The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-05-17
MIR. BRYAN's MEDICATION

The student of our political history will have to admit that William J. Bryan, secretary of state in the cab met of President Wilson. is the orig tna1 and faithful progressive among who claim the name of progressive.i That was a very striking passage in Mr. Bryan's address to the PennsyI- vania Legislature on Tuesday, when he said:
 Twenty three years ago advocated that United States senators be elected by the people. I have fought and fought for that principle and yester- day was notified as secretary of state that the 36th state had ratified the senatorial amendment. And in a. few days it will be my pleasure, my de- light, to afffx my signature to that document that will put the United States Senate into the hands of tho people.
 Here is a mighty interesting revo1u- ton in the whirligig of time. Turning to the platform adopted by the demo cratic national convention meeting in Kansas City in 1900. which was adopt ed on the Fourth of July, we find this plank:
 We favor an amendment to the fed eral constitution providing for the election of United States senators by direct vote of the people. and we fla vor direct legislation wherever prac- ticab1e.
 E There is the progressive doctrine laid down at a time when most of the orators of the progressive party of to- day were pouring their contempt up- 414 -+- !, :, lighted their present fiery oratory, and who led the forces on that memorable Independence day over a score of years ago.
 The vision which made MT. Bryan the leader of things that time was to bring has not faded from his mind and heart, but the years have brought a riper philosophy with no 1essenfng of resolution. He has ample right 10 speak for the progressive cause, and here is a passage in his talk at Harris burg that is more than mere oratory:
 lay it down as a proposition, and I am prepared to defend it anywhere that the representative who secures office upon a platform and then holds the office and betrays the people who elected him is a criminal worse than
 
 trusted to him. What is money to government if you would compare their value? Does this sound radical doctrine to you? There was a time when I seemed radical, but now I have to hurry to keep up with the procession. The country has already caught up with this doctrine. We have gone through a great controversy in this country, and the fight has been finished and the victory has been won, and if there are any who have not yet caught the spirit of the times they are as dead, but unburied. My fight is on the side of truth. When was a young man was impatient. thought because a thing was right 1t ought to be secured at once, but I have learned to be patient. I have found that only those who are in err TOT need to win at once. Those who are right can wait. There is nothing that grows but the truth. Nothing is sure of victory but that which is right and if you will look over the history of the last few years you will find much to encourage you to believe that nothing is impossible if it is a thing that the people need.
 Yes, the Commoner is the battle scared veteran of the progressive cause in the United States even though those who follow the light that he kindled are many of them un- willing to recognize the source of their belated i1lunnination.--Sprin Re- publican.