The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1914-01-09
BRYAN SEES DAY
LONG HOPED FOR
Near-M Millennium Approached by
Wilson Administration,
He Indicates


A new national consciousness
aroused to ethics in public af-
fairs is discerned by Secretary
of State Bryan in the movement
which placed Woodrow Wilson
in the presidents chair and
which now, Mr.. Bryan believes,
gives President Wilson the sup
port Of public sentiment in his
administration. The premier was
the guest Of 100 Kansas City
democrats at a luncheon at the
Hotel Baltimore Monday. Mr..
Bryan began by a brief review
of the tariff and income laws,
both of which he praised.
"A most significant thing is
the entire change of sentiment
in the East in regard to the in
come tax" he said; ut is being
accepted cheerfully and in good
part. There is a growing dis
position upon the part of men of
great wealth to believe they
should bear a greater part of
the burden of government.
another change significant
of the happier trend of the
times is the attitude toward the
amendment of the constitution
which provides election of sena-
tors by the people. Way back
in 81 that resolution was intro
.duced in the house of represen-
tatives. 1t died there.
Again in '92 it was intro
duced, but got no farther. Four
times more it was introduced in
the house and four times it
passed to die in the senate. But
when it came the last time no
amendment in the history of
the nation ever was passed by
both houses, submitted to the
state ratified in so quick a time
as that one. Sentiment has
changed.
1--WE were not trying to de-
stroy the senate. We were try
ing to save it. The way to
save a body sometimes is to cut
off diseased limbs. That was
the way we saved the senate.
"The change hasn't degraded
the upper house of congress.
The aggregate amount of brains
in the senate is higher today
than ever before, though the
aggregate amount of wealth
may be less. | believe that as a
whole the senate it more demo-
cratic than the house.
president Wilson took his
seat at a very favorable time.
The nation was in sympathy
with the ideas he stood for and
the measures he advocated. This
sympathy between the people
and himself has enabled him to
do the seemingly impossible. L,
for one, thought it would be inn
possible to draft a currency bill
that would be satisfactory to a
majority of congress. It has
been done and that bill is now a
law. The president had faith in
the people and the people had
faith in him. Otherwise it could
not have been accomplished.
"The currency bill is not all
together understood. For one
thing, It gives bankers advan-
tages they never before have
had. But these advantages can
be given safely, for they are Civ
en- under such conditions that
while they benefit the banker,
the people reap the benefit, too.
Il never expected to live long
enough to see the beginning Of
the end Of the national banking
system. All that / hoped for
was to see the national banks
given no greater power until the
right Of the government to issue
all currency had been INDICATED.
Much to my surprise, the bill
not only brings that vindication,
but it provides for the gradual
retirement Of the national bank
ing system.
"The currency bill has broken
the grip'of the money trust. |