Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-10-29

leadership Of an able democrat. for years
Colonel Bryan's boon companion. the in
tlstive and referendum was defeated in
a democratic legislature, and that only
three years ago. The initiative and refer
endum, a. originally proposed was bit
terly opposed By the democratic majority
and never could have been submitted to
the people only by reason OF the progress
sive republicans in the democratic legis-
lature. And when you come to the con-
siderstion OF some moral legislation, 7
am here 70 say TO you that the o'clock
law that this legislature OF three years
ago boasts so much about, was placed
upon the statute books OF this state
against the will OF a democratic majority,
signed under duress BY a democratic ex-
ecutive who promised he would not, but
did, and because he did, was retired by
the democratic party to private life.
MIR. Byan IN giving his disinterested
advice to the progressive republicans Of
the state falls TO mention these cold facts;
fails to point out wherein or in what
way the progressive republicans OF Ne
braska or the nation could have greater
influence than they have in the repubi-
can party.
Democrats Are RcacfIonarIes.
Mr.. Bryan Is, undoubtedly, progressive
democrat; Is a genuine patriot, and no
body has higher personal regard for him
than has your humble servant. but in
order to be accurate Mr.. Bryan should say
open and above board, Mr.. Progressive
Republican, come join my standard, let
me be your leader mine Is the only
-. r.,tY,-
give to the state or nation a. true pro-
gressive policy Mr.. Bryan might with
some consistency say this. and IL he did
say this, he would speak more correctly
than he does when he advises whole
sale switching TO the democratic stan
dard, because the democratic party Is
reaotionary; II cannot be progressive, be-
cause MIR. Bryan, the progressive, is
without the pale OF his party organiza-
tion He is compelled TO make a cam
paign to be q delegate to the democratic
national convention. in face of the fact
that every precedent and every courtesy
entities him to this position without even
asking for II. SO little faith and so little
regard has Colonel Bryan in the demo-
cratic party, and so far have they drifted
from his teachings and his standards,
that he deems the only safe and proper
thing to do is to take a chattel mortgage
upon every democratic voter, putting
him under bond over his own signature
that he will support the initiative and
referendum, and, between the lines,
Colonel Bryan as a delegate to the
national convention. / say to you that
In pursuing this course, Colonel Bryan
deems II necessary to do so because the
democratic organization Of the state Is
against the initiative and referendum;
is against these progressive measures
that he stands for, and will defeat them
II possible TO do so.
Leaders of Democracy.
Let me call the distinguished gentle
mans attention to the fact that when he
is giving advice for the sole and only
purpose of disrupting the republican
party, that he better look we'll to his |
own laurels, for at the present time in
the state of Nebraska a powerful organi-
cation is being formed and completed IL
deliver the Nebraska delegation to Gov
ernor Harmon of Ohio, candidate for
president, and the democratic organiza-
ton of Nebraska is in favor of Governor
Harmon. The Dahlman democracy Is for
him, and allow me 20 say further that
the democratic organization, with John
c. Byrnes, the corporation lobbyist, as
the state chairman, Is lending his influ-
ence TO the candidacy of Governor Har-
mon, and SO / say as l said a moment
ago, that Mr.. Bryan Is certainly incon-
sistent when he tells the progressive re-
publicans to join the democratic stan
dard. But this advice of Colonel Bryan's |
Is wholly Impractical and political his |
tory OF recent times, and former times, |
bears out my statement. Mr.. Bryan Is |
advising the progressive republicans to |
leave their party, while IL they stay in /
the ranks OF the republican party they |
Will be and are the controlling force in |
that organization; II they leave the re-
publican party and join the democratic |
ranks they Will be In the same situation
that the one day, all Furnishing and
powerful populist party are now; that po-
litical party that was the pioneer in pro-
gressive legislation, lost its influence,
lost Its Identity, lost all OF it's power for
good when Il was absorbed into the
democratic party, and so recalcitrant,
and so nonpermeating and impervious to
progressive measure was the democratic
party that not even the all-powerful
populist party could afford a leaven.
The democratic party is today back to
It's old way and its old tricks, stumbling
and laundering along, ignoring progress
sive elements like Mr.. Bryan following
within its ranks, and l say to you, Mr..
Bryan with all sincerity, If you want
to give real, practical advice, advise
your followGIs 10 Join the ranks of pro-
gressive rSBFbllcanism and under its
banners you will march through to vic
tory which means good government.
representative government and proper
KnNAEnmAnl -. |