The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-06-25

| demanded the election of senators BY
| direct vote. Now he is in the senate
| where he can show the American peo-
| pie how big an American senator
| should be. He helped in the fight 70
| that amendment authorizing an income
| tax and he has lived to see the presi-
| dent who was opposed to it take that
| plank out of our platform and make
| two houses of congress and "a states
] pass it.
"And now he is leading a fight in
/ the United States senate to purge that
| body of Lorimer. What better mar
! could we have to open a convention!
when I now contrast the candidate
presented by the committee, 1 can do
| it without impeaching his character or
his good intent. But not every man OF
good character and good intent is
worthy to sound the keynote of a
progressive convention.
''There are seven million Republicans
in this country, or were at the last
election, and I have never doubted
most of them were men of high char
acter and good intent. but we would
not invite any of them to De tempor-
ary chairman of our convention.
1--WE have a great many Democrats
who vote the ticket but are not ir
sympathy with the purposes of the
party.
Country Is Watching.
1--WE are writing history today and
country whether it is to take up the
challenge thrown down at Chicago by
a convention controlled by predatory
wealth or answer it by ourselves sub
mitting to predatory wealth, and give
the country no party.
I'VE need not deceive ourselves that
that which is done in a national con-
vention is done in secrecy. We act at
least under the eyes of the gentlemen
of the press who know what we do and
who told us to do it.
''And the delegates of this conven-
ton must not presume on the ignorance
| of the people who did not come because
they had not influence enough to be
elected delegates or money enough to
pay their expenses.
And these people well know that the
influences that dominated the Chicago
convention and made it a farce are here
and more brazenly at work than they
were at Chicago.
Il appeal to you, let the commence
ment of this convention be such that
Democrats can raise up their heads
amongst their fellows and say:
The Democratic party is unafraid.
You can't frighten it with your Ryans
or buy it with your Belmonts.'"
Here a roar of cheers broke from
the delegates and galleries. Hats were
swung in the air and the cheers swept
toward the stage. But the demonstra-
tion was short.
'-My friends Mr. Bryan continued,
If the candidate of the committee
We're an unknown man we would Judge
him by the forces that are back of
hlm We know who the candidate is.
We know he is the man chosen eight
years ago when the party beaten for
eight years thought it might be we'll
to try to win with those who had de-
feated us in the two previous cam
paigns. The country has not forgot
ten that that convention was inf1u-
enced in its action by promises of large
campaign funds from Wall street and
they have not forgotten the fact that
after corporation management of the
campaign had alienated the rank and
f1le of the party, Wall street threw the
party down and elected Republican.
While Mr.. Bryan was speaking Thos.
T. Ryan was sitting on the convention
floor.
You ask me why I know that
speech would not be satisfactory when
I have not read it, said Mr.. Bryan.
81 tell you 1t is the man not the words
that make the speech
Here roar of groans and cheers
again Interrupted.
I'VE have been passing through
great educational age and the Demo-
cratic movement has been sweeping
all before it around the world,' he
concluded.
Kern Declines to Run.
Senator Kern followed Mr.. Bryan to
the front of the platform.
I must state my reason for not de-
string to enter the contest for tenn
porary chairman of this convention"
began Senator Kern, 81 believe that by
forty years of service to the party
have gained the right to hearing be-
fore this convention. L hail from In
diana which soon will place before
this convention the name of Governor
Thomas r. Marshall, as a candidate
for president 1 desire to take no part
in this convention that would initiate
Ia s-,A e.
many years a friend of Mr.. Parker.
Many years ago we met in a hotel in
Europe and became warm personal
friends. From that time on, have
enjoyed his friendship and he has had
mine. Eight years ago 1 enlisted un-
der his banner for the nomination in
fIuenced by friendship.
'I believe Judge Parker is az earnest
year as 1 am" continued Kern amid
applause.
All Democrats, he said, desired har-
mony that victory might be attained. |
st appeal for that kind Of harmony
that viii bring victory" Mr.. Kern's |
purpose became known when he ap-
pealed to Judge Parker to join in urg-
ing some man like Senator James A. |
O'Gorman as the compromise candi |
date. He declared the discord would
cease If Judge Parker and his associ- |
ates would agree on any one of the fol- |
lowing in addition to Senator O'Gor-
man, Senator Culberson, of Texas. SEN
ator Luke Lea, of Tennessee, Represen-
tative Clayton, Of Alabama, former
Governor James E. Campbell, of Ohio.
or former Governor Folk. of Missouri. |
Senator Kern made his challenge to the
New York delegation direct.
Tt was remarkable scene and took
the convention by surprise. Judge
Parker was seen in animated CONVEX
sation with his colleagues. Judge
Parker said to anxious inquirers that
Representative Fitzgerald of New
the meantime the convention was in