The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-27
URGENT NEED FOR
 NATIONAL REFORM Iewan Arraigns Administration
 of Republicans CONVENTION IS FOR BRYAN Storms of Cheers Greet the Name of the Nebraskan at the Democratic Gatherine-Eloquent Address.
 By Claude R. Porter.
CONVENTION IS FOR BRYAN

Bryan men who have been loyal through all the years were selected as delegataes- at-large the platform adopted was a re- cast of the Nebraska platform, and the indorsement of Bryan and the Omaha platform was made stronger and more eloquent today by his Iowa admirers. Every mention of his name was greeted with storms of cheers. Delegates-at- large were not chosen until this evening. They are:. Claude R. Porter of Center vile, J. B. Sullivan ofsDes Mones, E. J. Dunn of Mason City, who were chosen on the first ballot, and C. F. Duncan, who won out in d contest with J. B. Weaver on the second ballot.
 Mir Porter addressed the convention as follows:
 Never in the past, in my humble judg ment, has the need for the effective ap plication of genuine democratic principles in our governmental affairs been so great as at the present. The political engage ment of 1896 has been termed the First Battle, and so it was in the struggle of the people fo rthe restoration of the rule of man as against the rule of dollars. It was, however, but a preliminary skir- mish to the contest we are now approach ing, For P years predatory wealth has been building and adding to it's entrench- ments, but the issues are now more per fectly understood the lines more clearly drawn and our forces, I hope, more united The result will be more far reaching, the battle bound to be more terrific, but greed, trickery and cunning must be tramped underfoot,' if the re- public is to live.
 For 40 years the republican party has held almost indisputed sway at Wash ington. Forty years in which to grant special privileges to the few, 40 years of class legislation, 40 years of positive ex- ecutive and legislative favoritism and 40 years of law-permitted favoritism. Men do not gather grapes of thorns or figs of thstles in the 2Oth century any more than they did in the commencement of the first and we now have an abundant fruitage from the seed sown. Trusts, monopolies and combinations without number, industrial corporations with a capital stock of ten figures, and whose yearly income and disbursements exceed those of the national government rail road unification, graft and frenzied finance galore; wealth, created and fostered by law, defying and trampling underfoot those laws enacted with the view of at tempting to control or curtail their activ- ity.
 Benefits of Protection.
 Republican orators have given us glow ing descriptions of the great benefits of a protective tariff and it alone; told us how high tariff always brings prosper ity; and these same gentlemen have told us in equally brilliant terms of the won derful blessings, singly and alone, from the gold standard. Yet, under the high est tari fever enacted, which has been in force ten years, and with the gold standard. in full operation, with the friends of both in full and complete con- trol of every branch of our government, about the first of last October, like clap of thunder from a clear sky, there came upon us a panic as dlretul Tn US results as any that has been visited upon us in generation
 That there is an urgent need TOT re- form along many lines all seem to con- cede. That the demand for it from the people is growing and will continue to grow is also freely admitted. Where, then. shall we look for relief? TO what organization shall we look to meet these demands? Surely, we have no rlght TO expect anything from that party which, h1, lesislation and administration, has fostered the very things about which we now hear complaint. What foundation have we to base our hope upon that those who now control the destlhles oi the republican party will be moved to activity in the promotion or any Nleas- ures that have for their purpose the con trol of the public corporations that nave heen nreying upon the legitimate busi- nose of the country, of excessive charges and rebates? Who is there that really thinks the present leaders of that party in Congress honestly wish to eHectuahy hnrb the power of the various trusts or that they intend to do ought against the nossessors of the rightly termed swollen fortunes?
 Hope of the People.
 "There is but one political organization to which the people of this country can ioo,x inspired by any hope of success, and that is the party that has had, and now has, as it's Fundamental principle .eoual rights to all and special privileges to none'-the party of Jefferson and Jackson. the democratic party.
 "rhere must be a leader In this re- gard our party is most fortunate He has already been chosen by the millions or voteps> composing the rank in file of the democratic party, and all that the con vention will do will be to officlaily an nounce their selection. That by no po- 1itical machine, or no special lntereSts, without great wealth, and occupying no high official position, he has won place in the hearts of the American people un- riveled by any other of his day. By his loyalty to principle, by his honesty and frankness by his intense sincerely by his pure Christian life, public and prl- vate: by his nobility of mind and soul, Ahe has won the hearts of all the Amer ican neople. and they will this fall elect him to the highest office in the gift of this nation'-our next President, William Jennings Bryan.
 Democratic Platforms.
 "The delegates chosen by this conven- ton should be instructed not only as to the one favored by it as the nominee, but also to vote for those democratic doc trines in harmony with his views. It is indispensable to our success that our plat forms this year be thoroughly democratic mot one offering a cure for all the ills that the body polite may be heir to, but announcing in unmistalSable terms those | fundamental doctrines that may be de- pended upon as offering a solution of the | more serious problems that confront us Let us declare openly and emphatically 1 for a change in three particulars at least First. for absolute free trade between | the United States and our colonies. Second let us urge with all our might | that all articles controlled by trusts | shall be immediately placed upon the free | list.
 "Pendng in both branches of Congress | are bills that practically turn over to prl- yate corporations the right to Issue anc