The Washington times., 1920-01-11
bRYANDEN|ES .
PARTY SPLIT
Great Commoner Insists He Dif-
fers With President In Method,
Not In Purpose.

Not In Purpose.
CHICAGO, Jan. 11.-William j.
Bryan explained yesterday that the
clash between his views and those of
President Wilson on the ratification
of the peace treaty, which were
brought into prominence at the
Jackson Day dinner in Washington,
did not constitute split in the
party.
Differs in Method Only.
He insisted that he differed with
the President in method only and that
their purpose was identical. He
charged the Republicans with making
undue political capital out Of the IN
cident.
Mr.. Bryan spoke at a luncheon
given in his honor by the lroquois
Club, a Democratic organization. Dur
ing his speech he outlined issues
which would be more effective In the
1920 platform than the treaty as:
The issues which Bryan advanced
as more fitting than the treaty Tor
the 1920 platform included:
Government ownership of railroads.
Governmental ownership of all
utilities where competition is impos-
sible. including lighting plants, street
railways, etc.
Legislation to prevent profiteering.
Government machinery for the set
tlement of industrial disputes.
Legislation closing the doors or
% free speech and free press to the ad-
vocacy of violence or overthrow OF
the Government,
Outlines stand On Treaty.
The first part of his speech was
devoted to expressing his stand on
the treaty. Mr.. Bryan said. in part:
II am now proposing the applica-
ton of good old American principles
TO the settlement OF this treaty fight.
Am | to be told that / am separating
from the President? 1 yield to no 9th
er citizen in my interest in the well
fore of the country.
Furthermore, am Democrat,
and yield to no other Democrat, not
even the President himself, in my
interest in the welfare of the party.
There is no law requiring one to con-
fer with a chief or President before
speaking his views. 1 would not be-
long to a party which did not recog-
nize the citizens right to speak.
All In Full Accord.
"But this talk of party split comes
chiefly from the Republicans, who
have reason to hope for a split. They
know the significance of such
break. 'r.
when it is all threshed over 1t will
be found that the President, myself
and the great majority OF the Amer
lean people are In full accord on the
purpose involved. 80
Everybody, not even excepting the
Republican Senator'S, Is in favor OF
speedy ratification. My simple Amer
lean plan is to seek compromise. If
that is not possible, let US recognize
the principle Of majority rule. Serve
notice on the Republicans that the
responsibility is theirs, and then go
to the people with the issue without
delaying peace another fourteen
months.
els that revolutionary? Do you
see anything in that destined to break
up the Democratic party? Anyone
who thinks that by advocating such
a principle I am putting the party in
a bad position had better stop and
think again. Is this opportune for
the Democratic party to make an as
sault upon the fundamentals of demo-
cratic government, the right OF the
majority to rule?
ave must remember that the same
Constitution which gave the Presi-
dent the same right and power to
make this treaty gave the Senate the
right and power to pass judgment
upon that treaty. -.
Questions Vote Needed.
Does this country view with favor
the filibustering idea? What else
would it be were the Democratic MI
nority in the Senate not able to COM
promise to hide behind the constitu-
tional provision which requires a
two thirds vote to end war that
can be started by a majority vote?
"And are we to take the stand that
the Senate must be guided by the
recommendations of the President?
Whatever else we may think, we do
not consider this a Government in
which one man can tell everyone else
what to do. II the President had that
power he would not want to exer-
cise it."
Mr.. Bryan said he would have
rather seen Chicago get the Demo-
cratic national convention instead Of
san Francisco, which he called an
''untried city"
Mr.. Bryan reiterated that he has no
aspirations for the Democratic Presi-
Dental nomination, but paid tribute
to William G.. McAdoo for exposing
the coal profiteering.
Bryan has no plan of campaign in
support of his suggestion for set
tlement Of the treaty controversy, he
declared today.
IL have no tour in view, with the
discussion of the treaty matter as an
object, and after a few engagements
OF other kinds / shall return to
Miami, Fla, where I have been spend
ing the winter, to remain there, so
far as know now, until spring"