The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1900-03-22
GOVERNOR STEHHENS
States His Position as to Dele
gate-at-Large
TO THE NATIONAL CONVENTION.
Reviews Some Interviews of Ex-Gov.
Stone on the Subject lis Friend
of Bryan, and Stands Squarely
on the Chicago Platfdrm.

Governor Stephens was asked Tues
day concerning ex-GOv. Stones va
rious interviews ON the question of
the delegates -at-large from Missouri
to the next national democratic con-
ventiou. Replying, he said:
Il stand on the question as far as
[ am personally concerned where L
stood six months ago. At that time
| stated that | would appreciate the
honor OF being one of our four dele
gdtes-It-large, but that | would not
be iii any sense a candidate would
make no effort to be selected, and
would be content to keep hands of
and leave the matter wholly to the
democratic party of the state. ! re-
peat now, | would be proud of the
honor if it were conferred upon me,
it must be practically conferred IN
solicited.
AS to Gov. Stones attituCs
toward me now, | will confess | am
ignorant and wholly undisturbed and
Indifferent. A few months ago Gov.
Stone and | met in ST. Louis, after
designing parties had been endeavor-
ing to bring urfriends over the state
into a clash with each other Atthat
meeting | assured Governor Stone
| was not a candidate for national
committeeman, as had been reported
and if hedesired to succeed himself on
the committee | would be pleased to
support him. Every st. Louis paper
contained interviews with him on the
subject the day following the confer
ence. To one he said:
"'Yes, | saw Governor Stephens at
| the Planters House yesterday. He
said that the recent publications to
the effect that he would oppose me
for national committeeman were ut
terly groundless, but on the contrary,
he said he favored me for the place if
| desired it. He said that he would
be pleased to go to the national con
vention as delegate-at-large. But
beyond saying, az he did, that he
would appreciate his selection az del
egate-at-large as a compliment. he
had done nothing to bring it about
and really felt no special interest III
the matter. | replied that l had fully
stated my position touching dele
gates and committeeman on Tuesday
morning, and could add nothing to
what | then said, beyond this, that
if the governor desired to go as
delegate at-large it would be entirely
agreeable to me and that | had no
doubt he would be chosen without
opposition.
ITO another one he is reported as
saying:
"1es, Governor Stephens said to
me, or | said to him, that there was
no reason why he should not be Sc
lected as one OF the national dele
gates-at-large. | repeated to him
what | had said to Sam Cook and
dozens of others, that | had no OBJ
iectiOns to his going as a delegate-at-
large if he wanted to, and that if he
desired the honor there would certain
~ be no objection from me-
ITO another paper he said;
81 simply assured Governor Steph-
ems that | knew OF no reason why we
should disagree, and that if he cared
to go to the national convention he
had my fullest support.
Il noticed a recent interview with
him, after returning froma meeting
OF the state committee, in which he
was reported as saying: Phelps
and Stephens may 90 to the national
convention as delegates-at-large but
they will not go with my consent.
They may win by the use of transpor-
tation and all the other corrupt
agencies at their command, but / will
be at that convention, and | will do
all can to prevent their success.
When in Kansas City the ex-Gov-
ernor was again interviewed. Asked
if he would fight the candidacy of
Governor Stephens for delegate-at-
large. he said: i don't believe in
making personal fight on anyone.
| hope the delegates selected, both
at large and from the districts, will
be men of intelligence and true repre-
sentatives of the democratic party.
These are the only utterances have