Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-08-01
SAYS He HOLDS OFFICE THROUGH FRAUD
Surprising Message from scotland Dealing
with Democratic Party Affairs
MEMBERS PRESENCE JEoPARDlzES PARTY
sullivan Was First Quietly Asked to
Resign His Position.
MESSAGE TO ILLINOIS VOTERS MADE PUBLIC
Failure of sullivan to obey order
of Nebrasknn Brings strong
ArrniEnment of COurHe of
Illinois Man.

CHICAGO July S-Judge Owen p.
Thompson OF jacksonville, ILL.,, announced
this afternoon that IN letter dsted July
II William D. Bryan requested Judge
Thompson call upon Mr.. II Z .pivan
with message from Mr.. Brya " ing
that Mr.. Sullivan In the intere z. r
mony resign as national CONN, z
from Illinois. Judge Thompson 8, n.
saw Mr Sullivan today end delivercN
Dryans message Mr.. Sullivan decline6
resign as requested.
Judge Thompson thereupon made public a
letter from Mr.. Bryan declaring that Ma
tional Committeeman Sullivan holds the
Office by a fraud and that 1t is impossible
for honest democrats to associate with Mr..
Sullivan as a member of the national COM
mittee.
Text of Letters.
Mr. Bryan's letter is as follows:
The Trossachs Hotel, Loeb Katriua
Scotland, July 17.-Judge o. p. Thompson
Jacksonville Ill.-My Dear Judge. dht
going 70 intrust you with a message to
Roger sullivan. II were at home
would see him myself but as l do not ar
rive until after your state convention and
as l think action ought to be taken at
Please say to Mr.. Sullivan that he has
expressed a desire for harmony, and that
! assume that he means to help the parry
to the extent Of his ability, but there -
but one way In which he can promote
harmony and that Is by resignng as ma
tional committeeman. We are approach
ing another national campaign and our
party's chances all depend upon its ability
TO convince The public of its good nt-l
tions. Mr.. Sullivan's presence on the COM
mittee contradicts all that we can say .n
the party's behalf. His corporate connec-I 4
tions would harm the party far beyond
, his power 10 aid the organization, but thif
could he left for some future conVentloI
ito deal with If he was actually the choif
iOf the democrats of Illinois.
Holds ONCE by FrRud.
! The fact, however, that he holds ~
ofice by a fraud and against the eN rs
Wishes OF majority OF the dcmocT Aiee
for honest democrats TO associate ith
him as a member of the committ. IL
we do not maintain the right of ~ 5. 5na.
jorlty to control party policy and Nelect
the partys representatives, Tor vhat can
we contend? The fact that Mr.. bulllVan
has spoken kindly OF me enablf me TO
discuss tho matter without riskNof nav
ms mI actions attributed to RersOl,di
nafice, but he Ought to see thaH would
be unworthy of any ones conhNnce u /
failed TO protest against his cQftinuance
upon the committee, either to Foncliiate
him or out of fear of his hostilif; There
Is room in the party for all wh@ honest.y
favor democratic principles, Abut the
leadership must be in the hanP OF those
who have the confidence of IN party ana
whose prominence will sire Ethen the
party, IL he VIII at once sendMis reslgna-
tion TO the chairman OF the tMlohal Colil-
mittee and make the matter Rblc ne VIII
show his desire TO help the #rty and Will
do much to restore himself II the opinion
of those who felt outrageN by the last
state convention. If he req Hhses to resign
and thus puts his ambition MS business
before the party's successf the sooner ne
Is elected from the commf tee the better
II ought TO be made an ishue In the state
convention, II necessary for the de-
mocracy of Illinois car fot night under
such leadership and oueNt not to permit
itself TO be misrepreseTted on the ma
tional committee. YourL truly.
wv J. BRYAN.
Message TO uIInoh Democrats.
The Trossachs Hotel Loeb Katrine.
sonvilie, Iii.~My Dear Judge; If the eff
fort TO induce Mr.. sullivan to resign from
the national committse fails I wish you
would deliver the following message to
the democrats of Illifois:
You live in the largest of the western
states and must play an important part
in the work which lies before the demo-
Semocratie sSSS Ptii' principles 30 long as you per.
eiplos, aIi snf na%eIy SsS the FIJI Of the majority
selected as national gmmitteeman by del
egates who were no i chosen by the con-
in "tfU" the high crimes and misdemeanors
committed against tte democracy of MI
nois. hts refusal to resign cannot be at
tributCd to Ignorance OF the facts, but II
proof positive OF his unfitness for the
place. We are about to enter upon a
campaign IN winch our party VIII hppehl
to the people and ask the confidence or
the nation. l do not know how you the
democrats of Illinois. could better open
that campaign In your state than by de
mandinE his resignation. Let IL be known
that YOU insist on honest politics within
the party and then you will be believed
when YOU plead for honesty in the gov
ernment l sorry that your conven-
tion meets before | return, for | would be
glad to come TO Illinois and give you any
assistance within my power, l have
avoided taking part In the personal con-
tests within the party, but whenever any
one calling himself a democrat assaults
the right Of the uarty to govern itself
do not hesitate to take part in the night
had hoped that he would resign in he
Interests OF harmony, hut his refusal
leaves YOU no choice but TO repudiate him
or abandon democratic principles. With
best wishes for your success, | am, yours
very truly, WILLIAM j. BRYAN.
The charges of fraud brought by William
]. Bryan. I'm connection with the selection
OF Roger Sullivan as democratic natons
committeeman from Illinois. are based or
the action OF the committee on credentials
of the democratic state convention of 19O
in unseatinR a number OF delegates from
Cook county and seating contesting dele
gates. backed by the so-called Hopkins.
sullivan organization, thus giving the con,
trol OF the convention to the latter or,
gsnization.
The action was bitterly contested anC
later was brought before the democratic
national committee by Mr. Bryan,
sTVFvAN REPLIES IN auyaN