The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-08-01
Correspondence is Made
 Public.
REPLY OF COMMITTEEMAN
Nebraskan Charges Illinois Mau
 With Fraud.
Requests Rstirement on Grounds of k Harmony in Party, But opps-
 site Result Seems te Have
 Been Attained. !.

CHtcd8Oy July 8ls---JQU&G oWtM F. Thompson of Jacksonville. Ill. an nounces this afternoon that in a letter dated July IT. William !. Bryan rec quested that Judge Thompson call on MT. Roger sullivan with a message from Bryan requesting that Mir sul- iivan, in the interest of harmony. re- sign as National Committeenaan from Illinois.
 Judge Thompson says he saw Mfr. Sullivan today and delivered MT. Bry- ans message. Mir Sullivan declined to resign as requested.
 Judge Thompson thereupon made pub- lie letter from Bryan declaring that National Committeeman Sullivan holds the office by fraud and that 1t is im- ciate with Mir. Sullivan as | member of the National Committee. Mir. Bryan's letter:
 "The Trossach Hotel. sT1och Katrine. July 1T. Judge O. P. Thompson. Jacksonville,
 My Dear Jndge--r am going to ess- trust you with message to Roger Sullivan If were at home. would see him myself, but as do not arrive until after your State Convention and as think action ought to be taken will send the message by you. Please say to Mir. Sullivan that lie has exs
 
 assume he means to help the party to the extent ot his ability but thexe is but one way In which he can pros mote harmony and that is by restgn- Ing as National committeeman.
 .we are approaching another nar tional campaign. and our party'A chances depend upon It's ability to convincs tha public of it's good intentions MT. Sullivan's presence on the committees contradicts all that we can say In tre party's behalf. His corporate connec- tions would harm the party far beyond his power to aid the organization hut this could be left for some fMture to deal with if he were actually the choice Of the Democrats of Illinois.
 Holds 0f7sca by Frand, The fact however, that he holds nla l office by a fraud and against the ex- I presa wishes of d majority of the Defnr ocrats to the State Convention makes l 1t impossible for honest Deynocrats fcl associate with him as a member of the committee. If we don't maintain the right of the majority to control party policy and select the party's represens tatives for what can we contenaE Tne fact that Mir. Sullivan has spoken kind ly of me enables me to discuss the matter without risk of having my ae- tions attributed to personal malice, but he ought to see that 1 would be uit- worthy of anyone's confidence If fail- ed 10 protest against his continuance upon the Committee either to concii- fate him or out of fear Of his hostil- ity.
 There is room in the party for, all who honestly favor Democratic princl- ples, but the leadership must be in the hands of those who lhave the confidence of the party and whose prominence will strengthen the party. If he VIII at once send his resignation to the Chairman of the National Committees and make the matter public he will show his desire to help the party and will do much to restore himself in the opinion of those who felt outraged by the last State Convention.
 If he refuses to restgn and thus puts his ambition or his business be- fore the party's success. the sooner he Is elected from the Committee, the bet ter. It ought to be made an tsaus Tn the statei Convention if the Democracy of Illinois cannot fight under such leadership and ought not to permit it. self to be misrepresented on the Ma tional Committee.
 Yours truly
 w. J. Bryan.r
 Message to Democrats. "The Trossaehs Hotel. Loeb Katrine, Judge owen P. Thompson. Jackson-
 My dear Judee---If the effort to in~ duce Mir Sullivan 10 resign from the National Committee fails. l wish you would deliver the following message to the Democrats of Illinois: You live in the largest of the Western States and must play an important part in the work which lies before the Democratie party,
 You can do little to advance demo- cratic principles so long as you per- init the most fundamental of those prin- ciples. rsmely the right of the maJor- ity to rule to be violated. Mir. SuIlI- van was selected as National Commit teeman by delegates who were not eho- sen by the convention. As he was one of the leaders in the high crimes and misdemeanor committed against the Democracy of Illinois his refusal to resign cannot be attributed to Ignor- ance of the facts. but Is proof positive of his unfitness for the place
 We are about to enter upon q cam paign in which our party will appeal to the people and ask the confidence Of the nation. I do not know how you. the Democrats of Illinois. could better that campaign in your State than by his resignation. Let ft be known that you insist on honest poli- ties within tho party and then you will be believed when you plead for hon- esty in the government I am sorry that your convention comes before my Ieutrn. for I would be glad to come to Illinois and give you any assistance within my power. I have avoided tak- ing part in personal contests within the party, but whenever anyone calling himself a Democrat, assaults the rights of the party to govern itself. do not he sitate to take part In the fight had hoped that he would resign in the interest of harmony, but his refusal leaves you no choice but to repudiate hip, ar abandon Democratic uminGf~ ples.
 with best wishes for your success. I am,
 "very truly yours.
 ''W. J. Bryan.s
 MT. Sullivan. in replying to Mir Bry- ans letter. gave out the following statement tonight.
 Doubts LetteF'H Authenticity.
 T have seen the letter purporting to he xLritfen by MT Bryan. and l am