The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1900-11-09
EXPLAINS THE REASONS FOR
HIS DEFEAT.
NO REPR0ACHES TO MAKE
Will Continue Actively in Politics.
Will Not Go to the Senate.
His Leaders Praised.

LluCOIn, NOV. c-W. d.. bryan To-
night gave out the following state
ment concerning the election:
"The result was a surprise to me
and the magnitude Of the republican
victory was a surprise to our oppo-
nents, as we'll as to those who voted
our ticket. 1t is impossible to analyze
the returns until they are more COM
plete, but speaking generally, we seem
to have gained in the large cities and
to have lost in the smaller cities and
in the country.
"The republicans were able to Sc
cure tickets or passes for all of their
voters who We're away from home,
and this gave them a considerable adj
vantage.
1--WE have no way of knowing at
this time how much money was spent
in the purchase of votes and in col
onization. But while these would ac-
count for some of the republican gains
they would not account for the wide
spread increase in the republican vote.
The prosperity argument was prob
ably the most potent one used by the
republicans. They compared the
present conditions with the panic
times of 1913 to '96, and this argument
had its weight with those who did
not stop to consider the reasons for
the change.
1.-The appeal to stand by the presi-
dent while the war is on, had a great
deal Of influence among those who
did not realize that the wal against
the doctrine of self-government in the
Philippines must react upon us in
this country.
"We made an honest fight upon an
honest platform, and having done our
duty, as we saw it. we have nothing
to regret. We are defeated but not
discouraged. The fight must go on.
I am sure the republican policies will
be %repudiated by the people when the
tendency of these policies are fully
understood.
"The contest between the pluto
cracy and democracy cannot end until
one or the other is completely tium-
plant"
Concerning himself Bryan said: II
have come out of the capmaign with
perfect health and a clear conscience.
| did my utmost to bring success to
the principles for which I stood.
Stevenson did all he could; Senator
Jones and members of the democratic,
populist, silver republican and anti
imperialist committees did all they
could. Hearst and his associates in
the club organization, put forth their
best efforts. Our newspapers, our
campaign speeches and our local
organizations all did their part. I
have no fault to find and no reproach-
es to make.
II shall continue to take an active
interest in politics as long as | live.
I believe it to be the duty of the citi-
zens to do SO, and in addition to my
interest as a citizen, / feel that it will
require a life time of work to repay
the political friends who have done SO
much for me.
II shall not be a senatorial candi-
date before the legislature which has
been elected. Senator Allen deserves
the senatorship which goes to a popu-
list, Hitchcock and W. II. Thompson
are ayowed candidates for a senator
ship. They both deserve well of the
party, and ! am too grateful to them
for their past support, to stand in
their way even if I desired a seat in
the senate"
Mr.. Bryan said he has 40 other
plans at present than to remain at
home until he had recovered from the
fatigue of campaigning, He denied
the report that he would remove from
Nebraska and make Texas his home,