The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1912-10-17
SOMERSAULTS
OF ROOSEVELT
william Jennings Bryan Analyses
Record Of Third Term Candidate.
HIS SUDDEN CONVERSION.
No Message In Behalf of Peoples Cause
In Seven and a Half Years T. r.
Was President.
BY WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN.

servant unto TIE lender. If this ap-
plies to one who borrows ideas Mr..
Roosevelt does not recognize the obll.
cation, 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
en-. OF course it viii not be contended
that an idea can be 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 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
assalling the Democrats bitterly and
has shown toward them 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
lier date.
Shall the People Ruler
Take his paramount issue of the
present ampaign-namely, the rule of
the people. The platform adopted by
the Democratic national convention at
Denver four years ago contained the
following:
"'Shall the people ruler is the over
whelming issue which manifests itself
In all the questions now under discus
sion.''
Here is the very phrase which he
employs, and 1t is not only declared to
be an issue. but the overwhelming IS
sue. 1t 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.
1t would seem that he ought to make
some slight acknowledgment of his in
debtedness to the Democratic party for
suggesting this issue to him. At least.
he might put the issue In quotation
marks.
He is now advocating the direct cleo
ton 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 / have
not only watched carefully, but waited
anxiously, for some favorable express
sion from him.
Long Fight For Popular Election of
Senators.
The Democratic party began the fight
FOR the popular election of senators
twenty years ago this summer, when
a Democratic house of representatives
at Washington passed for the first time
a resolution submitting the necessary
amendment. Since that time a similar
resolution has been passed by the house
DIN five other congresses-flrst in 1894
by another Democratic house: then.
after two congresses had elapsed, by
three Republican houses, and, last, by
the present Democratic house. During
the twenty years the reform has been
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 is quite certain that
a 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, resolution indorsing this reform |
Still Mr.. 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 so far during the campaign of |
1908 as 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, when |
the reform is practically secured-the
amendment being before the states for
ratification-he declares himself in ia
vor of it. Would 1t not be fair for
him to indicate in some way his APP
probation Of the long continued fight
waged by the Democrats in behalf of
this reform before he espoused it2
T. r. and the Income Tax.
Mr.. Roosevelt is in favor of an in
come tax. How long since? His first
Endorsement OF it was during his sec
ond term. and then 1t was suggested
as q means of limiting swollen for
tunes and not as means Of raising
revenue. The Democratic party in
ITCHING SKIN.
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