New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-12
A DISHONEST EXPLANATION.


A correspondent sends us letter which he has
received from Senator James X. Jones, chairman
Of the National Democratic Committee, concern
Ing the publication under Mr.. Bryan's name OF n
fabricated speech alleged to have been delivered
by Mr. Whitclaw Reid, declaring that he ana
other New-York editors were paid to keep honest
opinions out Of their papers, and that thelr pusi
ness was TO dstort the truth. to lie outright. to
pervert to vilfy, to fawn at the feet OF Mamlnon'
and TO sell their country and their for their
daily bread
The correspondent sent to Senator Jones Il clip
ping from The Tribune Of August >, which stated
that THE Weekly World-Hcrald,' of Omaha
Neb for July %. 1896, which bore at the mead OF
its columns as editor the name Of William }.
Bryan. contained this libel, explicitly stamped IL
as falsehood and called upon Mr.. Bryan to re-
pudlate this Of his name for the circulation OF
ridiculous calumnles. With this clipping went a
letter to the effect that the writer could not De-
lieve Mr.. Reid would be wantonly slandered and
would like an explanation Of THE World-Her-
ads publication. In answer Chairman Jones
on the official paper OF the National Democratic
Committee, sent from Chicago under date OF Sep
TENDER ) the following letter.
My Dear Sir: On account Of the overwhelm-
ing mail your faNOr or August has just ''cH
opened. -
The article referred to by you in The New
York Tribune Is but another instance OF the de-
light which Republican papers take in pupnSh,,
ing false statements about our candidates anu
our cause The article referred TO was printed
in THE World Herald long before Mr. Bryan
connection with that paper in any capaclty
whatever and he hau more to do with the
writing or Endorsement of it than did you your
JAMES X. JONES, Chairman.
This Is a denial which does not deny, an expla-
nation which makes The World-Hcralds' Of
fence under Mr. Rryan's edltorship the more out
rageous 1t Is a cowardly attempt to AVOID re-
traction and to deceive a correspondent. Inc
Tribune article Is said in terms to be raise
statement and that assertion is backed up WITH
the sophisicai explanation that Mr. Bryan was
not the Editor Of The WOrld-Hcrald' when the
remarks in question were published. MI Jones
does not in so many words say that they were
not published by Mr.. Bryan. but he does say that
they were published before Mr.. Bryan was
editor That Is QIibble made TO serve as
lie 1t Is entirely possible that the SANDER on
New York newspaper men was printed III Inc
World Herald before Mr.. Bryan was editor
but that is not at all TO the point The fact re-
mains that it was publish ed-Or repuDllshed-
on July % with unqualified editorial ndorse-
ment on the editorial page under Mr.. Bryan ;
own name. Anybody who takes the trouble can
learn the truth of The Tribune statement. which
Mr. Jones says is false. by turning to "Ihe
World Herald files If Mr. Bryan's paper re-
printed AS new from its own files SANDER which
had repeatedly been exposed and rcfutcd, ana
even then edtorially ndOrsed it, under Mr..
Bryan's own name then its offence was greater
than if It had for the first time in recklessness
published a fasehood.
When Senator Jones tries to make people be-
leve that the SANDER was not published under
Mr.. Bryan's authority he tries to make them be-
leve in lie In his letter the Democratic chair
man tacity comedies that "Thc WordHerads
publication was false, but he has not the man-
ness to say it outright. He follows the exam
pie Of his candidate and sneaks out of doing
justice. He probably hoped his correspondent
would believe the forged speech had been made
while acqutting Mr.. Bryan of responsibility. but
he did not dare assert that the speech had been
made and. as he could not deny that Mr. Bryan
had published the libel. he took refuge in eva
sion and said that somebody else published 1t AT
some other time. That is an honorable way for
a hightoned Southern gentleman to meet diff
| Guilty. But perhaps. should not blame him
too much He must have a hard time looking
after the campaign Of reckless boy who lets
his name be used for the circulation of false
hoods which he will not re tract for himself, and
which his manager must explain as best he can.