The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1912-10-25
SOMERSAU[TS
or ROOSEVELT
William Jennings Bryan AnaIyzes
Record Of Third Term Candidate,
HIS SUDDEN CONVERSION.
Flo Message In Behalf OF Peoples CawGO
In Seven and q Half Years 7. r.
Was President.
BY WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN.

BY WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN.
Solomon says that the borrower Is
servant unto the lender. If this ap
plies to Ons- who b0rrows ideas Mr.
Roosevelt does not recognize the obi
gallon. for he has not only borrowed
from the Democratic party as few pub
lie men have borrowed from an oppoS
ing party, but he has shown himself
strangely ungrateful for the ideas tax
Ell. OF course it will not be contended
shat an idea can he 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 monopoly in ideas could be
formed and made subject to regulation
by bureau appointed by the presi
dent. Mr.. Roosevelt, however. has won
things previously advocated by the
Democrats. and still he Is all the while
aSsailing the Democrats bitterly and
has shown toward them a hostility that
IN 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
lier date.
Shall the People Ruler
Take his paramount issue of the
present canpaiSn-namely. the rule OF
the people. The platform adopted by
the Democratic national convention al
Denver four years ago contained the
following:
Shall the people rule?' Is the over
yvhelming issue which manifests itself
In all the questions now under discus
sion" n.,.-r
Here is the very phrase which be
employs. and it Is not only declared tc
ta m issue, but the overwhelming IS
Sue. 1t was dwelt upon by the candi
dates and ny other speakers during the
campnign. so that Mr., Roosevelt, theI
president. may lie assumed to have hat
notice of IL. He not only refused tt
admit then that it was the paramount
;>I!:s. but he displayed extraordinar!
activity In nrGing upon the country
Mr. Taft. whom he has since declarw
to he the agent of bosses and the enc
INV or popular government.
Il would seem that he ought to max,
some slight acknowledgment Of his in
dehtpdne$S to- the Democratic party 70
suggesting this issue to him at least
ba might put the Issue in quotation
fnrl;% -~M- ...- ..--..----
He IL now advocating the direct cleo
tion Of senators INT II he ever ex
pressed himself In favor Of this reform
earlier than two years ago the fact
has escaped my observation. and hav.
not only watched carefully. but waited
anxiously, for some favorable expires
sion from him.
Long Fight For Popular Election o.
Senators.
The Democratic party began the fgh
for the popular election of senator:
twenty years ago this summer. whe1
Democratic house of representative:
at Washington passed for the first time
resolution submitting the necessary
amendment. Since that time similar
resolution las been passed by the house
In FIVE other congresses-frst. in i894
by another Democratic house: then
after two congresses had elapsed. by
three Republican houses. and. last. By
the present Democratic house. Durine
the twenty years the reform has bee!
Endorsed in three Democratic platforms
the platforms Of 1900. 1904 and 1908
and It has been Endorsed by the leg
tslatures 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 il 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 vote of seven to
one, a resolution indorsing this reform
Still Mr.. Roosevelt did not say any
thing. He neither rebuked the Repub
Hcan convention nor Endorsed the
strong plank which was included in
the Denver platform Even Mr.. Taft
went 50 far during the campaign o.
1908 as to say that PERSONALLY II.
was INCLINED to favor the popular
election OF senators by the people. lrl'
MFR. Roosevelt did not even indicate an
intention in that direction. Now, whplt
the reform Is practically secured tic
amendment being before the states ID:
ratification-he declares himself in fa
vor OF 1t. Would 1t not be fair FL.
him to indicate In some way his a,,
probation Of the long continued fight
twaged by the Democrats in behalf 81
this reform before he espoused it?
i T. r. and the Income Tax.
Mr. Roosevelt Is IN favor OF an IL.
come tax. How long since? His FIRST
Endorsement Of il was during his 500,
ond term. and then 1t was suggested
as means Of limiting swollen for
tunes and not as means of raising
revenue The Democratic party tn