The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-07-26
BRYAN IS HEDGING
DOES NOT SAY THAT HE WILL
DECLINE THE POPULIST NOM
NATION.
CAUSE OF SILVER FIRST.
HE WILL DO NOTHING TO
RETARD A WHITE METAL
VICTORY.
WANTS TO BE FAIR TO sEw,ALL.
Is Very Sorry the Populists Did
Not See Fit to Indorse Maine
Man.

LINCOLN, Neb., July 25.-WhiIe the
public in Lincoln has been discussing
the likelihood of the acceptance or re-
lection by Mr.. Bryan of the Populist
nomination after the rejection of Sew
all, Mr.. Bryan put in the day i'll abso-
lutte silence as to his intentions, al
though the pressure was strong to Sc
cure an expression from him. During
the forenoon he received many tele-
grams from ST. Louis friends III rela-
tion to the perplexing conditions there
arising, and quite a number from
friends in other parts urging him to
stand by his previous kilograms de-
clining the nomination; Unless it car
ried with it that of Mr.. Sewall.
Shortly after noon Mr.. Bryan en-
tered carriage with his law partner
Mr.. Talbot, and drove away from the
Bryan residence. From that time on
until nearly 6 p. m. hisz whereabouts
were shrouded in mystery. All knowl .
edge thereof was denied at his home
and inquiry at Democratic headquar-
ters and Mr.. Bryan's office was fruit
less. When asked later where he had
concealed himself, Mr.. Bryan replied
that he had not suspected that any one
might wish to see HIM In reference
to the action Of the St, Louis conven-
ton he said:
When the Populists decided to NOM
mate vice president, Senator Jones,
chairman Of the national Democratic
committee, wired me as follows:
Populists nominate VIZ President first If not
Ssewall. s. what shall l do? sAnswer, quick.
favor your declination in that case.
wired Immediately as folofows
= non. James X. Jones' st. Louis: I entirely
agree with you. Withdraw my name if Sc
wall is not nominated.
These dispatches were published in
this mornings papers and the conven-
ton understood my position In spite
OF this they have seen fit to nominate
me. whether I shall accept the nom-
nation or not will depend entirely up
on what conditions are attached to it.
MY first desire is to aid in securing
the immediate restoratfoa by the Unit
ed States Of the free and unlimited
coinage Of gold and silver at the pres
ent legal ratio of 16 to / without wait
ing for the aid or consent of any other
nation. The. Republican platform de-
ciares that the bimetallic system should
De restored. but asserts we as q people
are helpless to secure bimetallism for
ourselves until foreign nations come to
our assistance. We cannot afford to
surrender our right to iegislate for our
people upon every question; and so
long as that right is disputed no other
question can approach it In import
ance.
Il appreciate the desire manifested at
st. Louis to consolidate all the free sill
yer forces, and regret that they did not
nominate Mr.. Sewall aiso. He stands
squarely upon the Chicago platform
and has defended our cause against
greater opposition than we have had to
meet in the West and South. The Pop
ulist platform is, on many questions
substantially Identical with the Chi
cago platform; It goes beyond the Chi
cago platform, however, ana indorses
some policies which 90 not approve
of. All can say now is that my ac-
ton will depend entirely upon the con-
ditions attached to the nomination.
I shall do nothing which viii endanger
the success of bimetailis1n, nor shall I
do anything unfair to Mr.. Hewall."
Assuming that the acceptance Of the
nomination by you would be unfair to
Mr.. Gewall," was aslzed, show could
condttions shape themselves 80 as to
permit you to accept ?n
The question was adroltly svaded bx