Omaha daily bee., 1896-07-28
CONSULTED OVER The WIRES
Chairman Jones Was in Close Communion
with Mr.. Bryan.
HOW THE SUPPRESSED MESSAGE CAME
Jones and Governor stone Opposed
Rendiug the Telegram TO the
Convention or Giving II out
to the Press.

ST. LOUIS, July 27.-The Republic tomor-
row will say: Mr.. Bryans telegram declin-
ing to allow his name TO go before the
populist convention and the conversation
that was carried on between him and Sen
ator Jones, chairman OF the democratic ma
tional committee, were not made public, 1t
is said, because Senator Jones and Gov
ernor Stone OF Missouri saw At to suppress
them. Early Saturday afternoon Senator
Jones wired Mr. Bryan that his friends In
the convention intended to nominate him,
II possible, in spite Of the fact that his tele-
gram OF the previous evening declined to ac-
cent the nomination II Mr.. Sewall was not
nominated for vice president senator
Jones had previously notified Mr. Bryan
that Watson had been nominated Tor vice
president About o'clock an operator
in 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 Mr.. Jones.
Senator Jones came to the key and the fol-
lowing telegram was sent to Bryan:
Hon. w. J. Bryan: The convention VII, VII,
surely nominate YOU. four ir,, irie,as arn about
ready to proceed to a ballot
To this Mr. Bryan sent substantially tne
reply that was contained In the dispatch
press Sunday night. At the conclusion OF
the paragraph ending with the words Amer
lean people cannot afford to surrender the
right to legisate for themselves on all ques-
tions and so long as the right Is disputed IL
surpasses all others in Importance Senator
Jones interrupted Mr.. Bryans message with
a query as to whether 1t would be advisa-
BILE to make such statement to the conVen-
tion, when the remainder OF the dispatch
was sent by Bryan practically the same as
sent out by the Associated press), either IN
answer to Senator Jones' question or as
continuation of Mr.. Bryan's statement, Sen
ator Jones then replied:
Hon. w. j. Bryan: 1 think your position
has been clearly stated and that 1t Is clearly iy
ir'ef's To re'' S'u' ' j. k. JONES
At this juncture a message sent to
the convention hall over another wire 10
Governor Stone asking him to come ana
get Mr.. Bryan's telegram in order that 1t
might be read to the convention before
the ballot was taken. Governor Stone got
the telegram and hurried to the convention
hall, where the scene between him and
Senator Allen of Nebraska, who was the
chairman of the convention, was enacted.
Subsequent developments indicate that
neither Governor Stone nor Senator Jones
thought it would be good policy to read
the telegram to the convention. While this
was going on at the auditorium Mr.. Bryan
sent this.
To General ]. X. Jones' Both friends and
opponents are entitled to perfect candor
the statement should be read so that no
w. ]. BRYAN.
Before the consultation over the wire
was brought to close Senator Jones sent
telegram asking Mr.. Bryan II he was en-
ploying all the assistants necessary to carry
on his work. ''If you are not employ the
necessary help and l will foot the bills"
was the way the dispatch closed
Mr.. Bryan replied: III .e.
To Senator J. K. Jones: Am emPloying
here as soon as convenient % inh afalh There mere
consult you. You need only stay one day.
w. J. BRYAN.
Here Is the answer Senator Jones sent:
Hon. w. ]. Bryan: I think convention will
adjourn this afternoon. If so | will leave
for Lincoln Immediately. j. X. JONES.
After the failure to have the kilograms
read to the convention. Mr.. Bryan is said
to have wired Senator Jones to give them
to the St. Louis papers and to the Associated
press In order that they might be given
wide publicity. To this Senator Jones and
Governor Stone dissented. Senator Jones
was going away on the 8 o'clock train. So
the matter was turned over to Governor
Stone. who had another confab with Mr..
Bryan. The latter urged that his state
ment 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 polite thing to do, as they
viewed the situation from the field of bat
tie.
II will bow to the wishes of my friends
but 1t is due to myself and the members
Of the populist party that ! treat them with
perfect candor" is the tenor of one of Mr.
Dryan's dispatches to the Missouri governor
But the information was withheld from
the press.