The Elbert County tribune., 1908-08-13

Publicity for Campaign contrIbu-
tions, He Says, Is Democratic Idea
Mot Foe to Wealth Honestly
Acquired If Elected, Promises
Justice to All.
Lincoln, Neb.-william Jennings
Bryan was formally notified of his
nonIhetion by the Democratic party
for the presidency of the United
States. Henry D. Clayton of Alabama
was the spokesman of the notification
committee. Mr.. Bryan's speech Of ac-
ceptance follows
Mr.. Clayton and Gentlemen of the No
tiication Committee: l can not accept
the nomination which you officially ten
der. without first acknowledging my
deep Indebtedness to the Democratic
party for the extraordinary honor which
1t has conferred upon me. Having twice
before been candidate for the presiden-
cy. In campaigns which ended in defeat,
q 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 ], with
a 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 will
deal with the platform in detail 1t is
sufficient, at this time. to assure you that
am in hearty accord with both the let
Ia xfrft 49, L.. zt.eE q L..
dorse 1t In whole and in part and shall,
IL elected. regard its declarations bind
ing upon me. And. l may add. a plat
sorm is binding as to what II omits as
to tho Democratic Idea, the people think
for themselves and select officials to car
ry out their wishes. The voters are the
sovereigns: the officials are the servants.
employed for a fixed time and at a stated
salary to do what the sovereigns want
done. and to do 1t in the way the SOW
ereigns want II done. Platforms are
eNirely in harmony with this Democratic
idea. platform announces the party's
position on questions which are at issue;
and an official is not at liberty to use the
authority vested In him to urge personal
views which have not been submitted to
the voters for their approval II one is
nominated upon platform which is not
,psatisfactory to him. he must, II candid.
sither decline the nomination. or. In nc
cepting 1t. propose an amended platform
in lieu of the one adopted by the
yention. No such situation, however
confronts your candidate, for the plat
form upon which l was nominated not
only contains nothing from which / dis
sent. but 1t 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-reachlng pur-
pose of our party. that purpose is set
forth in the platform
Shall the People Ruler
Our platform declares that the over
shadowing issue which manfests itself In
all the questions now under discussion
is Shall the people rule?' No matter
which way we turn; no matter to what
subject we address ourselves. the same
question confronts us: Shall the people
control their 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
defenseless public. while the offenders
secure immunity from subservient Off
cials whom they raise to power by un-
scrupulous methods? This is the issue
raised by the known abuses" to which
Mr.. Taft refers.
Mr.. Taft Indorses 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 unmindful of the com
mon rules of business honesty and fidel-
fty, and of the limitations imposed by
law upon their actions; and that "the
revelations of the breaches of trusts, the
disclosures as to rebates and discrimina-
tons 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-
riching of directors and for the purpose
of concentrating the control of the rail-
roads under one management.'-all these.
he charges. "quickened the conscience
of the people and brought on moral
awakening"
Why No Tariff Reform7
The presidents close friends have been
promising for several years that he would
ettack the iniquities of the tariff We
have had intimation that Mr.. Taft was
restive under the demands of the highly
protected industries. And yet the infiu-
ence OF the manufacturers. who have for
rs years contributed to the Republican
campaign fund. ard 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
ised after the election is so hedged about
with qualifying phrases, that ne one can
estimate with accuracy the sum total of
tariff reform to be expected in case of