Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-01-16
BRYAN AT SPARTANBURG.
Democratic Statesman Makes Address
and Discusses Situation.

William Jennings Bryan, says dis
patch to the News and Courier, ar
rived in Spartanburg last saturday
night and delivered his lecture on
1.-The Signs Of the Times" at Wofford
college. He refused to express an
opinion of Col, Roosevelt, other than
to rei,erate his views on the third
term question and also refused to IN
innate his choice for the Democratic
nomination.
What is the significance Of your
trip through the south?" he was ask
ed. 1T is significant, l assure you
In fact, it is most significant. l am
going to meet my wife in Florida.
Don't you think that is signifcant?'
In answer to the query: 'Mr. Bry-
an, do you think that the nation Is
now reauy for the selection Of south
erner as PRESIDENT" he replied: For
some years l have thought that the
south ought to be counted In the selec-
ton of a president. If you remember
eight years ago l seconded the nomi-
nation of an ex-Confederate soldier,
Senator Cox, and he would have polled
more votes than Judge Parker did
There is no reason why the Demo-
cra,ic party should not select a candi-
date from the south, but 1t must be
remembered that the mere fact Of his
being from the south Is not sufficient
any more than the fact of his being
from any other section. He must rep
resent those things which the people
want.
"A southern candidate representing
the sentiments of the masses would
poll more votes than the northern or
western representative of Wall street;
but a southern candidate representing
Wall street wouldn't be any stronger
than Wall street man from any 9TH
er section"
Asked. "Why don't you, as a men,
Der of the progressive element Of the
Democratic party. together with other
progressive Democrats and progressive
Republicans, form a third party?" he
answered.: THE formation of a new
party is very difficult and only possi-
BILE in great crises. The tendency Of
the people to seek reforms within the
party Is a strong tendency. l do not
regard the present as an opportune
time for the promotion of a new party
although there is an Independent vote
which cannot be counted as sure to
support either party"
When shown a telegram stating that
Washington papers had followed his
conference with Senator Kern In
Washington yesterday with the story
that Kern was his choice for the pres
idential nomination, Mr.. Bryan said
that his talk with Senator Kern had
no bearing upon the Democratic pres
idential nomination. AS to his favor
ing Senator O'Gorman of New York,
for the ce-presidential nomination,
which was also stated in the Washing
ton papers. he would comment no fur
ther than to say:
well, I do entertain the highest
respect for Senator O'Gorman. l hold
him in high esteem"
Mr. bryan was introduced by J.
Wright Nash of the Spartanburg bar,
as the worlds greatest citizen" He
spoke on the reform movement, and
his lecture was divided into three parts,
Moral reform, intellectual reform
and the application Of reform, the
science of popular government"
He urged the adoption Of remedial
legislation from the beginning. He
explained that all reforms come slow
ly, and many true reformers are too
easily discouraged. He then gave sta
tistics to show the movements prog
ress, not only in this nation. but
througout the entire world.
He touched on political issues only
in a general manner, and stated that
the real reason why he attended the
Jackson day banquet in Washington
was to urge upon the Democratic
house the passage of the bill for the
election of senators by the direct vote
of the people.
In reiterating that he would not be
a candidate for the Democratic nomi-
nation, he said that as Roosevelt. on
one hand, had taken one-half Of his
platform from him and had enacted
1t into laws. and Mr. Taft had taken
the other half, the masses would OBJ
ject to his nomination because Of the
third term tradition.
He strongly advocated the initiative,
the referendum and the recall. claim
ing that 1t would drive the lobbyists
out of capitols, and would be the
means of running the grafters from
the crib before they were ready to
leave. He cited the Lorimer case as
an example. and claimed that the re-
call would remove temptations from
legislators and others.