Omaha daily bee., 1899-10-12
BRYAN In A CORNER
Free Silver Champion Stands Before the
World self.Oonvictsd Word Juggler,
]. STERLING MORTON PRODUCES A LETTER
Makes the Perennial Presidential Candidate
Contradict Himself Flatly.
MONEY IN OFFICE THAT ATTRACTS MEo
Bryan Denies in an Interview that He Ever
Made Any Such Statement.
ex-SECRETARY SHOWS THE DOCUMENT
Places the Lincoln Man in an I'm
comfortable Prcdicnment-ycry
Readable story from n Re-
publican Standpoint.
MONEY IN OFFICE THAT ATTRACTS ME-"
Bryan Denies in an Interview that He Ever
Made Any Such Statement.
tX-sEcRETARY SHOWS THE DOCUMENT

LINCOLN. Oct. 11-(special)-J. Sterling
Morton made the assertion In the Conserva-
tive several weeks ago that w. j. Bryan
had said he wanted office for money and not
for honor. The Bee, in its issue OF Sep
| tember 27, contained an interview with
Bryan, in which he positively denied that he
| had ever made such an assertion. Unde-
niable proof is presented that Mr..
Bryan did say that he wanted office for
money and not for honor.
Because OF this unequivocal and sweeping
denial of Mr.. Bryan and because with the
| denial he named the editor of the Conserva-
tive in an offensive and accusing manner.
]. Sterling Morton produces for vindlcation
| and verihcation and as rebuttal OF the un-
equivocal denial, letter written by Mr..
Bryan on January H. 1899. in which he
says
81 assure you that it is the money that Is
| in the office and not the honor that attracts
me-
The publication OF this letter recalls Mr..
| Bryan's early political history. The man
who sprang so quickly into world famed
reputation located at Lincoln in 1888 and
short time later formed partnership with
A. r. Talbot, under the firm name of Talbot
& Bryan. In December 1889. the year
following Mr. Bryan became an applicant for
the position OF secretary of the State Board
OF Transportation. He had taken an active
part in politics from the day he located in
the city and he naturally had many political
friends who were willing to assist him in
getting the position. He had supported j.
Sterling Morton for congressman from the
First district during the campaign of 1888
and Morton reciprocated by endorsing him
for the secretaryship.
Copy of the Letter.
The monetary question was not an i'm
portant issue at that time and Mr.. Morton
and Bryan were warm political friends. Con-
siderable correspondence passed between the
two and the following is copy of one of
the letters written by Mr.. Bryan:
LINCOLN, Neb., Jan. IL, 1ss9.-Hon.
]. Sterling Morton, Nebraska City, Neb.:
Dear Friend-Your kind letter to Mr..
Lease was received and delivered l think
| it was we'll received. The P. S. was judic-
ious, l think. l am grateful to you for
your Endorsement. Had hesitated to write
sure you that it is the money that Is in
the Office. not the honor that attracts me.
II successful in getting it, 1t will tide me
over my beginning here. With regards to
the ladies' l am. yours very truly
"W. ]. BRYAN"
Perennial Candidate for once.
Failing to secure the appointment to the
railway commission Mr.. Bryan continued
the practice of law, but in 1890 he an
nounced his candidacy for congressman, and
in fact, has been a candidate for office ever
since. A. ]. Sawyer and a number of other
prominent First district democrats asked
Mr.. Morton to come out as candidate but
he replied mo; not to go and ask any one
to vote for me or work for me-" His refusal
to run made the nomination OF Bryan pos
sible and these in charge of the democratic
machinery turned to the young orator and
he was nominated. John II. Ames of this
city, now gold standard man, chair
man of the congressional committee and II
was he who started the Bryan boom. Since
the memorable state convention OF 1892 the
two men who worked together in the cam
u paign of 1888 have been drifting farther and
n. farther apart. Morton pronounced for the
rk gold standard and laid down his views from
of typewriter manuscript SO that there could
s. be no dispute as to where he stood on the
nc situation. Bryan left the party, Ames re-
.,S signed from the Craftsmanship OF the con.
to gressional committee because of the con.
I'M gressional nominees views on the none,
a
~ ~ his previous campaign
ma Bryan's repeated utterances concernin.
IT. the Nervousness of the money power and tn,
-al greed for wealth recalled to ]. Sterling Nor
ny toms mind the assertion made in 1889 ant
search was instituted among the files o
papers at Arbor Lodge for the letter I
- was found among number OF other letters
by written by Mr.. Bryan, all somewhat simla
on and equally interesting. One OF them is
Oh message sent after Mr.. Morton's defeat To-
~ congress, congratulating him for running
nor ahead Of his ticket. Only a few month";
Der after this Mr. Bryan told his friends tina
rth he could get even more votes than Mr.. Nor
ton got or could get,
The charge made by Morton was copet
by number Of newspapers and on Tuesday
er- September 26, Mr.. Bryan was tntervlewe
lrd by correspondent for The Omaha Bee a
ng to whether or not he had ever made tn
he assertion referred by by Mr. Morton.
hu Bryan's Denial.
be
II am willing to stand on my record
said Mr.. Bryan. "and let the people judg
whether ever made such statement.
sp- positively deny the assertion, but do no
IN. care to be quoted as saying So If too
es- occasion to deny all OF the false statement
en- made about me | would be kept busy all tn
time. l do not propose to travel around tb