The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-01-09

equivocally against making it a cam
pai2n issue.
With regard to Article 10 to which
Wilson has referred as the heart Of
the League of Nations covenant,
Bryan in his second speech early this
81 think the importance of Article
10 has been very much magnified."
Wilson's message failed to clear up
the Question of whether he will be a
third term candidate, but Democratic
leaders understand he will not be,
altho he may participate in the cam
paign, swinging his Influence to the
candidate on the floor of the San
Francisco convention whom he deems
best fitted to carry on his work for the
treaty. and campaigning actively for
the election of a senate which will
ratify the document as he wants it
ratified--that is, without reservations
that alter its meaning.
BryanIn his fight for a quick COM
promise, apparently stands alone
With the possible exception of former
Ambassador Gerard, the other speak
ers at both banquets welcomed the
idea of making the treaty the big 1920
issue. The reaction from the White
House to Bryan's challenge to Will
sons leadership was awaited today
with keen interest.
Bryan Plunged In.
Bryan spoke first at the Wash
ington hotel banquet early in the eve
ming. making his set speech. He ar
rived at the Willard banquet hall after
midnight and listened to several ad-
dresses. Then, abandoning his pre-
pared speech. he took the floor and
startled the crowd. tired after five
hours of oratory. into great excitement
by his out and out opposition to Will
sons message, which had been praised
applauded and commended all eve
ming After few preliminary for
malities. Bryan suddenly shouted:
IF l just wanted to please you 1
would stop here and let this end as
love feast. But I've passed the age Of
soliciting your favor"
He declared the treaty Wilson
brought back from Paris was 'better
than anybody had right to expect"
lauded the president highly, told of
his own efforts for unqualified ratifi-
cation and then said:
Il believe that having stood by the
president and having failed we should
take the best we can get"
This blunt declaration startled the
crowd. In one end of the hall a con-
fusion of shouting men arose yelling
stand by the president" Bryan,
stand by wilson, Bryan nodded
grimly. thrust out his jaw and waited
for order to be restored, then contin-
ued:
Cannot Justify Postponement.
Where would the party be in a
campaign demanding that a minority
of the senate shall say what shall be
done with this treaty? We can't go
before the country on the proposition
that a minority of the senate has
right to dictate on what terms a treaty
shall be ratified"
The Democrats. he said. could not
justify postponing peace fourteen
months longer. until a new congress
should take office. and could not
justify gambling on electing a two
thirds majority in the senate pledged
to unqualified ratification.
who's going to gamble with stakes
SO great?' he demanded.
He also took issue with Senator
'Pomerene. a previous speaker who adj
vised against committing the party
to a pledge of government ownership
of railroads. Bryan charged the rail-
roads were about to consolidate into
the greatest monopoly in history.
AT 2:30 a. m. Bryan finished.
while some yelled: go on. tell us
some more" Afterward some of the
crowd gathered around him, shaking
his hand while scores flocked out.
some being loud in their denunciation
of the NebraSkan.