Goldsboro semi-weekly argus., 1909-06-12
SIMMONS rs SATISFIED
WITH His VOTE

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"More Than Once We Have Had to
Repudiate Bryan's Teachings and
Preachments- to Save tile Party Dis.
aster and RUM"
Washington, d. c., June Tn re-
ply to an inquiry as to whether he
had anything to say about Mr.. Bry-
ans attack on the seventeen Demo-
cratic senator's who voted against free
lumber, Senator Simmons said no,
that Mr.. Bryan's opinion as to his &C
ton was of no special oncern to him;
that he had acted upon his own Judg-
ment in this matter and upon what
he regarded as the interest and wish
of his constituents, and he was re-
sponsible to them and them alone.
But" he added, 81 have something
to say about Mr.. Bryan's reputation
OF our national platform declaration
in 1892. In 1892" Mr.. Simmons said,
1.-The Democratic national convention
nominated Grover Cleveland for Pres
| ident and adopted a platform declar-
ing unequivocably for the repeal OF
| the 10 per cent. tax on State banks.
On June 6, 1894, a vote was taken
in the House of Representatives, Of
which William J. Bryan was a mem
Der, upon a proposition to repeal the
tax of 10 per cent. upon State banks
in accordance with the platform dec
laration upon which Mr.. Cleveland
was elected. There was a yea and nay
vote, and Mr.. Bryan, together with a
few other Democrats, voted with the
Republicans and the proposition was
defeated. On the day before this vote
was taken, Mr.. Bryan made a speech
| against his plank of the Democratic
| platform in which he said: 1T has
been stated that every Democrat is in
duty bound to vote for the repeal OF
the State bank tax because of the
plank relating to that subject adopted
by the last Democratic national con
| vention. A platform can only bind
| those who run upon it," He contend
ed that this platform declaration
bound Mr.. Cleveland because he ran
on the platform and accepted the
election, but he argued that it did not
bind him, because he was nominated
before the adoption of the platform,
and because he repudiated it in his
is any person in my district who favors
a revival Of State bank currency, ]
am not aware of it. In recording my
vote against the repeal Of this tax, ]
am expressing therefore the opinion
of my constituents and carrying out
my pledges as we'll as recording my
own best judgment" In other words,
Mr.. Bryan was a candidate for Con-
gress in a district in which the Dem
ocrats were opposed to this plank Ia
the platform-he wanted to be elected
and he Joined them in repudiating it
Mr.. Bryan repudiated the Democratic
platform in the very e of the fight.
What effect Mf. Bryan's position in
this regard as leader of his party In
Nebraska had on the electoral vote OF
the State / do not know, but l do
know that Weaver and not Cleveland
received its electoral vote.
81 am satisfied with my vote on the
lumber question. ] am satisfied that
a large majority Of the people OF
North Carolina approve 1t. 1t vio-
lates no platform pledge and ] shall
be ready to defend it to my constitu-
ents at the proper time. surely
have no explanation to make to Mr..
Bryan-he is not my keeper. ! do
not think his ipse dixit settles this or
any question. I think / know some
thing about Democracy. Since 1892
as State chairman, / have for most
of the time been the official head OF
the party in the State. I have not
led the party into N pitfalls, and
have always led it to victory. l have
followed Mr.. Bryan for twelve years
but always to defeat and disaster
During that time we have had NOR,
than once to utterly repudiate his
teachings and preachments to save
the party from disaster and ruin"
II. e. C. B.
INSTANT RELIEF FROM CATARRH