The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-08-20
HE REPLIES TO SENATOR STEW
ARTS OPEN LETTER OF A
RECENT DATE.
THOSE CHARGES AGAINST BRYAN.
Were Not Made by Senator Thurston
But by Chicago Daily Paper-Still,
Bryan's Painful Silence Thereon
Looks Suspicious.

for publication the following copy of a
letter which he mailed today to Senator
Stewart of Nevada
"To Hon. VIM. Stewart, Editor of the
Silver Knight, Washington, ID. C.-Dear
Sir-On return from my recent campaign
tour, | find your open letter of August
l, which you so kindly gave to the press
of the country before waiting its receipt
by me. In your letter you refer to the
address delivered by me at the Chautau-
qua assembly at Madison, Wis, on July
81. You must have known when you
penned that letter that | did not make
any charge against Hon. VIM. j. Bryan
of any kind whatever; that l did nothing
except to read portions of an editorial
published in the Chicago Chronicle OH the
18th of last July. The editorial as read
by me is as follows:
There was Il time when the owners
of the big bonanzas of the far west were
glad to occupy by purchase seats in the
United States senate. Sharon, Stan
ford, Fair, Jones, Stewart and others
gratitied their fancy in this manner until
the novelty wore off and then they depu-
tiZed attorneys and other employees to
take their places and vote for protective
tariffs and free silver:
"'Of late years, owing to the encour-
agement that they have received from the
something for silver when it passes Il
tariff bill, the proprietors of the big bo-
nanzas have found it profitable to keep
a large number of orators, lecturers and
other spokesman on the road, preaching
to the people-already limping as a result
of bites by the free silver cur-the SOW
ereign remedy of applying the hair of the
dog to the wound. Among the many
thus employed and carried on the pay
rolls of the big bonanzas for a number
of years is VIM. j. Bryan of Nebraska.
The paid agent and spokesman for
the free silver combine has not, since re-
tirement from congress, had any other
visible means of support
II did not directly or indirectly express
an opinion as to the truth of the allega-
tons set forth by great democratic
newspaper, reputable and responsible.
81 did say, and | still say, that the man
posing as the advocate of down trodden
masses of his countrymen, holding a
crown of thOrns in one hand and the
bugaboO, a cross of gold, in the other,
owes it as a duty to every man, woman
and child in this country to say whether
that charge thus publicly and deliberately
made is false or true.
Now, my dear sir, you must have
known, and you do know, when you in
dited your open letter to me, that the
charge was not mine; no, not even by
adoption; that | had not even expressed
an opinion with respect to it, and that
no more than fulfilled my duty as an
American citizen in insisting that Mr..
Bryan should tell the American people
whether or not the charge made by the
Chicago Chronicle was true. One word
from Mr.. Bryan on the 18th day of last
July would have set the public right; one
word from him on any day since that
time would have accomplished the same
purpose. The charge thus editorially
made by the Chicago Chronicle
still in session, was reproduced in
many of the leading journals of the
country; it came to the attention of Mr..
Bryan's own paper. the Omaha World
Herald, of which he was at the time
managing editor, and the only reference
which appeared in it was the following
editorial:
"In whose pay? Mr.. Bryan did not
drop out of congress, he stepped out; but
he has been in the employ of the World
Herald and it is generally conceded that
he has fully earned his salary"
Mr. ThurstOn, after making the above
asked August 1. to make an answer to
the Chicago Chronicles charge.
But" added he. "Mr. Bryan had moth
ing to say except that he would answer in
due time and manner"
Mr.. ThurstOn then makes the state
ment that the Chicago Post Of recent
date had said that "Mr. Bryans state
ed salary from the silver mine owners. or
the silver league, was $4,000 per annum."
Continuing, the writer quotes from the
Philadelphia Ledger of recent issue as
follows:
",rhose familiar with Mr.. Bryan's poll
tical career are aware that contributions
from silver miners to the expense of his
lectures began before the general stump
ing tour of the country two years ago"
The Ledger goes on to say that in his
in 1892 for recollection to cen
gress. he, Bryan was materially as
sisted in the expenses of his campaign by
donations from Denver"
Referring to Mr.. Bryan's campaign in
1894. when he ran for United States
senator. the Ledger is again quoted:
During his so-called lccturing tour
uicTe is no reason TO doubt tnat his salary
and expenses were met by those most
strongly and personally interested in free
coinage. There has never been any de-
NAL out west that Mr.. Bryan was en-
ployed at a fixed compensation to preach
the gospel of free coinage. and the funds
from whence his compensation came was
in large degree derived from the mine
owners"
Mr.. ThurstOn. continuing, says he
would be the last man in the world to
nssal the character of Mr.. Bryan, and
adds:
at is not just to the American people
that charges of this kind should 20 I'M
answered. He is the man and the only
man who can make definite and conclu-
sive replies"
He suggests that Senator Stewart
urn his batteries upon those reputable
'ditors and newspapers making the
charges. and states his surprise at Sen
it0r Stewart and his "fellow silver mine
remaining silent and not pub
icly answering the Chronicles charges"
Senator Thurston mentions Senator
Stewarts statement that the contribu-
ions for the circulation of silver litera-
ure have been paid by the American BIZ
metallic League and the American BIZ
metallic Union and that ''these organiza
ions can account for all moneys received
md the use made of it,"
The Nebraskan asks that detailed ac-
cunt of these amounts be made public,
which. he says, would prove of much in
crest.
81 now homo my Ioar cir - Canotor