The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-10-16
Y Plea. FOR VOTES.
Jamestown Alert.)

BRYAN'S Plea. FOR VOTES.
Jamestown Alert.)
W. ]. Bryan in his address at tn,
jamestown opera house was special
ly bitter in his attacks on Roosevelt
and he republican leaders. He rid
iculed the idea that any national re
forms could come through the re
publican party and attempted I,
force the notion on his hearers tina
the only reform party in the countr,
was that which he represented. H,
declared that his resolution in tn,
Baltimore convention barring Bel
mont. Murphy and Ryan of New
York. had eliminated 1.-THE bosses
from the party; but he failed to sa,
anything about the S%ullivans Of IL
linois. Taggarts of Indiana, and 9th,
ers whose votes made Wilson's nom
ination possible. These men are al
known to represent the very wors
elements in political manipulation
and in their own states are anything
but what Bryan terms "progressive.'
Yet he now CLASHES them Will
progressive democracy"
In his TRADE against the repub.
licans. Bryan declared that they had
taken up Issues which had been fore.
ed on them by former democratic
platforms and largely by himself ir
his previous presidential campaigns
All the way through his address he
patted Mr.. Bryan on the back, and
tried to leave the impression tina,
the reforms which the republican,
have already brought about and
those progressive policies which are
now advocated for the future were
original creations of Mr.. Bryan him.
self.
But those with longer memories re.
call that most all of the important re.
form policies which both democrat.
and republicans are now adopting
came from the old populist party. A
comparison of the 1912 political plat.
forms with the declarations of the
populists eighteen or twenty years age
will show a striking similarity and re.
veal the source from which Mr.. Bryan
got the most Of his democratic thun.
der and progressive principles of O
eminent.
Bryan's attitude towards Roosevelt,
has changed remarkably since the
Baltimore convention. During the
republican national convention a,
Chicago Bryan sat on the platform
and wrote daily articles to the Chi.
cago Tribune. signing his name ia
them. He praised what he called the
reform element in the convention,
and complimented Roosevelt repeat
eddy as the leader of what Mr.. Bryan
approved Of. Now Bryan is out roast
ing Roosevelt and is specially vindic-
tive against him. charging him with
being the candidate Of the trusts and
representing. the worst elements of his
party. This sudden change Of att.
tude on Bryan's part lays him cpen
to the plain charge of ~insincerity, and
puts him in the class Of politicians
who think they see a chance to win
victory. and will sacrifice principle
for expediency.
It might be we'll for those who
heard Mr.. Bryan to stop and think
what position the great commoner''
would have taken had Champ Clark
been nominated instead Of Wilson.
If Bryan was sincere in his approval
Of the action Of what he called the
progressive movement in the repub-
lican party, led by Roosevelt at the
Chicago convention. would not Mr..
Bryan have been compelled to sup
port Roosevelt in this campaign? Or
would he have found some excuse to
remain with the democrats and make
his campaign speeches for Clark?
In his entire talk he failed to state
what practical benefits the success Of
Mr.. Wilson would give to the people
Of the country. and gave no credit
to the republicans for any progress
sive legislation or for the present
prosperous conditions that are found
throughout the country.