The Van Buren press., 1896-08-01
Chairman Jones Talks Politics.
From the St. Louis Republic.

From the ST. Louis Republic.
James K. Jones, of Arkansas, United
States Senator and chairman of the
Democratic National Commute, left
Lincoln after short conference with
w. J. Bryan Sunday night. He az
rived in Jefferson City at 2:20 yesterday
afternoon was met by Governor Stone;
escorted to the mansion and dlned.
When the Senator took his seat in the
6 o clock st. Louis bound train q Re
public representative sat beside him.
It was chair car, the day was hot,
the dust and smoke insufferable. DC
casionally Senator Jones would object
to the weather and the smoke, but on
the whole he maintained good humor
during the trip When Governor Stone
introduced The Republic representative
he indicated his profession. Referring
to his visit to Mr.. Bryan Senator Jones
said that they had discussed several
matters, but had decided at nothing.
The chairman talked freely about the
advantages of the different cities con-
templated as national headquarters, but
said it would be improper to have his
views OF suggestions published.
Senator Jones has strong personal
is conducting. He related a little Incl
dent which may have had something to
do with its inception.
1.-The night after the day Bryan had
made his famous speech, the Senator
said, land while the convention was in
an uproar I was afraid Bryan would be
nominated under an impulse, and that
there would be regrets for hasty action,
the next day and l moved to adjourn.
"A friend of Bryan hurried to him,
explained the situation and told him to
beat the adjournment.
a If my nomination to night would
be likely to cause regrets to morrow,
the convention should by all means ad-
iourn, said the Nebraskan. i only
want to be nominated through the
sober, deliberate Judgment of the dele
gates.
Senator Jones was asked if he con-
sidered Bryan strong man.
Yes, strong and good man, he
replied. And he is safe man, He
will make no mistakes during the cam
paign; he will make no mistakes while
he is in the presidential chair.
Responsibility begets conservatism.
Bryan is fully impressed with the re-
sponsibility of his position He is not
over confident. He seeks advice. He
wants opinions and views of his trusted
friends. Have no fear of William J.
BRYAN. He can be trusted.
1T seems to me that your telegram
sent from st. Louis to Bryan put him
in a pretty bad hole, said The Repub
lie correspondent.
mo, it put the Populists in a hole.
I sent that telegram from my room. As
it was first written it contained no ad e
vice. | handed it to the operator, then
took it from him, reread, said That liz
cowardly, and inserted the words: : l
would decline the nomination.
The promptness with which | re-
ceived the reply was surprising. 1t WAS
back inside Of Is minutes.
NY friends looked upon my action put
ting Bryan on record from various
standpoints One, trusted and true
friend, said Jones. that arm of yours
would better have been paralyzed before
it wrote that message. The next day
he congratulated me-
Il had full confidence in my judgment
in the matter. 1t was the manly thing
TO do. Some men had forgotten that
there was Democratic party. Bryan
could not be put in the position of be
traying Mr.. Sewall.
Mr.. Bryan course did not prevent
his Endorsement by the Populists, and
it brought him many Democratic votes
from men who thought he had Populistie
tendencies. -