Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1912-10-26
SOMERSAULTS
or ROOSEVELT
william Jennings Bryan Analyses
Record Of Third Term Candidate.
HIS SUDDEN CONVERSION
No Message In Behalf OF Peoples Cause
In Seven and Halt Years 7. r.
Was President.
By WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN.

In Seven and = Halt Years 7. r..
Was President.
BY WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN.
Solomon says that the borrower is
servant unto the lender. II this APP
plies to one who borrows ideas Mr..
Roosevelt does not recognize the obli-
cation, for he has not only borrowed
from the Democratic party as few pub
lie men have borrowed from an oppos-
Ing party, but no has shown himself
strangely ungrateful for the ideas taxi
en-. or course II will not be commended
that an idea can be patented. 1t Is the
only thing, In fact, that is not subject
to monopoly.
Even Mr.. Perkins. with all his fond
ness for the trust. would not contend
that a monopoly In ideas could be
formed and made subject to regulation
by a bureau appointed by the presi-
dent. Mr.. Roosevelt. however. has won
his popularity by the advocacy of
things previously advocated by the
Democratic, and still he Is all the while
assailing the Democrats bitterly and
laD BuOWh NuWAIu tuGLn u uOotittIJ thab
10 hard to explain.
To show the extent of his borrowing.
let me enumerate some of the things
which he now advocates that were ad-
vocated by the Democrats at an ear
ner date.
shall the People RuIs2
Take his paramount issue of the
~
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
whelmlng issue which manifests itself
In all the questions now under discus
sion"
Here Is the very phrase which he
employs. and 1t 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. 10 that Mr.. Roosevelt, then
president. may be assumed to have had
notice OF 1t. He not only refused to
admit then that 1t was the paramount
Issue, but he displayed extraordinary
activity In urging upon the country
Mr.. Taft. whom he has since declared
to be the agent of bosses and the enc
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 quotation
marks.
He Is now advocating the direct cleo
ton Of senators. but II 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
anxIously. for some favorable express
sion from him.
Lens Fight For Popular Election Of
Senators.
The Democratic party began the fght
for the popular election of senators
twenty years ago this summer. whey
q Democratic house of Representatives
at Washington passed for the first time
a resolution submitting the necessary
amendment Since that time q similar
resolution has been passed by the house
In i've other congresses first. in 1894
by another Democratic house; then.
after two congresses had elapsed. by
three Republican houses. and, last, by
the present Democratic house. During
the twenty years the reform has been
lndorsed in three Democratic platforms.
the platforms Of 1900 1904 and 1908.
and It has been Endorsed by the leg
islatures Of nearly two-thirds of the
states. Mr.. Roosevelt must have
known OF the effort which was being
made by the people to secure the popu-
lar election Of senators. and yet he took
no part In the fight. During this time
he was president for seven and one
half years. and 1t Is quite certain that
ringing message from him would
have brought victory to the peoples
cause. but no message came. Four
years ago the convention which he
controlled and which nominated Mr..
Taft rejected. by a vote of seven to
one. resolution indorsfng this reform.
Still Mr.. Roosevelt did not say any
thing. He neither rebuked the Repub-
llcan convention nor Endorsed the
strong plank which was included In
The Denver platform. Even MFR. Taft
went 80 far during the campaign of
1908 as to say that PERSONALLY he
was INCLINED to favor the popular
election OF senators by the people, but
MIR. Roosevelt did not even indicate an
intention in that direction. Now. when
the reform is practically secured--the
amendment being before the states for
rntihcation--he declares himself In In
vor Of II. Would It not be fair for
bin TO indicate in some way his APP
probation OF the long continued fight
waged by the Democrats in behalf of
this reform before he espoused It?
r. q. and the Income Tax.
MIR Roosevelt is In favor OF an in
come tax. How long since? His first
Endorsement OF 1t was during his sec.
ond term. and then 1t was suggested
MS 4 means Of limiting swollen FOR
tunes and not us means Of raising
revenue. The Democratic party In.
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