The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-03-21
BRYAN REFUSES
TO Be PRESENT
Will Not Attend Demo-
cratic Clubs Banquet.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn, March 20
q. Hon. ". J. bryan gave out the follow
ing correspondence to-day to the AS
ISOLATED Press, having been notified
that IL had not been made public by
Mr.. Belmont. Mr.. Bryan stated that
he had nothing to say about the mat
ter. but that the correspondence spoke
for itself:
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. March 16.-Hon.
Perry Belmont, President Democratic
Club, New York: Dear SRI received a
few days ago the following telegram:
NEW YORK, March 5.-Hon. w. J.
Bryan, Lincoln, Nebr.: In arranging the
toasts and responses at the banquet of
the Democratic Club on Jefferson's birth
day, April l3, the committee are most de-
sirOus. II your engagements viii permit
your attendance, to have YOU select such
subject as you prefer to discuss in your
own way, within the limit for all speeches
OF twenty minutes. Please wire reply.
PERRY BELMONT, President.
RICHARD CROKER, Chairman.
Upon my return to Nebraska sent the
following inquiry,
LINCOLN, Nebr., March 13.-Hon.
Perry Belmont. Democratic Club, New
York: Invitation received. Remember
ing that you openly repudiated the Dem
ocratic platform in the last campaign, 1
desire to know before answering invita- =
ton whether you have since the election
publicly announced your conversion to the
principles set forth in that platform:
Nv. J. BRYAN"
have just received your reply:
NEW YORK, March 1.-The invita-
ton EXTENDED to you is on be
half of the Democratic Club. Individ-
ual opinions have not been considered in
issuing the invitation to celebrate the
birthday OF Thomas Jefferson.
PERRY BELMONT"
might plead a previous engagement as
a reason for declining, but that would be
equivalent TO saying that would come
but for the engagement, but franknesS
compels me to add another reason. l ap-
preciate the compliment which the Demo-
cratic club pays me in extending an in
vitatiOn. but ! do not understand how in
dividual opinions can be ignored at po-
litical gathering You are the president
- of the club and represent the club before
the public. Your position upon public
questions was well known in 1895 and your
telegram indicates tnat your position has
not been changed. My position upon pub
lie questions is also well known. The an
tagOnism between our positions is so
great that we cannot with propriety join
in q political banquet given in honor OF
. DenOcraCy'S patron saint. Jefferson stood
for certain we!l-denned principles. II
your views are a correct reflection OF his
Ideas I fear that my voice would sound
discOrdant at your banquet II, on the
other hand, the Chicago platform applies
(as believe it does Jeffersonian princi-
pies to the present conditions, then your
Conspicuous presence at the Jeffersonian
banquet would not honor the memory OF
the worlds greatest Democrat
Do not misunderstood me. You may De
right and may be wrong. but take II
for granted that we are equally conScfen-
tfous and I trust I may not show myself
less courageous than you You proclaim
ed 10 your fellOW-citizens IN 1896 that my
election upon q Democratic platform
would endanger the nations welfare; YOU
will pardon me If I suggest that a ban
Got DreSided over by you will iniure
ratheT than aid the Democratic party.
believe in harmoniZing personal differ
ences but difference in principles cannot
lie harmonized. and in my Judgment no
Tartv advantage Is to be derived from
political communion between Jeffersonian
democrats who stand upon the Chicago
15Iafforn1 and the Republican allies who
masouerade as Democrats between cam
paigns in order TO give more potency to
on election day. Yours truly
WILLIAM J. BRYAN.