Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-07-03
Statement by
Colonel Bryan,

Baltimore. July 2.--William j. Bryan,
in statement. tonight, said that the
nomination of Woodrow Wilson on d
Progressive platform meant an over
wheming victory for the Democratic
ticket, next fall Mr.. Bryan said:
4 feel sure that the action of the
convention thus far will appeal to the
country / had no choice among Pro-
gressive candidates. but from the first
included Gov. Wilson in every list
ha doecasion to make. His action
coming out strongly against Mr.
Parker for temporary chairman was
the turning point in his campaign. The
country is Progressive. Nearly all OF
the Democratic party and more than
half of the Republican party are Pro-
gressive.
The paramount question before this
convention was whether we would take
sides with the reactionaries and thus eu
courage the organization of a third party
and giving to the third party the hope
of defeating the reactionaries divided In
to two parties. this on the one side. and
on the other the nomination of ticket
that would so appeal to the Progressive
element of the nation as to make a third
party improbable.
II am satisfied that with Mr.. Wilson
running for. President on the platform
which has been prepared there will be
comparatively few Progressive Republi-
cans, who will not feel justified in sup
porting the Democratic ticket. II / were
to make an estimate / would say that we
ought to have not less than 1900 600 ma
jority of the popular vote and enough of
the electoral vote to give us an over
whelming majority in the Electoral Col
lege.
The action of the convention in
adopting the anti Morgan Ryan Bel
mont resolution has demonstrated that
the Democratic party is not only pro-
gressiye, but is bold enough to throw
down the gauntlet to the predatory
interests. Ii is fortunate that Mr..
Wilson's nomination was made with
out the aid of Mr.. Murphy. 1t is no
reflection upon the many good men in
the New York delegation to say this.
From every standpoint the outlook
is hopeful. The only unpleasant thing
about a political fight is that success
to one aspirant brings disappointment
to others. Those who fail ought to
find some consolation in the fact that
failure is not always a reflection upon
the individual, because circumstances
exert a larger influence than is some
times supposed in the determining of
a convention choice. Men are only
available when they fit into conditions.
1t so decided some two years ago tina,
/ did not fit into the conditions as we
then saw them, and | was willing to
assume the responsibility of advocat-
ing any particular progressive. partly
because / preferred to trust the wis
dom of the multitude and partly be-
cause l felt that a great deal would
depend upon the action of the Repub
lican convention.
When the Republican convention
adjourned. ii was even more apparent
than before that circumstances re-
ausrtd some emphatic action on the
part of our convention to insure
consolidation of the Progressive vote
under our banner.
THE incidents of the convention
have, in strange way, emphasized
the progressiyeness of our party far
more than | had expected that pro-
gressiveness could be exercised, and
the convention mas decided with rare
unanimity that Gov. Wilson fits into
the conditions that the Republican
convention and our convention have
joined in creating.
Knowing what the platform is, /
feel that it Will help him in his fight.
The dawn is here and progressive
Democracy will be the peoples pillar
of cloud by day."
,.... AhIR