Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-18
AIM SHAFT AT BRYAN
Democrats of the House Or
qanize a Brand-NeW Club.
PURPOSE IS TO RlDICULE
Frequent Appeals to Nebraska
Leader for Advice on Voting.
PRESIDENT CLARK EXPLAINS
Party Members Weary Of Alleged
Interference in Legislation by
Nebraska Leader.

/ Many persons around the House end Of
the Capitol-except those few democrats
who are so fanatical in their answering
devotion to William ]. Bryan that they
don't like to see him treated with levity-
are laughing over the formation of the
Tell -How-To-vote Club, an organiza-
ton which has as its object the undoing
of Mr.. Bryan.
Representative Frank Clark of Florida.
the man who initiated the investigation
into the Florida Everglades scandal, is
president of the club. which is composed
of democrats who believe that Mr.. Bry-
ans constant interference in party mat
tiers is likely to be extremely harmful to
the prospects Of democratic success in
1912.
They hope that ridicule will win where
serious endeavor failed. and that II they
accomplish nothing else, they will force
alleged he has interfered with the
plans and policies Of the majority on
the tariff. the money trust and other
big questions now the subject of legisla-
ton. and which are likely to figure
largely in next falls campaign.
Elected by Unanimous Vote.
Mr.. Clark laughed when asked last
night about the Vote
Club
"Oh. yes" he said. 81 have been elected
course, 1 realize that the ambition of the
Mr.. Bryan quit meddling in legislative
affairs and trying to divert and
direct anything and everything that is
the subject OF consideration of Congress-,
W.
doubtedly a great many people of all po-
litical creeds who will consider us dream
ers and seekers after the impossible. But
we are going to do the best we can to ac-
complish our worthy and patriotic pur-
pose"
The plan of the Tell-Us-How- Vote
Club for putting Mr.. Bryan out Of bust
ness is extremely simple. The members
are pledged to ask the peerless leaders
advice on every occasion and at every
opportunity. Preferably they are to ask
it when the opportunity and the occasion
are lacking. Mr.. Clark explained the
mode Of procedure last evening when he
gave an interview on the subject to some
of his newspaper friends.
1--WE will suppose he said, that the
House Is considering resolution from
the committee on rules proposing to give
the committee on Interstate and foreign
commerce an additional Jan1tor. onder
ordinary circumstances most OF US demo-
Gratis would probably vote for that reso-
luton. after once being convinced that
an assistant janitor was necessary to
the comfort and cleanliness OF the MEM
bers: Of the commerce committee But
with the bitter experience which has
come to us of late We pause.
Await Word From Nebraska.
What we asked ourselves, does this
mean? Is there something hidden here?
Has the money devil been at work? IL
there a little black man lurking In the
assistant janitors shadow? Is he an
emissary of the sugar trust. the steel
trust, the Oil trust or the financial trust?
Is he on the pay roll OF the rubber barons
or has he been employed by opponents
of the initiative. referendum and recall?
We are in doubt. We don't know what to
do. So what could be more natural than
what we should turn to Lincoln, Neb..
the home Of ideas. the place where advice
was invented"
And in an emergency like this. MT
Clark says. the members of the Tell
Us How-To-Vote Club propose to unite
in telegram something like this:
William J. Bryan, Lincoln. Neb.:
''Tellers ordered on resolution giving.
tional janitor. Great excitement. Sim
lister design suspected Tell us what
to dog"
Mr.. Bryan's patriotism could never
resist du appear llhe tndL, +. Cl6Eh
added. with a smile "He would surely
answer our telegram-if he didn't beat
US to it.
From Mr.. Clark's comments, 1t is not
anticipated that the members Of the
Observation-Disclosures Club will bother MIR.
Bryan with requests for advice on
minor matters like the tariff Panama
canal tolls. amendments to the pure food
law, appropriations and the pursuit of
the money trust. But they express their
firm intent to ask for instructions ON
all matters connected with the disposi-
ton Of useless executive papers, the
activities of the committee on ventila-
ton and acoustics. and the hour for
converting the House Sundays.
Mr.. Morrison Calls a Halt.
The existence Of the teli-us-how-to-vote
club was referred to officially yesterday
during the meeting of the House COM
mittee on patents. Representative Morri-
son Of Indiana was acting as chairman
and some other member made thor
oughly unimp ortant motion with refer
ence to the closing OF the hearing, or
something.
IT regret" said Mr.. Morrison, with
gravity. that we can't take action on
that motion at the presnt time. We must
remember that accc riding to the consti-
tuition and bylaws we must first tele-
graph to Mr. Bryan to tell US how to
vote. Everybody laughed, and most Of
those present seemed to understand. The
club, 1t Is said. is gaining members every
day.