The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-10-17
SOMERSAULTS
OF ROOSEVELT
william Jennings Bryan Analyses
Record of Third Term Candidate
ms SUDDEN CONVERSION
No Message In Behalf Of Peoples
Cause In Seven and q Half Years
r. r. Was President.
BY WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN.

r. r. Was President.
BY WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN.
Solomon says that the borrower is
servant unto the lender. If this ap-
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
lio men have borrowed from an oppos-
ing party, but he has shown himself
strangely ungrateful for the ideas TAX
en-. OF course it will not be contended
that an idea can be patented. It 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
Democrats, and still he is all the while
assailing the Democrats bitterly and
has shown toward them q hostility
that is 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
Her date.
Shall tho People RuIe7
Take his paramount issue Of the
present campaign-namely, the rule of
DE people. The platform adopted by
Ghe Democratic national convention At
Denver four years ago contained tho
following:
"'shall the people ruler is the over
Vhelming issue which manifests itself
n all the questions now under discus
don"
Here is the very phrase which he
employs, and it is not only declared to
be an issue, but the overwhelming Is
sue. It was dwelt upon by the candi-
dates and by other speakers during the
campaign, so that Mr.. Roosevelt, then
president, may be assumed to have had
notice Of it. 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. L.
It would seem that he ought to make
some slight acknowledgement of his
indebtedness 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
election 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 l
have not only watched carefully. but
waited anxiously, for some favorable
expression from him.
Long Flight For Popular Election Of
Senators.
The Democratic party began the
aght for the popular election of senar
toes twenty years ago this summer,
when q Democratic house of repre-
sentatives at Washington passed for
the first time q resolution submitting
the necessary amendment. Since that
time q similar resolution has been
passed by the house in five other con-
gresses-first in 1894 by another Dem
ocratic house; then, after two con-
crosses had elapsed, by three Republi-
can houses, and, last, by the present
Democratic house. During the twenty
years the reform has been Endorsed In
three Democratic platforms, the plat
forms of 1900, 1904 and 1908, and it
has been Endorsed by the legislatures
Of nearly two-thirds Of the states. Mr..
Roosevelt must have known Of the ef-
fort which was being made by the Poo
pie to secure the popular election of
senator's, and yet he took no part In
the fight During this time he was
president for seven and one-half years.
and it is quite certain that q 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. q resolution
indorsing this reform.
Still MI. Roosevelt did not say any
thing. He neither rebuked the Repub-
lican convention nor Endorsed the
strong plank which was included in
the Denver platform. Even Mr.. Taft
went 30 far during the campaign Of
1908 a. TO say that PERSONALLY he
was INCLINED to favor the popular
election Of senators by the people. but
Mr., Roosevelt did not even indicate an
intention In that direction. Now. whom
the reform is practically secured-ths
amendment being before the states for
ratification he declares himself In IA
vor Of It. Would it not be fair for
him to indicate In some way his APP
probation OF the long continued night
Waged by the Democrats In behalf OF
this reform before he espoused it7