Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-09-11
SulIivan's Statement.

situation
SuIivan's Statement.
New York, Sept. S.-Roger G. Sulli-
van Of Chicago. who was read out OF
the democratic party by William Jen-
nings Bryan in his Chicago speech last
Tuesday night, slapped back In man.
ner most hearty at the peerless one
in a sizzling statement which he gave
our here yesterday.
Mr.. Sullivan does not conceal the
fact that with him and Bryan it is war
to the knife and he does not intend to-
spare the knife.
Just before the meeting of the Pe-
oria convention last month Mr.. Bryan
sent letter to Judge o. P. Thompson,
one of the powers in the Illinois de-
mocracy, saying that Sullivan should
be ruled out of the national convention
or he, Bryan, would not consider the
Endorsement of the Illinois democracy
worth having. When the convention
met Sullivan was indorsed by that
body in the same set resolutions that
backed up Bryan as the leader Of the
democratic host for 1908.
Sullivan Retorts With "Dictatorl"
The leader from Nebraska made no
mention of the action of the Illinois
convention until he was asked to speak
before the Jefferson club of Chicago
last Tuesday night, when, in an impress
sive manner, he accused Sullivan OF
being the tool of a corporation, and In
effect accommodated him from the
ranks Of his followers by bell and
book.
IF my nomination for president were
dependant upon the vvotes of such men
as Mr.. Sullivan" the commoner was
quoted as saying, 81 would refuse that
nomination"
Sullivan in his reply says:
in his Jefferson club banquet speech
at Chicago Tuesday evening William
j. Bryan again saw fit to make me the
excuse for exploiting his new ambition
to convert the democratic party OF the
United States into an autocracy, with
himself on the dictator's throne. | re-
greet that he has done so, and regret
1t as l would regret any incident or
circumstance tending toward discord
in the democratic party.
IF portions Of Mr.. Bryan's speech
mean anything they mean that he
would rather have his own way. than
| have democrats elected to congress or
to any other office. He has invited all
Illinois democrats who agree with him
in his opposition to me to bolt their
ticket. If there are any democrats in
Illinois who are disposed to act on this
typically Bryanesque advice, many OF
them, unfortunately, will be found in
congressional districts which are close
but in which, with united effort, we
have a good chance to elect democrat
| ic congressman.
Challenges Bryan's Truth.
IF those districts send republicans
to the next national house of represen
tatives the democratic party of the ma
ton will have Mr.. Bryan to thank. AS
democrat, l regret that Mr.. Bryan's
rule or ruin disposition has led him tc
make such misuse of his influence.
"But in so far as Mr.. Bryans ban
4 quet speech applies to me personally
to my character, to my business, to my
associates, to my democracy, and to my
political acts, welcome the issue, ant
on that issue I challenge Mr.. Bryan tt
the proof of his truthfulness, his hon
esty and his sincerity-that sincerit.
which he boasts is his political asset.
81 yield to no man in my adherence
to democratic principles as laid dowl
by the great founder, Thomas Jeffer
son. Judged by that standard. invite
comparison of my democracy with Mr.
Bryan's. My father came to this coun
try to find in the democratic party o
the United States that political libert.
which had been denied him in his ma
tive land I was born a democrat. M.
people were democrats when Mr.. Bry
ans associates were know nothings
and were proudly naming their chi
dren after the chief exponent Of tina
| proscriptive know nothing creed.
! Am or Bryan Most Honest"
IT was a democrat when Mr.. Bryan
was populst in Nebraska. success
fully pursued an honorable business il
an honorable way when Mr.. Bryal
was immersed in the Bennett will cas-
"a case that has been characterize
by eminent lawyers as demonstratin
!. that Mr. Bryan was either poor Law
yer or a dishonest one. In the con
munity where I live 1 will match m
+ democracy against Mr.. Bryan's demot
racy in the community where he lives
l I'll match my integrity against his ii
. tegrity I'll match my associate
against his associates.
! "A column, at least, Of racy readin
could be made of the names and chal
acters of men in Chicago, New Yorl
e and throughout the country who hav
been Mr.. Bryan's political associate
D and the possessors of his confidenc
during the last ten years. But to poir
the moral it is not necessary to go b.
:. yond the history Of his last attempt
dictate in Illinois.
I Puts Leaders Friends on Grill.
i Gin his Paris interview Mr.. Brya
h took pains to give his personal certi1
cate of character to four men then an
$ now posing as purifiers of Illinois pol
: tics. He cannot plead ignorant of whs
> he was doing because he said he ha
I known them for many years. VIII
: are these men?
! Theodore Nelson. an unconyicte