Charlevoix county herald., 1908-06-06
IS NOT LUMINOUS
SOME CONFUSING POINTS IN
BRYAN PLATFORM.
Also Convenient Lack of Memory Can
Be Seen in Neglect to Indorse
Policies Heretofore Upheld
by the Candidate.

Mr.. Bryan, ii is said intends that
the Omaha platform shall be the plat
form of the national convention of the
Democratic party. He may consent to
some slight alteration or to some addi-
ton, but the voice of Omaha is to be.
If he can have it so, the voice of Den
ver Naturally enough. At Omaha the
Nebraska state Democratic convention
beheld in Mr.. Bryan, so the resolu-
tons read, 1.-The ideal American, the
ideal Democrat" and it "rejoiced that
the principles which he has ably advo-
Gated have been gladly received and
are now generally accepted by the
American people," OF course, the
faithful at Omaha did not resolve"
and rejoice" that "all'' the principles
advocated by Mr.. Bryan are now gen.
orally accepted by the American peo-
pie. Reference to free silver was
shrewdly omitted. Government own
ership of railroads was not mentioned.
For the rest, with a few exceptions of
no great moment, the platform OF the
Nebraska Democrats might have been
built by convention Of radical Repub-
licans, so little distinction is there now
between the parties, and so cordially
has Mr.. Bryan Endorsed the Repub-
lican leader.
To be sure, the Omaha platform de-
clares in one place its opposition to
the Capitalization implied in the sug-
gestions now frequently made that the
powers of the general government
should be extended by judicial con-
struction," but in other places it de-
mands Capitalization. Yet it does not
enlighten us as to the methods by
which the constitutional authority of
the judiciary is to be decreased. We
are left to suppose that this is an I'M
important detail. Omaha "favors the
election of United States senators by
direct vote of the people, and regards
this reform as the gateway to all
other national reforms" We do not
see eye to eye with Omaha on this
point; and Omaha and Mr.. Bryan will,
of course tell us that our difference
of opinion is matter Of no impor-
our opinion. We have yet to see that
the popular election of senator's, as
pursued in certain states, has in
creased the ability or exalted the char
acter of the senate, and We are unable
to see how or why people of any
states that elect incompetent or venal
legislatures can be relied upon to
elect competent and trustworthy men,
bers of the national senate.
Private monopoly is, naturally, de-
nounced by the Omaha platform, and
legislation is demanded which shall
make it impossible for private mo-
nopoly to exist in the United States"
Private monopoly, it seems, is bust
ness which controls more than 20 per
cent. Of the product in which it deals
This is a curious definition, even for
an assemblage of politicians. to con-
coct. But more curious still is the
fact, that few lines farther on, the
platform declares that no corporation
shall control more than so per cent.
of the total amount of any product
consumed in the United States. We
do not easily see the logical relation
of these percentages. And we wonder
why 45 $40 per cent can be virtuous
and the other tenth vicious, even
oVfy,, oil