The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-07-28
BRYAN WAS FRANK
Wasn't His Fault That POpu-
lists We're Deceived.
Asked His Friends to Say He
Couldn't Accept.
THEY WOULDN'T DO 1T.
Didn't Think 1t Polite to Tell
Convention.
Jones and Stone Kept Bryan's
Message Secret.
THEY WOULDN'T DO 1T.

st. Louis, July 28.-The Republic to-
day says: Mr.. Bryan's telegram de-
clining to allow his name to go before
the Populist convention, and the con-
versation that was carried on between
him and Senator Jones, chairman of
the Democratic national committee on
Saturday were not made public,it is said
because Senator Jones and Governor
Stone of Missouri saw fit to suppress
them.
Early Saturday afternoon Senator
Jones wired Mr.. Bryan that his friends
IN the convention intended to nominate
him if possible in spite of the fact that
his telegram of the previous evening
declined to accept the nomination if
Mr.. Sewan was not nominated for vice
president. Senator Jones had previous
~ notified Mr.. Bryan that Watson had
been nominated for vice president.
About 3 o'clock the Western Union
telegraph office at Lincoln, Neb., the
home Of the Democratic candidate for
president called up the St. Louis office
and said that Mr.. Bryan was there and
would like to speak to Senator Jones.
Senator Jones came to the key and the
following telegram was sent to Bryan:
Wv. ]. Bryan: The convention win
surely nominate you Your friends
seem to be in the majority. They are
about ready to proceed with the bal
lot
To this Mr.. Bryan sent substantially
the reply that was given in the dis
patch sent out from Chicago by the
Associated Press, Saturday night, that
Bryan would not accept without Sew
all
To this Senator Jones replied: ITO
W. ]. Bryan: I think your position has
been clearly stated and it was clear
~ and fully understood. I will urge
our friends to read your statement
J. K. jones'
At this juneture message was sent
to the Convention hall over another
wire to Governor Stone asking him to
come at once and get Mr.. Bryan's tele-
gram in order that it might be read to
the convention before the ballot was
taken. Governor Stone got the tele-
gram and hurried to the Convention
hall where the scene between him and
Senator Allen of Nebraska who was the
chairman was enacted.
Subsequent developments indicate
that neither Governor Stone nor Sena-
tor Jones thought it would be good pol
icy TO read the telegram to the cOnven-
ton. While this was going on at the
Auditorium, Mr. Bryan sent this: To
Sen. J. K. Jones: Both friends and op-
ponents are entitled to perfect candor
and frankness upon my part and the
sta tement should be read, so that no
criticism can arise hereafter. w J.
Bryan.
Before the consultation over the wire
was brought to close. Senator Jones
sent q telegram asking Mr.. Bryan if
he was employing all the assistance
necessary to carry on his work. If you
are not employ the necessary help and
I will foot the bills" was the way the
dispatch closed. Mr.. Bryan replied
ITO Senator J. K. Jones: Am employ
ing necessary help. I wish you would
come here as soon as convenient again.
There are several questions about
only stay one day ". !. Bryan
After the failure to have the tele-
grams read to the convention Mr.. Bry-
an is said to have wired Senator Jones
to give them to St Louis papers and to
the Associated Press in order that they
might be given as wide publicity as
possible, to this both Senator Jones
and Governor Stone dissented. Jones
was going away on 5 o'clock train.
nor Stone who had another confab
with Mr.. Bryan. The latter urged that
his statement be given to the press. but
Governor Stone said it would not be
polite and that his case was in the
hands of his friends who would do
what they believed to be the most po-
little thing to do, as they viewed the
situation from the field of battle
I will bow to the wishes of my
friends but it is due to myself and the
members of the POpulist party that
treat them with perfect candor'' Is
the tenor of one of Mr.. Bryan's dis
patches to the Missouri governor. But
the information was withheld from the
press.