The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-07-03
BRYAN CANNOT srULTIFY HIMSELF.
The Platform on Which he Runs Must Declare
Specifically for l6 tol
(By The Associated Press.)

Kansas City, July 2.-An interesting
story got afioat today concerning let
ter said to have been sent to Mr.. Bryan
by Democratic leaders here. This let
ter according to general report outlined
the situation and suggested that Mr.. Bry-
an ought to make concessions regard
ing the platform so that those who want
ed modification would be conciliated.
1t was stated that the concession asked
for made victory possible, while without
the campaign would be hard one.
Many leaders were mentioned as having
acquiesced in or signed the letter to Mr..
Bryan Hon. James Kerr. one of the
delegates from Pennsylvania, who set out
for Lincoln last night, accompanied by
ex-Congressman Mutchler and another
PENNSYLVANIA delegate, is said to have
carried the letter to Lincoln. 1t was re-
ported that this letter was signed by or
approved by Senator Jones, Ex-Governor
Stone, j. G. Johnson, James Guffey and
d. ]. Campau, all members of the Ma
tional Committee and members OF the
Executive Committee. Most of these gen.
tlemen said they had not signed such
letter. but there was an intimation from
a. reliable quarter that some such move
-
some OF these gentlemen were laid be-
fore Mr.. Bryan in way to indicate tnat
they believed it would be better policy to
realfirm the Chicago platform and not IN
sist upon the specific declaration Tor 10
to 1. The impression prevails that the
leaders are not likely to meet with much
announcement in such movement, es-
pecially in view of the action OF the Ne
braska delegation which declared ex-
plicitly today for the old ratio.
Cato Sells, chairman of the Iowa dele
CATION. who spent three hours closeted
with Mr. Bryan yesterday said tonlgnt
when told of the movement to nave Mr'
Bryan agree to the elimination OF a specl-
fc plank in the platform calling for the
free coinage of silver at the ration OF 10
| to 1.
81 talked over the whole situation with
Mr.. Bryan, and l have not the slightest
| hesitancy in saying that the gentlemen
who have gone to Lincoln with the idea
of getting Mr.. Bryan to hedge on the
proposition of 16 to 1 will do nothing but
go UP the hill and then come down again.
l know exactly what l am saying wien
tell you that there is not the slightest
chance in the world to get Mr.. Bryan TO
accept any evasion or abridgement OF the
! 16 to l proposition. He will run On
platform containing the plank, or he will
not run at all, l am positive there will
| be no fight against the 16 e. / plark
which will compel Mr.. Bryan to change
his attitude. There is nothing in inc
world that will have the power to do
| that This is absolutely certain az 4 al
these gentlemen who try anything to The
contrary are simply wasting their time,
! and Efforts
Quite different view of the matte" WAS
taken by Thomas Gehan, Natioaal Com
mitteeman from Illinois. He said.' Wien
told of the attitude of Mr. pryAn:
I'VE do not want a 16 to l plank in
the platform and we will not have =
there if we can help it. The reafirmation
of the silver plank in the platform adopt
ed four years ago covers the ground
amply"
Judge A. S. Libbetts, of Lincoln, chair
man of the Nebraka delegation, said tnas
| it could be accepted as positive thai Mr..