Devils Lake weekly world. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1911-1914, 1912-02-16
oalcial Paper Of Ramsey County.
BLACK EYE FOR MIR. BRYAN.

BLACK EYE FOR MIR. BRYAN. 8
The news from the caucus of the
house Democrats last week was car
ried to William J. Bryan on his Texas
farm. He did not read it with pleasure.
Once more he has met the enemy, and
again they are not his; it is the other
way around. Those "reactionaries -
were-literally-to many for him in
the caucus. The so-called money trust
is to be Investigated in Mr.. Under
woods way, by standing committees of
the house-not in Mr.. Bryan 8 way, by
a special committee. When the test
came, ia Of the house Democrats sid
ed with Mr.. Underwood and only G6
with Mr.. Bryan. What makes this all
the more Earring is the fact that, be-
fore the vote was taken, Mr.. Bryan's
lieutenant in charge read to the caucus
this telegram:
Omission, Tex, Feb. 5, 1912.
"To Hon. Robert L. Henry, House of
Representatives, Washington:
"I regard caucus on money trust
investigation as crisis. It's result will
largely affect our chances in coming
campaign. Please say to any who val
ue my judgment that I am heartily
with you in demand for special COM
mittee, but it is enough to know Wall
street prefers regular committee. We
cannot afford to allow accused parties
to select this jury. Success to you.
eff our party is afraid to offend the
powerful financial interests that have
fought us since 1885, we cannot expect
public confidence.
-"W. j. Bryan"
Speaker Champ Clark was one of the
us who heard the reading of this tele
gram, and then voted for investigation,
by the standing committees. He braved
Mr.. Bryan's displeasure, and is fair
ly sure to feel the weight of it. Per-
haps his itelligence department may
have ascertained and reported that Will
son is the friend-not Clark.
Mr.. Bryan invited the rebuff. The
prime fact that his course put MIN IN
the attitude of warning On the house
leadership and stirring up strife gave
ample provocation for the rejection of
his plan. Congress, properly resentful
of outside dictation in legislation, as
has been many times exemplifed in
caucnses and on the floor. Had Bryan
succeeded in weakening and destroying
the usefulness of Speaker Clark and
Floor Leader Underwood in their party
capacity, dire results to Democracy
must have followed thick and fast. As
it is, a chasm has formed between con.
servatives and radicals spirit Of an
tagonism that, Judging from the tenn
per of Bryan's telegram to Chairman
Henry, will not be permitted to die out
or be. bridged over. The intrigue has
the additional demerit, from party
standpoint. of involving, the Clark and
Underwood presidential booms. Wheth:
er incidental or otherwise, the blow at
harmony serves to intensity internal
dissentions outside of congress as well.
Bryan 3 implied threat that the fate of
the party hinges on the choice between
the two methods of inquiry betokens
an outgiving of wrath toward those
who were instrumental in turning him
down.
However, Messrs. Clark and Under.
wood are not objects of sympathy and
compassion because of having invoked
the wrath Of the peerless. Their cause
is doubly right, and public opinion sus-
tains:them, not only in defying Bryan,
but in the still more important matter
Of pursuing sane and conservative
course in solving the problems of the
day. The salvation of the party de-.
ponds upon the efforts of the men
Bryan would relegate to the rear. The
welfare of the whole people is enhanced
with every departure they make from,
the policy of undoing the substratum Of
national prosperity. Their personal
fortunes could not be jeopardized half
SO hopelessly by cutting the Gordian
knot as by slavish adherence to tho
cause of an organizer of defeat
Grand Forks Times.