Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-05-30

OH the candidate. Mr.. Roosevelt, for
instance, would require different plat
form from Mr.. Root. Platforms are
usually compromises in the statement
of propositions upon which there is not
entire agreement"
TO- who will be the Democratic
nominee?"
Here Colonel Bryan's face cracked into
a smile, and he answered:
That's very easy. There will be no
opposition to the denomination or the
president"
co. "win the Democratic convention
have smooth sailing?"
(A.) 81 see no likelihood of discord
(Q.) Would you consider accepting
the nomination of the Prohibition party
If it were rendered you?"
(A.) 81 have read the newspaper Items
to which you refer. man ought not
to be expected to discuss story Ike
that, for which no one assumes respons-
Utility But in view of the unfairness of
unfriendly papers, l will go beyond the
requirements and say that there Is
nothing in the rumor. My work is In
the Democratic party. The liquor ques-
ton is under consideration in a number
of states and will, within a few years,
be a national issue. 1 think / can do
more good for the cause of prohibition
inside the Democratic party than L
could outside, and therefore 1t would be
NV duty to work with the Democratic
party even If that were the only issue.
"DESERTERS OF 1896"
But there are many other issues. The
work of the Democratic party is not I'm
ished and will not be. 1t is a perma-
nent agency through which the citizen
works for the advancement of the pub
lie welfare 1t sometimes goes astray
| one one issue or another, but in such
cases the Democrat who loves his party
| can serve 1t better by trying to correct
| its mistakes than by deserving ii. The
| Democrats who deserted the party In
| 1896 became responsible for reign of
exploitation from which the country is
still suffering.
"At tho present time 1t is probable
that a majority of the Democrats of the
nation would vote against prohibition
| if il were submitted today, but the SEN
| timent is growing in the party. OF the
| eighteen prohibition states, ten Of them
are Democratic, and Florida and Texas
are likely to be added within a few
| years 1t Is only a question of time
when the majority of the Democratic
party will be arrayed against the sa-
| loon. and expect to contribute whatever
| I can to the securing Of this victory
| for the home against the liquor inter
ests. do not know how long it will
be. but the result is important enough
to justify the fight"
(Q) rs there likely to be a fight
over the Democratic PLATFORM"
| (A) 81 see no reason why there
should be a fight over anything. The
democratic fight this year will be made
on the party's record, and that record
| is made up of the president and con-
gress. These two factors in the making
! of the record could not be separated
even if any one desired to separate them.
The platform, therefore, will be written
before the convention meets, and the
convention will approve what has been
done and invite the Judgment OF the
country upon it. AS the Republican
convention meets first it's action may
have some influence upon the language
| OF the platform, but the general lines
will be determined by the party's posi-
ton already taken by the president and
the Democrats of the senate and the
house"
CQD will there be a preparedness
plank In the Democratic PLATFORM
| (A.) THE Democratic party has al
ready acted. and I think my answer just
given is an answer to that question
! (Q.) when will the war end?''
| Al
made by the president in North Caro-
| lima last Saturday indicated that he
might be considering some step in the
direction of peace. and the discussions
! in Europe indicate that the subject is
under consideration there. Outside of
the manufacturers of munitions and the
papers which they control the sentiment
of this country is overwhelmingly for
peace"
co. You mean for peace in Eu-
roper"
tA.) Eyes, and also against this coun-
try going into the war"
| (QD "Will there be another great
WARP"
Colonel Bryan grst frowned at the re-
porter, then smiled upon him benevo-
llently then answered:
HARD TO PROPHESY.
1.-THE older men grow, the less inclin-
ed they are. to decide questions without
evidence. 1t is much easier to hope
than to prophesy. Let us hope there
will never be another war. great or
small, and then do what We can to bring
about the condition we hope for"
(Q) will this war hasten or delay
the dawn of universal peace?"
(A) There is usually a reaction after
any great struggle, and as this is an un-
paralleled struggle the reaction in fav-
or of peace ought to result in a strong
movement toward peaceful settlements
of international difficulties"
And now" finished Colonel Bryan, "I
have given you all the time 1 can
spare"
But he thought of one more thing as
the reporter was closing the door be-
hind him, and he called out:
You can say that I will attend the
Republican convention in Chicago and
the Democratic convention in st. Louis
in journalistic capacity in both in
stances"