The Newport plain talk. (Newport, Tenn.) 1909-1939, 1912-05-16
BRYAN A POTENT FACTOR
IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY

In lf1E UEMO(hAllI FANI1
William Jennings Bryan IS bigger
and stronger today than he has ever
been before. In years gone by he has
been bitterly maligned and unjustly
abused, but as the country has gradu-
ally come to his way Of thinking, as it
has grown toward him and his views,
his former critics have softened in their
opinion of him until 1t may now be
said that many Of them have the can
dor and the courage to say that they
have faith in him and his beliefs.
This country has never known a pri-
vate individual who has been. so pre-
foundry respected AMI universally adj
mired for his honesty OF purpose and
conviction as this man. And because
of his consistency end his honesty,
his spotless character and his known
determination TO stand by his convic-
tions he is factor in the Democratic
party which must be reckoned with
He constitutes a force which canno. ,
be put aside, for he will have a big part
in writing the platform and in choos-
ing the ominee of the Baltimore con-
vention.
Formely there was only abuse in
store for Mr.. Bryan from those who
opposed him, but now since he is so
well understood no reputable critic
has anything for him but good worts.
In his accumulating years and ripen-
ing experience he is winning the conf
dence Of those who formerly mistrust-
ed him. He is winning place in the
hearts Of the American people thatis
worthy the battles he has fought. and
the cause he espouses.
Typically OF what is being said about
him by his former opponents is the
following from the Baltimore SIM:
We know Mr.. Byan today much
better than we did sixteen years age.
And the more we know him the
more we like him. We know now
that he is not mere rhetorician, not a
wild eyed populist, not a quack doctor
vending fake cure-all of which a
good many OF us once thought him.
Much water has passed under the
bridge since 1896 and we are in position
today to note what it has accomplish
ed. We can see now, with fairly clear
eyes, that Mr.. Bryan has been one of
the chief instruments in the creation
of the vastly improved public senti-
ment thatsrules our politics today as
compared with that which suffered
much evil few years ago. We see in
him man who has accepted defeat
manfully and who in defeat has exer.
cises an influence which other men the
world over can command. We see in
him great many of those qualities
which we like to call "typicaliy Amer.
ican," and which include honesty
and simplicity and courage. Even the
representative of "big business are
sneakingiy proud of him today.
All this yielding to Bryan and what
his enemies have been pleased to call
Organism has significant meaning
at this time. 1t indicates much right
now when the American people are
striving TO solve the national problem
as TO what man shall be their Presi
dent, and what principles and policies
shall be written into their National
laws.
This coming to Bryan means that
the great Nebraskan, through thrice.
defeated candidate for President, has
at last triumphed. II means that he
has been more than victorious, fol
though he has been denied the honor
OF being the Chief Magistrate of the
Nation he has lived to see both parties
vie with each other in their champion.
ship of tha principles he has baltled
for.
There is no longer any fear of Bryan
for the vast majority of the people be
lieve as he does, and whether he be
called on TO lead the Democratic party
or to battle in the trenches il may be
depended on that the platform pro
nouncement will be Democratic, and
that the views and convictions of the
standard-bearer will be consistent
with those declarations.
1t Is not SO important with Mr.
Bryan as to who should be nominated
as the Democratic candidate for Presi.
dent as it is who must rot be nomina
ted. There are men Of particular
class, any one of whom Mr.. Bryan
would be satisfied with as the nominee
while on the other hand there are men
Of another class, any one of whom
Mr.. Bryan would be distasteful and
unsatisfactory to him. Those things
which move Mr.. Bryan to prefer those