Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-14
BOSSES NO MORE;
PEOPLE TO RULE
William J. Bryan Predicts Fu-
ture Presidential Nominal
tons by Primary Vote.
PARTY PLATFORM BINDS,
PLEDGES SHOULD BE KEPT
Secretary of State Defines Democracy
and Aristocracy in Address Before
Pennsylvania Legislature.

of State William j. Bryan addressed the
PENNSYLVANIA legislature yesterday after
noon on the distinction between democ-
racy and aristocracy. and predicted that
before another presidential election rolls
around the presidential primary will be
general that there will be no need for
the holding of national conventions, and
that the presidential nominees will be
named not by the party leaders or bosses,
but by the people.
Secretary Bryan came to the Pennsy!-
vania capital to speak at the Jefferson
anniversary dinner of the Central Demo-
cratic Club of Harrisburg. and was in
Iited to address the members of the legis-
iature.
After being formally welcomed by Gov.
Tener in the executive offices the Secre-
tary of State was escorted to the crowded
hall of the house of representatives.
where he was introduced by Speaker
Alter.
The Secretary said he desired to talk
to the legislature of fundamental ideas
that are appropriate at this time.
Democracy and Aristocracy.
Jefferson a century ago spoke of two
parties he said. "One was the demo-
cratic party and the other the aristocratic
party 1t is important to know whether
the legislative representative is holding
to the democratic idea to the aristo-
cratic idea," he continued. The aristo-
cratic idea is to have men do the think
ing for them. The democratic idea is TO
have the people do their own thinking
and elect representatives to act for them.
The aristocratic idea of government
obtains more after election than before.
yet 1 do not know of any man who ever
ran before election on aristocrat1c IDEAS,
but have known Of some democrats who
and afterward adopted the aristocratic
views, despite the fact that the demo-
cratic view is the popular view.
Mr.. Bryan said that platforms are be-
coming more specific year after year be-
cause the people are believing more in
them each year
1T is a settled principle of this coun-
try exclaimed the Secretary. that
platform is binding upon every man that
runs that platform
"Some men violate platforms because
they say they cannot violate their con-
science. Far be it from me to have any
man violate his conscience. No man should
violate his conscience, but that does
not mean that he should violate his
party platform. 1t means that his con-
science should begin to work before he is
elected and not afterward. IT, after
election. he cannot violate his conscience
sign.
Violation of Platform Crime.
"A man who violates a party platform
and betrays his party and the people is
criminal worse than the man who en-
beetles money!" declared the Secretary
as he pounded the speakers desk.
Speaking of progressivsm. Mr.. Bryan
said there was time when he seemed to
be a radical Now ! have to hurry to
keep up with the other radicals he
added.
Secretary Bryan told of his interest in
the income tax as far back as seventeen
years ago. and how pleased he was that
an income-tax amendment has now been
written into the federal Constitution. Con-
tinuing. he said:
"Twenty-three years ago | advocated
that United States senators be elected by
the people. | have fought and fought on
for that principle, and yesterday ! was
notified as Secretary Of State that the
thirty-siXth state had ratified the sena-
torial amendment. And in few days
1t will be my pleasure, my delight to
affix my signature to the document that
will put the United States Senate into
the. hands of the people.
Now. let me tell you something else.
The day Of the boss is gone. The people
will write their own platforms hereafter
and send their own representatives to the
legislative halls. And ! venture to say
that We have seen the last of the great
national conventions. l predict that be-
fore another presidential election rolls
around the presidential primary will be.
come SO general that the presidential can
didates will be selected. not by the bosses
or party leaders. but by the people,
Two Great Principles Outlined.
Mr.. Bryan said the two great principles
to stand by in the fight. for representative
government are two of the ten command
ments-"'Thou shalt not steal and Thou
shalt not kill All injustices that are
done in the name of law are the same
as larceny, he said. All laws that grind
down the people TO their last drop of
blood he added. violate the command.
Thou shalt not kill
Secretary Bryan was accompanied from
Washington by Secretary of Labor Will
liam B. Wilson, Representatives A.
Mitchell Palmer and Warren Worth
Bailey of Pennsylvania and James I.
Blakeslee, fourth assistant postmaster
general The party was Joined at the
capitol by George w. Guthrie of Pitts
burgh, the new ambassador to Japan.
Speaks at Banquet.
Secretary Bryan was the first speaker
at the dinner of the Central Demo-
cratic Club last night and said it was
the first political speech he had had
occasion TO make since he put ION his
new reserve"
II am here tonight as the substitute
for the President" he said. "Tncre
were n lot of republicans who thought
we lacked intelligence. who Thought
we belonged to the rabble. But we
have a President who is more closely
Identified with the learned institutions
OF the country than any other Prcsi-
dent we have ever had" declared the
Secretary.
No Room for Progressive Party.
Mr. Bryan said that President Viii
son has shown the country that the
democratic party is not a party of
panic. Referring to the, factional
quarrel in the republican party last
year, the Secretary of State declared
there is no need for progressive
party. IF the progressives stand for
principle" said Mr. Bryan. they will
stand with the democratic party. If
the progressives feel they can help the
country they should join the democratic
party and not stand aside and an
tagonize it. The democrats have made
their fight for progressive measures
Where were the progressives when the
democratic party years ago made its
fight against Wall street dominatiOn?"
The tariff bill just passed by the
House was declared the best in a