The record-union., 1896-08-19
Of Any Mine Owners or Bimetallic
Organization.
His Income Has Been From His Ed
itorial Work, Lectures and People
Where He Has Spoken, and He
Has Run on Free Coinage Plat
forms Ever Since ISoO-Colorado
Democrats Plans for Fusion.

UPPER RED HOOK On. W. Aug. IS.
On his return from fishing trip to-
night Hon. William j. Bryan gave out
prepared answer to the allegations
made by Senator John Nj. Thurston
that Mr. Bryan was in the pay of the
mine-owners. He denied the allega-
tions without qualification and practi-
cally invited the Republican National
Committee to make the charge officially
in order that he might be given a chance
to show exactly what his income had
been and from what sources it was de-
rived. Mr.. Bryan's statement follows:
Il have already denied this charge on
several occasions, but the reiteration OF
1t by Senator Thurston, a distinguished
resident of my own State justifies me
in answering it again. / have never at
any time, or under any circumstances,
been in the employ of any mine-owners.
individually or collectively, directly or
indirectly, nor have l ever been in the
employ or been paid by any bimetallic
organization. Aside from my editorial
salary of about $3.50 per month, paid by
the World Herald and a small amount
derived from the legal profession. my
income since my retirement from Con-
gress has been derived from lectures
before Chautauqua societies, lyceums
and lecture bureaus, which have usually
paid me a fixed sum, and from contri-
buttons made by the people of the To-
calities where l have spoken.
In some instances 7 nave received
nothing at all. In most places L have
received more than enough to cover
travelling expenses In only two in
stances, l think, has my compensation
exceeded S100 and in these instances it
was about 500 at one place and about
$500 at the other. The first platform
upon which / ran for Congress in 1880,
before l was known politically outside
I or my State, contained a free coinage
plank, and my Republican opponent
that year was al i~ocate of free COIN
age. In the campaign of 1892 I again
ran upon a free coinage platform, and
my opponent for the Senate Mr. Thurs
ton, while opposing unlimited coinage
at 10 to l, insisted that he favored BIZ
metalllSm. l wrote the free coinage
plank upon which | ran in 1890 and the
free coinage planks in the Nebraska
State platforms in 1891. 1894. 1895 and
of free coinage planks in the State plat
1896, and tried to secure the adoption
forms of 1892 and 1893.
Il only mention this to show that nv
advocacy of free silver is not of recent
date. Having made this answer to Mr..
Thurston's letter l shall hereafter take
no notice of individual or newspaper
comments upon this subject. If the Re
publican National Committee will say
officially that it believes that 1 have
ever been employed to deliver speeches
by any mine owner or group of mine
owners, or by any association sup
ported by mine owners, / am ready to
make statement showing in detail all
money received by me for speech MAX
ing
Mr.. Bryan will set to work composing
his letter of acceptance without delay,
and will probably perfect his plans for
the campaign while here.
Last night he wired the President of
the League of Pennsylvania Democratic
Clubs that he would appear at the con-
vention of that organization on August
10Th instead of on the date previously
announced.
An invitation from Toledo has also
been received and he will probably
speak there on his way home. Mr..
Bryan and a party to-day went to
Spring Lake, near Upper Red Hook.
on fishing excursion, but Mr.. Bryan
had no good fortune, he caught not a
fish, While Mrs. Bryan hooked two big
pickerel.