The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1912-10-22
SOMERSAULTS
OF ROOSEVELT
william Jennings Bryan Analyses
Record Of Third Term Candidate.
MS SUDDEN CONVERSION

No Message In Behalf Of Peoples Cause
In Seven ard q Halt Ysses T. n.
Was President.
ey WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN.
Solomon says that the borrower ID
servant unto the lender. II this ap-
piles to one who borrows ideas Mr..
Roosevelt does not recogniss the obli.
CATION. for he has not only borrowed
from the Democratic party ~ few pub
lic men have borrowed from an oppos.
ing party. but he has shown himself
strangely ungratefui for the ideas TAX.
en-. OF course II will not be contended
that an idea can be patented. II b the
only thing. In fact, that II not subject
to monopoly.
e Even Mr. Perkins, with all his fond.
ness for the trust. would not contend
that monopoly In IDEAS could be
formed and tnnde subject to regulation
BY bureau appointed by the presi-
dent. Mr.. Roosevelt. however. has won
his popularity by the advocacy Of
things previously advocated by the
Democrats. and still he is all the while
assailing the Democrats bitterly and
has shown toward them hostility that
is hard to explain.
To show the extent Of his borrowing.
let me cnumerate some OF the things
which he now advocates that were nd.
vocated by the Democrats at an ear
Her date.
Shall the People Ruler
Take his paramount issue OF the
present campaign-namely.t the rule of
the people. The platform adopted by
the Democratic national convention at
Denver four years ago contained the
following:
"'Shall the people ruler Is the over
whelming Issue which manifests itself
In all the questions now under discus.
sion.''
Here II the very phrase which he
employs. and II Is not only declared to
be an Issue. but the overwhelming Is.
sue. 1t was dwelt upon by the candi-
dates and by other speakers during the
campaign. so TINT MIR. Roosevelt. then
president. may be assumed to have had
notice Of It. He not only refused to
admit then that It was the paramount
issue. but, he displayed extraordinary
activity In urging upon the country
Mr.. Taft. whom he has since declared
70 be the agent Of bosses and the ene-
my Of popular government.
It would seem that he ought to make
some slight acknowledgment of his in
debtedness to the Democratic party for
suggesting this issue to him. At least.
he might put the issue In quota ton
marks.
He is now advocating the direct cleo.
tion Of senators. but If he ever ex.
pressed himself In favor Of this reform
earlier than two years ago the fact
has escaped my observation. and ! have
not only watched carefully. but waited
anxlously. for some favorable express
sion from him.
Long Fight For Popular Election Of
Senators.
The Democratic party began the Hght
for the popular election Of senators
twenty years ago this summer. when
. Democratic house of representa- tives
1t Washington passed for the first time
. resolution submitting the necessary
amendment. Since that time similar
resolution has been passed by the house
In i've other cOngresses-first. In 1904
by another Democratic house: then.
after two congresses had elapsed. by
three Republican houses. and. last. by
the present Democratic house. During
the twenty yenrs the reform has been
lndorsed In three Democratic platforms,
the platforms Of 1900. 1904 and 1908,
and It has been indorsed by the leg
islatures OF nearly two-thirds Of the
states. Mr.. Roosevelt mnst have
known Of the effort which .was being
lmade by the people to secure the popu
lar election Of senators. and yet he took
no part in the fight During this time
be was president for seven and one.
half years. and 1t Il quite certain that
ringing message from him would
o"sU WOosus ssetVss w tuc VcVVtG
cause. but no message came. -Four
years ago the convention which be
controlled ana which nominated Mr.
Taft rejected. by a vote Ut seven to
one. resolution indorsing this reform
| Still Mr.. Roosevelt did not say any
lhing He neither rebuked the Repub
tcan convention nor indOrsed thu
btr0ng plank which was Included In
the Denver plntform. Even Mr.. Taf
went s0 far during the campaign OF
1908 as to say thnt PERSONALLY HI
was INCLINED to favor the popular
election Of senators by the people. but
Mr.. Roosevelt did not even indicate M
Intention In that direction. Now. wher
the reform In practically seeured-ths
amendment being before the states fol
! ratifcati0n-he declares himself In ia
vor OF IT, Would It not Ike fnir fol
him to Indicate In some way his ap
probation Of the long continued tigh
waged by the Democrats IN behalf o.
this reform before he espoused It?