Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-27
MAY BE A CANDIDATE, AGAIN
I'M
w. j. BRYAN NON-COMMITTAL AS TO
FUTURE.
He Leaves the Matter to Destiny
Speech at Banquet in
Lincoln, Neb.

A dispatch from oLincoln, Neb., last night
says: The annual banquet of the Jeffer-
sonian Club of Lincoln tonight at the Lin
coin Hotel brought together nearly 300
representative men, of the democratic and
populist parties of Nebraska, together with
a number of leaders from other states.
William ]. Bryan made his first appear
ance at a public gathering since the cleo
ton. and the greeting accorded him was
never more hearty and spontaneous in his
home city His address received the closest
attention and the applause was frequent.
Aside from the remarks of Mr.. Bryan
the event of the evening was the speech
of John w. Kern, defeated democratic can
didate for governor of Indiana, who
aroused the banqueters to high pitch of
enthusiasm, not only by his laudation of
Mr.. Bryan. but by his outspoken criticism
of those democrats whom he accused OF
contributing to his (Bryan's) defeat. His
denuncati of democrats who offered
"gratuitous counsel to democracy though
he mentioned no names, was accepted by
| the crowd a reference to former Presf-
| dent Cleveland
| 1t was after 10 o'clock when the dinner
| was finished and the speaking began. MIR.
Bryan, whose subject was principles
Live said, in part:
cat this banquet, surrounded by neigh
| bors who have been my friends for ten
years, / may be pardoned for saying a
word of a personal nature Five times
you have voted for me for public office
twice for Congress, once for the United
States Senate and twice for the presidency
and no candidate ever received more loyal
support than you have given.
whether l shall ever be a candidate for
office again is question which must be
determined by events. No one can speak
with certainty of the future, for ones des-
tiny is not known until his life's work is
complete. | shall be content II 1t Is my
80 ntl -, fha ~, Of mr.
! while others enjoy the honors and bear the
responsibility of office.
THE presidency seemed desirable, be-
cause it would have enabled me to give
effective aid to certain reforms which L
believe to be necessary to the public well
| fare, but defeat-even second defeat
does not lessen my interest In this reform,
and time may prove that my work Is to
advocate rather than to execute.
The commoner will give me an opportun-
| ity to participate in public discussions, and
/ am sure that an editorial pursuit will fur
nsh as much intellectual enjoyment as
could have found in the White House, and
| In addition thereto will give me more time
| for home pleasures.
| The principles for which we contended
| In the last campaign still live, and we who
| believe in them must continue to fight for
| them. An election does not change prin-
| ciples; it only determines what principles
| shall be for the time being applied.
John w. Kern Of Indiana spoke to the
| toast THE Rank and File
| Mr.. Kern spoke in praise Of Richard Oh
ney, David B. Hill. Bourke Cochran, John
| De Witt Warner, Robert E. Pattison, Alex
K. Mcclure, Arthur p German, Henry Wat
| terson and other gold democrats for their
| course in the Iate campaign and their
patriotic protests against the advance Of
| the hosts Of imperialism" and continued
TT is in no spirit of bitterness. however,
| I add that there were a few men, once
| prominent in democratic ranks, who in the
midst Of all the stormy scenes Of this
! mighty contest took occasion to furnish aid
| and comfort to the enemy by making pub
| lie denial that they were in sympathy with
| the cause OF the people. or to express their
| regrets that such painful and distressing
| issues We're before the people. For the
| shall attempt no harsh criticism of the
course of these gentlemen, but l will not
| forbear saying here and everywhere that
| they need not be surprised if any gratuitous
the millions of loyal democrats who fought
the good fight ard kept the faith shall fall
upon reluctant ears
The speaker asserted that the rank and
file of the party In 1900 was the same rank
and file, voting for bimetallism and tariff
rank and flle.'' he continued. (which, tired
of the domination Of few men, In 1895
literally took possession of the democratic
party and made it in every sense a party of
the people,
The other speakers and their toasts were:
"Commerciaism Menace to Liberty" w
M. Morning. Lincoln; THE Press" r. L.
Metcalfe, Omaha; What Fusion Has Done
for Nebraska Gov. w. A Poynter: "Our
Friends at Home and Abroad" Rev. T. w.
c. Cheeseman, Ashland: THE Drama Of
Politics. Congressman A. c. Shallenherger:
REORGANIZATION" David Overmeyer. Kan
sas; THE Reorganization Hypocrisy,
Charles K. Ladd, Illinois.