The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-08-05
BRYAN ON HElRsT's PLATFORM
NO DEMOCRAT SHOULD VOTE
WITH INDEPENDENCE PARTY.

To Do So, Says Nehraskan, is Simply
20 Assist the Republican Party
Question is Not Whether One Can
Get An the Reform He Wants, but
How to Get the Most Reform
Mr.. Bryan Accepts an Educated
Mule - . Mascot.
Fairview. Lincoln. Neb., July 30
Although the heat was most oppress-
I've today Mr.. Bryan was early at his
office and at work. After reading the
platform adopted by the Independ-
ence party in Chicago he gave out the
following statement:
'It contains q number Of planks
which are identical with or substan-
TALLY similar to the planks Of the
Democratic platform. For instance,
Il demands the election OF senators by
direct vote Of the people, a. the Dem
ocratic platform does; its tariff plank
10 quite like our tariff plank; its plank
on trusts. while opposing private mo-
nopoly. II not a. specinc a. ours; its
railroad plank does not differ much
from ours: its plank on Asiatic I'M
migration II quite similar and It's la
Dor plank. like ours. contains q dec.
laration In favor Of trial by juuy and
In regard to the exemption OF labor
unions from the operation Of the anti
trust laws. Like our platform It
condemns the extravaganza of the
Republican party and Demands great
er economy. 1t does not avow, how
ever. establishment Of a department
OF labor with q secretary in the cabi-
net. II does not oppose imperialism
which has been used to justify the
increase in our standing army. and its
plank a. to publicity Of campaign
contributions II not nearly 80 strong
az ours. The question that must con-
front each member Of the Indenpend-
ence party IL this: will he assist in
the defeat OF the Democratic party,
which stands for 20 much that he ia
vors, merely because he cannot get ell
that he would hke?' Either the Dem.
ocratic party or the Republican party
will win. and the voter who. prefer
ring the Democratic platform to the
Republican platform. joins with the
Independence party merely assists the
Republican party. and thus defeats
several Of the reforms In which he IL
interested.
Take for instance the plank in ia
vor OF the election Of senator's by the
people. The Democratic party has
endorsed that reform in three cam
paigns. The Republican convention
defeated the proposition by an over
whelming vote. II the Democratic
party succeeds It's members are pledg-
ed to this reform. The Republican
party IL not pledged to II. and the Re-
publican candidate has gone no farth-
er than to say that he 10 personally
inclined toward 1t. This reform Is
necessary before any other reform
can be secured. II not the Independ-
ence voter justified In helping the
Democratic party to secure this re-
form So In regard to the labor
questions. The Democratic party 10,
In favor Of remedies demanded by
wage earnsrs and q wage Garner who
votes with the independence party
simply defeats the reforms In which
he IL interested. And the same argu-
ment might be made In regard to
those who favor tariff reforms. the,
determination Of principle Of private
monopoly and the remedy Of other
evils which have grown up under Re-
publican administration. The ques-
tion is not whether one can get all
the reform that he wants. but how he
can get the most reform. The Demo-
cratic party offers him the best op-
portu nifty to secure that which IL OBJ
tainable at this time"
The actual preparation Of the
speech Of acceptance was begun by
Mr.. Bryan today. Among the notable
visitors who will be present on the
day OF notification will be John w.
Kern. Of Indiana. the Democratic vice
presidential nominee. At the con-
clusion Of the exercises Mr.. Bryan
will receive the notification commit
tee and several distinguished guests
at Fairview. where supper will be
served on the lawn. Unlike the dis
tinguished opponent. who refused to
accept an elephant as a mascot, Mr..
Bryan today. In response to a letter
from the Agricultural Society OF Min
nesota. telegraphed that he would be
delighted to avail himself Of their