The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-07-10
FLORIDA DEMOCRATS
FAVOR NEBRASKAN
Mayes Calls Bryan Greatest
And AbIest Democrat Since
Days of Jefferson.
"A LION AMONG JACKAlS."
ASSERTS THAT PEERLESS LEAD
Err" HAS SUCCESSFULLY WITH.
STOOD ASSAULTS AND AT.
TAcks OF POLITICAL ENEMIES.

Florida offered to Bryan her demo
cratic vote if he is nominated,
through Mr.. Mayes. at the convention
today, In seconding the nomination,
the Florida man said:
Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen OF
this Democratic Convention:
On behalf of the overwhelming ma
jority of the Democrats of Florida, I
second the nomination of William ].
Bryan-the next President of the Unit
ed States.
This is a Democratic year. The
spirit of Democracy is abroad in the
land today. We have even heard
much recently regarding the alleged
Democracy of the President of the
United States. II il is fact that he
is carrying any of our property around
in his possession, hope il will not be
considered impertinent if the Ameri-
can people rise up and demand an an
swer to the question: Where did he
get ito
IF il is a fact that he sometimes in
dicates a preference for Democratic
doctrine, may we not with propriety
inquire, Who was it who taught Theo-
dore Roosevelt the Democracy which
he breaches? When he talks about
turning on the light, may we not also
ask, Who was it who first turned the
searchlight on to criminal wealth and
showed the President of the United
States where it was and what il was
| doing?
Why, my friends, William J. Bryan
was preaching the doctrine of honesty
in business and in government long
before Theodore Roosevelt found out
that reform was popular.
They tell us that Mr.. Bryan can
not be elected because a small minori-
ty of the party are against him. But
if we cannot elect a candidate whom a
vast majority of the party want. how
are we going to elect a candidate
whom a majority of the party do not
want? They tell us that Mr.. Bryan is
not satisfactory to the New York
World and the Wall Street brand OF
so-called Democrats, and therefore
1 that he cannot be elected.
| But, my friends, If the real Demo
| a
man who has fought their battles for
twenty years, as no other Democrat
has fought them, how do they expect
us to elect a candidate whose certifi-
cate of character has to be signed by
Wall Street and sealed with a dollar
mark?
| Gentlemen of the Convention, the
Democrats of Florida are for Mr.. Bry-
an because they believe him the ablest
and strongest candidate whom the
party can nominate. We are for him.
not because we believe he is going to
be nominated anyway, but because we
believe he ought to be nominated and
elected. We are for him because we
believe in the man and in the Demo
cracy which he represents. We are for
him because he embodies the ideals
and hopes of a great militant body OF
American citizens.
We are for him because so many
of the enemies of democratic govern
ment are against him. We are for him
because. despite the Islander and NAL
ice and hatred with which organized
wealth has for twelve years incessant-
| ly assailed him, he stands today the
same unsullied stainless patriot as
when he first hurled his gauntlet at
the feet of special privilege and pred
atory power. Beside his defamers
and detractors he looms like a giant
among pigmies-a lion with pack OF
| jackals at his heels.
I'VE are for Mr.. Bryan also because
single-handed and alone, without Of
flee. without patronage. with no Off
cial power to punish or reward, with
no moneyed influence back of him, he
has won the confidence and respect of
the American people and his name is
presented to this convention by direct
wish and command OF the people
themselves. We are for him because.
in marked contrast TO the distinguish
ed nominee of the republican party. he
is his own mamie has won his spurs
on his own merits-and his nomina-
ton is not forced at the heavy end OF
a big stick.
| Mr.. Chairman, on behalf of the de-
mocracy of Florida, state that always
goes ACKNOWLEDGMENT when the re-
publicans appoint a commission TO
1 steal its electoral vote-I ask this con-
vention to ratify the nomination of
William J. Bryan, he greatest and
abIest democrat whom the American
republic has produced since the days
of Jefferson.