More of the natives
can now speak the English language than
could the Spanish during the. whole. of
| Spain rulership
| Free Institutions.
The second "sign of the times is the
development of free institutions Popular
government is growing. We of this coun-
try did not make that idea great-it has
made US great In every great nation
there are two parties, one made up of
those that trust the people, and the other
those who do not. The party of the peo-
pie is the growing party, while in every
instance the other is the dying party
| The democratic party is. growing stronger
| every day in spite of defeat, while the re-
publican party is slowly but surely dying.
The demand for freedom of speech is be-
coming universal, and public sentiment
tends more and more toward popular gov
ernment,- and it will not be stayed or
checked. That which is right will pre-.
vail. Take the demand made for the cleo
ton of senators. for instance. Mississippi
was one Of the first to try the expert
n <l-ry l.
all over the country.
Praised Oklahoma.
Mr.. Bryan paid a handsome tribute to
Oklahoma, where law has been enacted
to protect bank depositors He also
warmly Endorsed the currency bill pre-
pared by John Sharp Williams.
| Mr. Bryan declared he was not seeking
the democratic presidential nomination.
II he were made the standard bearer 1t
would be because the people wanted him.
If they insisted upon him taking it again
he would insist on them giving him a
fighting organization. When before he
was the nominee there were men on his
| executive committee who would not at
tend meeting at which he spoke. He
was willing to face all the enemies the
republicans could put before him. but he
did not propose to have party enemies
! fighting him behind his back.
He explained the workings of the initia-
tive and referendum and earnestly advo
Gated its adoption by the states.
| JACKSON. Miss, February 29.-Wil-
| liam j. Bryan arrived here today from
| Memphis to address a joint session of the
legislature at the Century Theater. Hun
dreds Of prominent democrats are here
from all parts of the state to pay their
respects to Mr.. Bryan. Mr.. Bryan was
asked concerning paragraph in the cur
rent issue Of the Commoner, readIng as
follows:
watch the personnel of the delegations
to Denver. Money is being used in some
of the states of the Mississippi valley to
secure delegations who will be obedient
| to the predatory interests. The demo-
| cratic masses must not be betrayed by
representatives of that system"
When asked concerning the evidence in
support of this charge Mr.. Bryan said:
II wrote that paragraph myself, and
know what / am talking about. / have
my information from a man who over
heard a conversation on the subject"
When asked what interests he charged
with being behind the movement Mr..
Bryan replied:
II am convinced that it is tire interests
representing the trusts and the railroads.
| They do not hope to prevent instructed
delegations in the Mississippi valley
i states, but they are trying to get a per-
sonnet of delegates who will be unfriend-
ly to my nomination..
i Mr.. Bryan's address throughout was a
repetition Of subject matter dealt with In
former addresses. The only new phase
was his caustic reference to the four
democrats in the Kentucky legislature
who by casting their votes with the re-
publicans elected Mr.. Bradley United
States senator yesterday. He referred
to them as ''embezzlers of power" and
declared that the embezzler of power is
a worse malefactor than the man who
embe zzles money.
At the conclusion of the address a
resolution indorsing Mr.. Bryan as the
democratic candidate was adopted by a
rising vote, every man. woman and child
I'm the theater rising and applauding the
! Nebraskan. Mr.. Bryan left this after
noon for Vieksburg, whence he goes to
| Shaw, Miss, to spend Sunday with his
sister. He will return to Lincoln, Neb..
Monday.
Bryan Boom Started.
I BALTIMORE, February 29.-The Bryan
boom was started once more in Maryland
last night. when the executive committee
of the Maryland Democratic Association
met at the headquarters of the associa-
ton. 315 ST. Paul street. The committee
is composed Of three delegates from each
congressional district. All the members
were present either In person or by proxy.
and all were for William Jennings Bryan