The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1908-03-13
1T WAS BRYAN DAY
Nebraska Democrats Pledged Anew
Their Allegiance to Their Lead
er at State Convention.
IDEAL AMERICAN CITIZEN
Delegates to Denver Instructed for His
Nomination and He Was Per-
mitted to Write the
Platform.

Omaha, Neb, Mar. Constructing
their delegates to vote as unit for
the presidential nomination of William
j. Bryan at Denver next July, the
members of the Nebraska Democratic
convention Thursday made clear Of
icially that his home state will support
Bryan principles throughout the Ma
tional convention of the party. They
followed this action by turning out en-
masse Thursday night to cheer plat
form which admittedly reflected
Bryan's views on national affairs and
to greet their leader with an outburst
of cheering that brought flush OF
pleasure to the countenance of the
recipient. All the proceedings of the
day were planned with an ascending
scale of enthusiasm in view. How
well this worked out' was evidenced
by the scenes in the Convention hall
Thursday night. Close to one thou
sand delegates, hundreds of other ac-
tive party members and thousands of
private citizens hailed Mr. Bryan
as "the next president of the United
States" Applause that quickly changed
to cheers, then instantly turned into
wild yells, greeted him when he ap-
peared to begin the speech which
wound up the day. During his re-
marks this demonstration was renewed
frequently and at the end was repeat
ed with renewed vigor.
Two significant points were noticed
in Mr.. Bryan's speech. In one he &C
knowledged his debt to the Populist
party and in the other he replied to
criticisms of his policies which Secre-
tary Taft is reported to have uttered
in a recent speech in Oklahoma.
"My creed is 'exterminate the pri-
vate monopoly A legitimate corpor-
alton can be regulated but criminal
corporation is beyond the reach Of
regulation" said Mr.. Bryan. "Mr.
Taft said that l wish to annihilate
business combinations while he de-
clared himself willing to regulate the
great corporations. | accept this issue.
And in reply l will call attention to
the fact that the trusts have regu-
lated the Republicans, not the Repub-
licans' trusts"
He began his address at $50 O'Clock
and for nearly two hours preached
Democratic doctrines to willing con-
gregation. After review of his early
political struggles in Nebraska, he
thanked the delegates for their action
in indorsing him for the presidency.
Then came his reference to the Popu-
lists and thanks for the Endorsement
by their state convention here Thurs
day.
He entitled his speech "A word OF en-
couragement," and devoted his remarks
to the producing of evidence to show
the growth of Democratic policies and
principles and the basis for Democratic
hope. He spoke in part as follows:
Our trouble used to be to persuade
the Republicans to accept Democratic
policies; our work now is to expose the
imitation by them of Democratic ideas
and to point out wherein they come
short in their effort to appropriate
Democratic doctrines.
Take for instance the trust question.
We had difficulty in convincing the
Republicans that there were trusts.
Now they admit trusts exist; we had
difficulty convincing them that Grimm
trusts; now they admit it should be
enforced but fail to enforce it. Insofar
as they have acted against the trusts
at all they have acted along the lines
laid down by the Democrats but the
trust magnates are still at large, the
trusts are still flourishing, and even
the supporters of Mr.. Taft have no
specific remedies to offer for relief and
trusts arise while Republicans are
boasting of their crusade against them.
On the tariff question the Republi-
can leaders now admit that tariff re-
form is now necessary, but careful
reading of their promises show that
they use language identical with that
employed in former platforms which
have been the basis for the present
extortionate rates.
The main cause for hope is to be
found in the moral awakening. Never
within a generation has there been
such a stirring of conscience and the
sense of justice inherent in the people
has been made sensitive to the Dem
ocratic appeal which is essentially an
appeal for justice The Democratic
party has been doing pioneer work and
now it will enjoy the gratitude and
the appreciation showered upon the
pioneer when the character of his
work is fully understood.