The St. Lucie County tribune. (Fort Pierce, St. Lucie County, Fla.) 1905-1920, 1911-04-28
BRYAN MAKES
ABLE SPEECH
Expresses Appreciation of Flee
ton by People and Legislature
THE PRIMARY
Refers to Congressional Attitude on d.
rect Election and Predicts Nationwide
Victory for Democratic Party

The following eloquent address was
delivered to the Legislature by United
States Senator Nathan p. Bryan, fol-
lowing his formal election:
Mr.. President and Gentlemen of the
Senate and House of Representatives.
1t is with great pleasure that find my
self able to be present on this occasion
to express to you my sincere thanks
for your election of me to be United
States Senator. / realize that this
action upon your part doesnot necessari-
" voice your individual choice, but that
YOU are giving expression and legal
effort to the result Of the primary cleo
ton recently held of which was so
fortunate as to be the nominee. This
| fact, so far from lessening, rather in
creases my appreciation of your action,
because you are relieved from any re-
sponsibiity in that you are acting mere
" as the agents of the people who have
thus expressed their choice, and for the
further reason thaC it leaves my re-
sponsibility as public servant where l
would prefer it-that is--direct to the
people, who, through you, their public
servants also, have given me my COM
mission.
/ You, too, were nominated in a pri-
mary election, and | doubt not that
there is Just little keener sense of re-
sponsiblity to the people, and a little
more determination to represent them
and their interests than if you owed
YOUR election to a caucus, a cOnventiO ion
or few individuals. For myself be-
lieve that the people have the right to
EXPRESS as directly as possible their
| choice for public officers as well as their
will upon public questions.
Our system of primaries is the most
satisfactory method of choosing public
officials vet devised. 1t is true the law
governing primary elections in this State
might we'll be amended and changed so
as more effectively and with less eX-
pense to register the will OF the people;
and, without assuming to act the role
of adviser, submit to you for your con-
sideration that it is the duty of all law
makers to throw around this system
every possible protection against bribery
and corruption, and if possible to make
il less expensive. To that end Senator
Fletcher and have forwarded tn each
member of the Legislature a Senate
document containing copies of acts OF
! the legislatures of several States,
which, in my opinion, it would be well
for YOU to consider at this session OF
the Legislature.
But with ali of it's defects, and IN
spite of the fact that it has been found
necessary to hold four primary cleo
| lotn hA ahnipn
Democratic party for the position to
which you have just elected me, 1t Is,
| | have no doubt, a source OF satlSiac-
ton and relief to each and every one OF
YOU that your time has not been taken
up in any degree in considering the
election of United States Senator;
and it is likewise matter for congral
ulation that the day is past when 1t ~
possible for the candidate selected by
the Legislature of Florida to have
brought in question his election. No
Investigating committees under TINS
system are found necessary or deemed
advisable to supervise or inquire INTO
vour selection. You are spared the
time and bitterness and possible disgrace
that lhev have come to other states IN
recent years.
In this connection it affords me much
pleasure to say to you that the House
of Representatives, OF Congress mas
passed constitutional amendment
providing for the election Of United
States Senators by direct vote of the
people, and it is entirely within the
range of probabilities that before THIS
session shall have adjourned you will
be given the opportunity of ratlfylng
that constitutional amendment, and
thus place Florida among the first OF
the State in carrying out one of the en-
pressed promises of the Democratic
platform adopted at Denver in obedience
TO a popular demand of all the people
irrespective of party. 1t is noteworthy
in this connection that the Republicans
of5the House of Representatives, not
withstanding the fact that at the last
convention of the Republican party by
! decisive vote the proposition to elect
Senators by direct vote of the people
was voted down, have joined with the
Democrats in voting almost solldy TOR
this constitutional amendment.
Not for many years has the prospect
for nationwide victory for our party
been so bright A few days ago had
the pleasure Of witnessing the install
lation into Office of the third Democratic
speaker of the House of Representa-
tiyes since the war, and Immediately
the Democrats of the House of Repre-
! sentatives in Congress began to carry
out in good faith the promises of oul
party, to bear in mind the tenet OF ou'
party, as old as the party itself of equa