The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-02-11
BRYAN WILL NOT CHANCE HIS MIND Will Continue to Make Speeches Against PIutocracy' GETS BACK AT PATTERSON Says He Is Not Supporting Any Mans Boom for NomlnatIon-There
 Are Many Important
 Issues.
GETS BACK AT PATTERSON

Mrs. Bryan and Miss Bryan are the guests of MT. and Mrs. John W. Tomlin- son. Last night MT. Bryan received sev- eral friends and during some of the more extended conversations talked of the political situation.
 My trip abroad has not changed my views in the least on the questions which confront the country" said MT. Bryan and I am as much opposed as ever to the usurpation of the rights of the peo- pie by few private monopolles. I will never consent to the surrender of in- dividuaIity to party policy that will win. I had rather lose believing we are right than to win with the odium of cor ruption about us.'
 MT. Bryan declined to discuss candi- dates saying that ths was not the prop CT time; besides principles were the more important. His attention was called to recent remark by Henry Watterson that the Hearst boom consisted of big bar rel with dollar mark on one end and MT. Bryan's picture on the other.
 Concerning Watterson's Statement.
 He remembered having read MT. Waiter sons statement and said: For the bene- fit of those who really want to know, I will say that l am not supporting any mans boom for the nomination." and smilingly added: If MT. Watterson will inspect the barrel with which he is most familiar he will not find my photograph on either end"
 When asked the direct question as to what he thought the paramount issue to be embodied in the democratic platform he replied:
 There are several important issues but underneath them there lies a ques- tion more important than all. This is the question of morality and the refusal of the democratic party to surrender to the monopolies for the mere sake of success"
 Referring to the Kansas City platform and especially the free silver plank, Mir Bryan said that the silver question was an issue behind which the monopolies had hidden. Tt is not dead question:" he said, "or they would not so vigorously oppose it.
 The Silver Question.
 'In the campaign of 1900 l kept the sill yer question in the background and made most of my speeches on the trust ques- tion and imperialism. Notwithstanding that silver was kept in the rear, the Wall street inanciers continually brought it to the front. It was not the silver ques- ton that caused the democratic defeat, put the enormous campaign funds which had been raised by the republicans and contributed by the trust magnates and Wall street
 As an example of this" said MT. Bryan. I've had an illustration in Ohio. MT. Clark. who was the democratic candidate for United States senator, was a gold bug in both of my campaigns, and when he began his campaign he announced that he had not changed his mind. This fact was published by the republican papers and distributed broadcast over the state. Notwithstanding his opposition to free sll- yer. MT. Clark was the worst defeated candidate that ever ran for the senate in Ohio"
 Japan and Russia. 1 MT. Bryan is very much interested in | the war between Japan and Russia, but would not be quoted as to which country he thought was right. He said, however, that he thought Japan was feeling a It. l tie proud of her new navy and wanted to l try 1t against Russia He believed this | feeling had considerable to do with the nasty beginning of hostllties. q met Czar Nicholas while in Russia" said MT. Bryan "and found him a very amiable man. I was with him for about half hour and he appeared very much in- terested in American institutions. He speaks English perfectly. If he had not" laughingly added MT. Bryan, "I fear I would have had some trouble with his Russian"
 Mr. Bryan talked at length about his visit to Count Tolstoi, and said that he never spent few hours more pleasantly. Returning to politics the former demo- cratic leader was asked if he intended to continue making speeches on the political situation throughout the country.
 q most certainly shall.' replied MT. Bryan. that is, as far as can We have some deep subjects for the party to think about. and I feel 1t my duty to say what I can against the proposed surrender to the money power and the trusts" MT Bryan leaves this morning for Tuscaloosa where he speaks at noon to the students of the state university. He goes from there to Montgomery, where -1,A