Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1904-07-06
PARKER A TRUST CANDIDATE.
Bryan Turns the Limeight on the
Leading Presidential Candidate.

Leading Presidential Candidate.
St. Louis, July 3.-William Jennings
Bryan arrived at the Jefferson hotel
shortly before noon today. The in
stant that he walked into the lobby
he was surrounded by a crowd that
pessed forward to shake his hand
There was no cheering or demonstra
tion of any kind beyond the pressure
of the throng which finally became sc
dense that he had difficulty in reach
ing his rooms. AS soon as he entered
the door Of his apartment, the visit
ors were upon him, and from that
time on he was given no rest. He
declined to express an opinion regard
ing the outcome of the convention
Il see," he said, that 1t has been
reported that | am to be a member
Of the committee on credentials.
would like to be but l will not be.
am to be member Of the COMMITTEES
on resolutions and l could hardly
serve on them both"
On the subject of the platform Mr.
Bryan was more non-committal. 81
have heard talk" he said, "of q gold
plank in the platform. OF course. II
goes without saying that I am op
posed to such thing and will moi
stand for it."
Does that mean that If a gold
plank is inserted in the platform that
you will leave the convention?"
Mr.. Bryan laughed heartily. as he
replied, 81 do not think that | will
be called to answer that question In
the convention any more than / am
compelled to answer it now. Really
| cannot discuss such u question"
When asked II he had any particu
lar plank that he proposed to father
before the committee on resolutions
Mr.. Bryan declined to say, merely re
marking, Il cannot talk on that mat
ter before the meeting Of the commit
tee on resolutions"
Neither would he say If he would
accept financial plank compromising
between an affirmation of the Kan
sas City and Chicago platforms and
a gold plank. Mr.. Bryan said he hop
ed to see a platform satisfactory to
the Democrats who had borne the
burden of the fight in recent cam
paigns. On the subject of candidates
he maintains the attitude that he has
maintained all along saying that he
is not urging the nomination of any
particular person and will be satisfied
with anyone whose Democracy is un
questioned and who can be trusted tC
faithfully carry out Democratic prin
ciples and policies after election.
Later in the day Mr.. Bryan gave out
the following statement:
After conferences with a number
of delegates from various sections,
am satisfied that the opposition to Mr.
Parker is sufficient to make his nom
ination improbable. There has beer
no concentration on any candidate
but two arguments are having weigh
with the delegates. Among the rad
icals the feeling is that the party mus
not be surrendered into the hands o
Wall street.
THE influences back of the Parke
candidacy are so intimately associat
ed with the trusts and great corpora
tions that the Democratic party coult
not appeal to the masses. The partl
W tutluot It's
to the men who were responsible foI
the party's defeat in 1896 and 1900
II Mr. Parker had a record of his owl
he might be judged upon that record
But as he has refused to speak b,
must be judged by the record of hli
political manager, former Senator Hi
and his financial agent. August Bel
mont and their record
"A man who is already weak enough
to put his candidacy In their hands
before the convention would not b'
strong enough to resist their influence
after the election II he was by an,
possibility successful.
"The second objection Is the ont
that carries weight with the consery
ative delegates. viz:
THAT he cannot win. II Is becom
ing more and more apparent that h,