Evening star., 1896-09-18
He Cannot Serve as Vice President of
the Bryan Meeting.
OPPOSED TO CHICAGO PLATFORM
Country's Best Interests Would MOI
Be Subseved.
THE COMMISSIONERS LETTER

District Commissioner John w. Ross has
repudisted the Chicago platform.
Today he wrote a letter to Col. William
Dickson notifying him of his decision. The
letter follows:
"Col. William Dickson. Democratic Ma
tional Committee Headquarters.
Dear Sir: Upon my return from visit
to the west on the morning of the 10th 1
had the honor to read your esteemed favor
of September IL notifying me that at a
recent meeting of the committee on organ
ization perfecting arrangements for the
reception to the Hon. William j. Bryan and
Arthur Sewall and ratification of their
nominations for President and Vice Presi-
dent of the United States, 1 had been
selected to act as one of the vice presidents
of the meeting to be held on the afternoon
and evening of September 10. 1896.
The respect which / entertain for Mr..
Bryan as a man and a statesman. based
upon a personal acquaintance with him
since he first became a member of Con-
gress, and the personal friendship which
grew out of that acquaintance. and the
fact that he is ID native of Illinois and
graduate of Illinois College, would induce
to join willingly and gratefully with
my old democratic associates of the Dis
trict in any movement tending to show re-
sIectful regard for him a public man.
convention to become convinced that my
duty to the grand oil organizati ton with
which / have been identified ever since
attained my majority required me to sup
TT the ticket named at Chicago. in spite
of some of the declarations of the platform
with which l could not coincide. 1 sought
to persuade myself that Mr.. Bryans train
ing as a lawyer would render him con-
servative and safer than the tendencies
and the advice of many of the extreme
men who constructed that platform. My
time during my recent visit to Illinois was
largely given to the consideration Of these
questions and to the perusal of Mr.. Bryan's
speeches and the arguments of other able
men on both sides of the financial queS-
tion. AS a result of my deliberations 1
cannot avoid the conclusion that, with all
of MIR Bryans strength of character and
ability. he would If elected, b, dominated
by the objectionable doctrines of the Chi
cago platform and of the one promulgated
by the populistS at ST. Louis, and that as
a result, the best interests of the entire
country would not be subseTved by his cleo
tion.
while, therefore, If I were merely in
vited to join with other citizens of WASH
l. gton in showing respect to him as a man.
would deem myself honored in participat-
Ing. yet, inasmuch as the terms of the inyf-
tatlon contemplate that by my acceptance
must indorSe the Chicago platform-al-
though adhere strictly to the fundamental
doctrines and all the od-time tenets Of
the democratic partyI cannot consistently
see my way clear to accept the proffered
rcnor OF acting as vice president of the
meeting. 1 beg to assure you that l ap-
preciate most highly the courtesy on the
part OF the committee which prompted the
invitation, and that hope that the recep-
tioh 20 the distinguished guest of the day
may In every respect be worthy of the ma
tional capital. / am, with great respec.
very truly yours,
(signeD JOHN w. ROSS"