The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-14

Prints Response In the 'COmmOner'' and
Promises To Say NO More.

LINCOLN, Neb.. Sept. l3,-In Tomorrow
CoMmoNsr Mr.. Bryan will make a state
ment closing, 30 far a. he II concerned
the Roger Sullivan incident. IL Is as fol-
lows:
I'm hiS speech before the jefferson Club,
on the evening Of September =, Mr.. Bryan
referred TO the case u Mr.. Roger Sullivan
Democratic national committeeman from
Illinois. Mr.. Sullivan has replied In a
statement Characteristic Of the man and
his methods, but he will not he permitted
to lower this discussion to the level OF a
personal controversy.
THE public Ia not interested in Mr.. Sui
livnn's views OF Mr.. Bryan any more than
IL would be interested in Mr.. Brysn's views
concerning Mr.. Sullivan, were Mr.. Bryan
to deal with Mr.. Sullivan's personality.
-Mr. Sullivan il the Democratic national
committeeman from Illinois, holding his
Office by virtue Of unfair methods. This mat
ter was presented TO the st. Louis owen
ton, and the evidence would have convinced
the convention had not the delegates feared
the effect Of an adverse decision upon the
Presidential candidate whom they were
III Mr.. Sullivan disputes the assertion
hat a considerable majority OF the dele
gates TO the Springfield. ILL.,. convention
were opposed to him, he can fight the quee-
ton out with the Majority League OF II
linois, which will doubtless accommodate
him.
AS Mr.. Bryan has not asked for a nomi-
nation and has not announced that he will
be a candidate, he will not submit the ques-
ton whether he should he a candidate to
! Mr.. Sullivan or to any body Of persons less
numerous than the members OF the Demo-
cratic party Of the United States. Neither
can the question as to whether Mr.. Sullivan
should be reelected to the national COM
mittee be submitted to the members ot .
convention already adjourned. Such a de-
cision would have no binding force.
The question must be submitted to the
Democrats Of Illinois when they meet to
select delegates to the next national con-
v%ention, and Mr.. sullivan will not be per-
mitted to dodge the issue that Is raised
against him
He Is officially connected with a favor
seeking. franchise holding corporation, and
the question Is whether the Democratic
organization should be paralyzed by the
influence Of men whose private interests
make il impossible for them to be guardians
OF the public.
in speaking Of the Sullivan case at
Chicago, Mr.. Bryan said
Il hold that no man who II officially con-
nected with. a corporation that II seeking
privileges ought 20 act as a member OF a
political organization, because he cannot
represent his corporation and the people
at the same time. He cannot serve the
| public while he is seeking to promote the
financial interests OF the corporation with
which he is connected.
This is the issue. Before the trust
question became the dominant one il was
not 80 important what a mans corporate
connections were; but when this question
is the supreme question Of the hour, the
party organization must be above suspicion,
and the Democrats Of Illinois and all other
States are invited to inspect the connections
OF those who aspire To the position Of party
manager. The people cannot be ooled
and the party hat attempts TO fool them
is sure TO learn Of its mistake when the
votes are counted.
THE Commoner will urge the Democratic
party to put itself in a position where II
| can fight boldly and persistently for the
regulation Of such corporations as are no
monopolistic and for the prevention OF any
private monopoly whatever.
ITO this end the organization must bt
composed Of men who are free to act fol
the public and not tied by personal interests
TO corporations which are seeking favor'
at the public's expense"
In a note elsewhere Mr.. Bryan admits
that Mr.. Sullivan 10 technically correct
when he says Bryan wrote no letter &C
him. Bryan adds that he sent it to Judge
Thomson to read to Sullivan.