Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1909-05-13
BRYAN REPLIES
10 The Criticisms of Congress-
man Clark of Florida
UNABLE TO APPEAR

So He Writes a Letter 10 the House
of Representatives of Florida
Which Had Invited Him to Ad.
derss It-He Discusses Several
Matters of Importance.
When representative cannot con-
scientiously do what his constituents
conscientiously desire him to do, he
ought to be conscientious enough to
resign and let them select a repre-
sentative in harmony with them"
This, in brief. is William ]. Bryan's
attitude on the pending tariff bill,
presented In a letter addressed to the
Florida general assembly and read
in the house Tuesday night MIR.
Pryan found it impossible to accept
the invitation extended by the leg
islature to come to Tallahassee and
address them in answer to Mr..
Clark's criticisms OF the Nebraskap
and certain doctrines contained in
the Denver platform.
The reading Of his letter was greet
ed with prolonged appiause.
There are two schools Of
thought" says Mr.. Bryan, 'in re-
gard to the duty OF the oficial:
The aristocratic theory Is that people
elect representatives to think for
them; the Democratic theory Is, on
the contrary. that people think for
themselves. and elect representatives
TO give legal expression to their
thoughts and to voice their senti-
ments.
81 am suspicious of the official
whose conscience Is dormant during
the campaign and only active when
he wants 10 find an excuse for do
Ing what his constituents do not
want done"
Turning his attention from Mr..
Clark. Mr.. Bryan addresses himself
TO certain proposed legislation ss
follows:
There is reform which should
receive the support OF all. whether
they believe in prohibition or not.
This reform is this. that the Federal
government should discontinue the
issuance OF licenses for sale OF liunor
In territory whore local authorities
decide TO prohibit its sale"
Touching on trusts and monopo-
lies. Mr.. Bryan declares that "the
trust question is on with which the
State must deal. Under our dual
form OF government the monopolis-
tic corporations have been PLAYING
each government against the other.
They contend that they are engaged
In Interstate commerce when the
State attempts to leGislate. and are
staunch advocates of states rights
whenever the federal government at
tennis to restrain.
'"Phe regulation OF corporations
is usually the most difficult subject
with which n LEGISLATOR has to deal.
because of the influence brought to
bear upon the legislator by the cor
porations.
state government should en-
plov their powers for the protcc-
tion Of the public against the evils
Of private monopoly and believe
that the hest as we'll as the simplest
solution will he found in legislation
FIXING tho percentage OF control
which corporation shall exert over
the product In which he deals"
As to the need of more adequate
banking laws he SAYS: "The banks
are not now sufficiently secure. as Is
evidenced by the fact that the
national government, the State gov
ernments. counties and the cities all
require special security A large
part of the banks prestige Is due IN
the fact that It does business under
charter granted by the govern
ment and is so regulated and inspect
cd as to give the depositors cons
dcnce in its solvency, and 1t is only
fair
In conclusion Mr.. BRYAN said:
"Thc initiative and referendum n
hcirg edcpted by State after state
and they perfect our representative
form of government by bringing
the government nearer to the peo-
pie"