The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-09-20
COL. BRYAN's SPEECH.

The Hon. William J. Bryan had a
big and enthusiastic audience TO talk
| to in the Salt Lake thenter on Wednes-
| day evening He is nomipally on tho
trail Of Col. Roosevelt, following up
and tearing down, so far RS muy be,
the Roosevelt fences built up with SO
much boisterous hurrah. II used to
bo that Bryan was the hurrah man,
but now he is totally eclipsed in this
by the big Bull Moose.
Col. Bryan spoke first OF President
Taft, admitting his integrity Of. char
acter and honesty Of purpose, as Gov
ernor Wilson also does in his speeches,
This is no more than fair. because ev-
erybody admits the same thing except
the Bull Moose blatherskites like John
son. Mr.. Bryan claims that President
Taft does not trust the people; but no
matter how honest Mr.. Bryan may be
In this belief, il is only his belief, and
it is utter nonsense; for, no man in
this country can be good official who
distrusts the people, and that Presi.
don't Taft is good official. honest of
mind and definite and right of pur
pose, there is no possible dispute
Next, Col. Bryan attacked Roosevelt,
showing that Roosevelt has stolen much
of the Bryan thunder and undertaken
to mako it his own. This, however,
isn't much Of complaint; becanse any
one who gives utterance to any senti-
ment Of public value or Of general
worth, parts with that sentiment for
the benefit OF the masses Of the peo-
pie as soon as he delivers it, and any
one is at liberty to take it up md use
1t who 30 desires. The only criticism
that rightfully attaches in this matter
is the possible charge that Roosevelt
is appropriating the Bryan sentiments
without croditing them to Bryan; but
since that sort Of thing cannot be copy
riGhted, an interruptions person can
violate honesty and ethics by Rppropri-
ating another's thoughts without re-
sponsibility before the law. The great
difficulty in all this matter is that
Bryan has talked so much and said
so many things that there is about as
much blame to attach to him for his
wrong ~headedness US there is credit for
such things as he has cot right.
Finally, Mr.. Bryan comes to the eu-
logy of Governor Wilson, Here, how
ever. he has not much 10 20 on except
faith, for Governor Wilson is an un,
known quantity, and is liable to make
himself as obnoxious TO the Democratic
party es Roosevelt is to the Republican
party today. There isn't much use in
building up castles of hope when there
is so little material az there is in the
case of Governor Wilson: and besides,
some at least OF Wilson, Is expressions
5olicitous for the welfare Of the peo-
pie Of the United States, could possibly
approve.
Mr.. Bryan's contrasts between the
National convention and
The Democratic National convention
are, Of course, set forth in the most
glaring manner so far rs he can make
them to the advantage Of the Democ-
racy. This, to be sure, is his privilege, |
and no one has any particular call to
find fault with it. He is a campaign
stumper and as such presents his cause
in the most lurid and effective form he
IAN for his own side.
The meeting at the theater which
Col. Bryan addressed was at once a
tribute to him personally, and a testi-
mony to the reviving hopes of the
Democracy in the Nation as reflected
upon the Democracy Of Utah. But time
will tell whether we are to have a clear
political battle in this State the pres
ent year, or whether political activities
will be clouded, as heretofore, with ex-
.raneous and obnoxious interference
voters will be guided by whis-
pers, mods, and inspiration, without re-
gard TO political principles or political
preferences