The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1921-02-17
BRYAN DISCSSUES
R0PER'S REMARKS
SAYS DEMOCRATIC PARTY MUST
HAVE MEMBERS TO BE
A FORCE.

CpuHlls II IluSI iehNS HiSiiDNIS s'H'
the voters will not be willing to act
through the Democratic party unless
they can control it," said William Jen'
rings Bryan at his winter home here
in discussing the an .ouncemelt II
New York by former Judge R. c
Roper, of Nebraska, that he Nryar
and his brother. Charles Bryan, plan
ned a reoragizction Of the Democrat
ic party.
Mr.. Byr2n SAID that le had not
llwon of tie setting of definite Late
fer the launching of the movement, {;
arounced by Judge Roper.
Il am in constant association with
my brother, Who is in charge Of my
Iaper," said Mr. Bryan. "For year:
the Commoncr has discussed these sub
iectS in 'r,ry issue, and always wit
the idea of arousing the voters to en-
press their views.
"My theory has been that democ-
racy is a government in which the
corle rule, and a D mccratlc arty
II ust recognize that authority CONES
up from the bottom and not down
from the '.op.
Fer Own Benefit.
politicians try to use the party ar
6 anization and the voters for ,hcir
own b"nect, while ne voters try to
use tn, party organization for The a"
,ancemcnt of the publ, good.
"If the Democratic party is going t.
lie a f)rce in this cuntry 1t mu :.
have members and the voters will no.
be willing to act through the Demo
c attic party unless they n control
it.
81 do not expect much of any sur
face movements; that is, movements
among the party officials. Progress
will come through activity among the
voters and they cannot act until they
have a chance to select committee
men. Prior TO this they can organize
among themselves, discuss questions,
pick out spokesmen and get ready for
effective action when the time for the
selection of the committeeman comes.
This, l think, they should do. And this
is what l hope to contribute to it
through my paper.
"If the proposed meetings of the
subcommittee or the full committee
have no higher purpose than the boost
ing of some particular aspirant for Of
flee, they will do little. If, however,
the membership of the committee
want to outline a constructive plat
form and call upon the rank and file
for an expression of opinion, much
may be accomplished"
No Special Interests.
"Past differences" he continued,
"ought to be forgotten among those
who agree as to future action, but
there can be so harmony in the party
organization as long as the VETS OF
Wall street or any other special inter-
est attempts to use the party organi-
zation to keep the party from doing
its duty to the public.
"Our party must deserve to win to
have any chance of. success and 1t VIII
not deserve to win until it puts the
cause of the people above the ambition
of any individual.
"The people are intensely in earn
est and the committee can best serve
the party, not by burning incense be-
fore any particular idol, but by get
ting down to work for the protection
of the public against exporters. We
have a case in point. Senator Calder,
of New York stated the other day that
the coal men had plundered the pub
lie to the extent of billion and one
half dollars per year.
"That sum is greater than all the
stealing done by all the men now
confined in the penitentia.ies Of the
United States-and nothing is being
done to imprison the exporters or to
protect the public from them.
at makes comparatively little diff
ference who is chairman of the ma
tional committee, but it makes tre-
mendous difference whether the COM
mittee is interested in personal am
bitions or the welfare of the masses
A fau lonon Gee hraaL a cAld