Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1911-08-05
THE REPUTATION AND CASTIG4.
ZION OF BRYAN.

The reputation of the leadership 81
William Jennings Bryan could not be
made more complete than it has been
made by recent events.
Beginning with the refusal of the
Democratic caucus to be lead into an
acceptance OF his views as to the meth
DDS to be pursued and the leaders to
be chosen in Congress this year, there
has been an ever Strengthening inten-
tion not to allow his sinister influence
to bring division and destruction of
iparty hopes In his own state ne was
| not able to command a sufficient fol-
lowing TO evoke a complimentary al
fusion to himself at the state conyen-
ton. And now comes the severe pub
/ he castigation administered to him as
a libeler by Congressman Underwood,
chairman of the leading committee Of
the party in the House-a castigauon
that instead or aTousing resentment
brought tine Democratic members 10
their feet in tumuItuous applause and
ringing communication.
Chagrined at his inability to infu-
ence and dictate party policies and
plans at Washington, Bryan has been
INDUCING in unjust. unfair and untrue
CRITICISMS of the leaders there. of their
methods and their motives. Several
replies have been made to his attacks
but it remained for Leader Underwood
10 fay him in such a way that the ir-
ritatiOn and antagonism of the entire
party representation in the House
found expression in thunders of APP
plause. Seldom, if ever, has a former
presidential candidate of a party and
a continued leader for a long term Of
years been so boldly assailed and so
unanimously repudiated as the Ne
braskan has been in this instance. if
he is capable Of feeling Inundated the
sting must have gone home this time
Bryan has no one to blame but him
self. His persistent attempts to inter
fere and dominate. his continued heck
ling of every Democrat Of prominence,
his repeated efforts to discredit this
leader or that leader because he failed
or refused to bow the knee at the
Bryan shrine, could have but one re-
suit in the end, the union of all other
leaders and staunch Democrats against
his presumption and arrogance and
finally just such wholesome and we'll
earned verbal castigation as was adj
ministered to him by Underwood on
Wednesday,
Bryan is a thorn in the flesh of
Democracy, has been a thorn for some
years, and will, if he is allowed to be
so, remain a thorn for years to come.
The best way to do with thorn is TO
pull it out and cast it aside. The best
| interests of the Democratic party Will
be served if Nebraska keeps Bryan ut
home next year, refuses to send him to
the national convention, and clips his
wings as far as possible. True, he may
bolt, just as he bQlted the Democratic
ticket in his own state last year, bat
lit would be far better to have Bryan
Ian open, ayowed enemy of the party
that has so signally-and many think
$50 foolishly-hon him, than %
have him within the ranks, pulling
down the leaders, seducing the follow
ers, stirring up strife and revolt IN
season and out of season.
The message that the Democratic
party at Washington sent to Bryan this
week was unmistakable and not to be
Imisinterpreted. If ever a politician
got notice to keep his hands off, tc
cease libeling and villifying party lead
ers, to either play an honorable part
or get out of the party, Bryan got such
a notice. Whether his hide is too thici
to be pierced remains to be developed