The Washington herald., 1916-12-07
BRYAN LAUNCHES
1920 DRIVE FOR
"DRY" AMERICA
Campaign Started at Dinner
in Honor of Former
Premier.
LiAUDEDBY SPEAKERS
Commoner Advocates Abolition of
Electoral Collese-Many
Attend.

Official Washington honored william
Jennings Bryan at a dinner at the Hotel
Lafayette last night because his many
friends attribute the reelection Of Pres
ident Wilson to Bryan's prestige and his
Democratic Activities.
His friends were so enthusiastic In ex-
pressing thefr admiration and esteem for
the former premier Of President Wilson'S
Cabinet that they interpreted "tbe dis
cernment Of every true American as in
dicattng tbat Bryan would be the next
President
Mr.. Bryan struck the first blow in his
fight to make this country dry. The
Democratic party won without the aid Of
the wet cities" he pointed out. ''and
having received the support Of nearly all
the prohibition States, and the States
where women vote, is released from any
obligation to the liquor traffic. 1t is free
to take the moral side of this great
issue" he continued. land I have no
doubt that IL will live up to its oppor-
tunities and obligations
Newman Presides.
Oliver p. Newman, president of the
Board of District Commissioners, was
toastmaster. He proposed a health to
the President of the United States.
Glowing tributes were paid Mr.. Bryan
Senator Thomas ]. Walsh. of Mon
tana, answered the toast. How 1t
Happened" He said, Never before
did Mr.. Bryan deliver such splendid
and convincing speeches, nor was he
ever listened to by such vast throngs
as he was during the last campaign" /"
Senator James D. Phelan, Of Cali
fornia, spoke on The Awakened West"
He said. IF only for Mr.. Bryan's prin-
ciple of peace as against brute
strength, the people OF the United
States and the world should love him. "
Senator Henry F. Hollis. of New
Hampshire. spoke on He Kept the
Faith" The Democratic victory In
the New England States in ;Ae recent
campaign" he said, was in direct
proportion to the admiration the peo-
pie have for Mr.. Bryan"
sIayden Laads Principles.
REPRESENTATIVE James Il sIayden. Of
Texas, spoke on Southern Democracy"
He said: The loyalty Of Democracy Of
the South founded upon Mr.. Bryan's
principles needs no eulogtst, for its speaks
for ITSELF" .-
After reviewing the accomplishments Of
the administration during its first term,
Mr.. Bryan suggested several lines along
which to work to secure still more re-
forms. He also pleaded strongly against
needing the cry of the railroads to be
freed of State control.
He sounded a warning against militar-
ism. The United States cannot AFFORD to
lose its moral prestige, ha declared, "for
the privilege of terrorizing people with a
display Of force.'
Mr.. Bryan pointed out these needs Of
the nation:
A national bulletin to acquaint all yot-
ers with the questions and issues under
consideration at an election.
Abolition Of the electoral college and
substitution therefor of direct voting for
President.
Would Amend Constitution.
A change in the Constitution making it
more easily amendable, so that control
of either the President, the Senate, or
the House. would not insure defeat of a
proposed amendment Under the present
system, thirteen Of the smaller States
containing less than one-tenth of the
population of the country, would be suf-
4fcient to prevent a proposed amendment
being adopted.
Adoption of a suffrage policy by the
Democratic party. promising the in
1uence Of the party, will be given to
secure nationwide enfranchisement OF
women.
Returning to his dry" argument, Mr..
Bryan declared that the statement that
national prohibition is an assault upon
the rights of States has little weight in
cwTIN-JoN PAGE EIGHT.