New-York tribune., 1906-08-01
BRYAN STARTS FIGHT
HITS ILLINOIS LEADER.
National Committeeman Sul]iUan
Hotly Refuses to Resign.


questing that Mr.. Sullivan. IN the interest or
harmony. at once resign at Democratic National
Committeeman from Illinois Judge Thompson
says he saw Mr.. Sullivan to-day and delivered
Mr. Bryan's message. Mr.. Sullivan declined 10
resign as requested.
Judge Thompson thereupOn made public a Lett
ter from Mr.. Bryan declaring that Sullivan
holds the office by a fraud and that It Is I'M
possible for honest Democrats TO associate with
him a member OF the national committee
Mr.. Bryan's letter is as follows:
The Trossachs Hotel. Loeb Katrins. July -.
Judge o. 2. Thompson. Jacksonville, Ill
My Dear Judge; 1 am going to intrust you
with message TO Roger Sullivan. IL were az
home / would see him myself. but as do not
arrive until after your state convention. and ss
think action ought TO be taken az once VIII
send the message by YOU Fiease say 70 NE
Sullivan that he has expressed desire lot
harmony. and that assume that he means 20
/ there is but way In which he can promote
harmony. and that is by resisning as national
committeeman
We are approaching another national cam
paign. and our party's chances depend upon rs
ability convince the public Of its good i1tefl-
| tiOnS. Mr.. Sullivans presence on the COMMITTEES
/ cOntFadicts all that we can say IN the party :
1 behalf His corporate connections would harm
the party far beyond his power 70 aid the or
ganization. but this could be left for some futcrs
| convention 70 deal with If he were actually EAe
choice Of the Demt Gratis OF Illinois
The fact however. that he holds his office By
/ a fraud and against the express wishes Or a.
| tiOn makes II impossible for honest Democrats
/ to associate with him a member Of the COM
mittee If we do not maintain the right or the
majority TO control party policy ana Selsrst 80
/ party's representatives for what can we con-
| tend? The fact that Mr.. Sullivan mas spoN-e
| kindly of me enables me to discuss the matter
without risk Of having my actions attrtottsd 60
personal malice. but he ought 70 see thsS Isol-5 %
/ be unworthy OF any ones confidence u 1A4.-i
/ 10 protest against his continuance upon t,e
committee. either TO COnciliate him or out ot
FOR All who bonestiv favor Democratic principles.
l but the leadership must be in the hands Of those
| prominence will strengthen the party.
1 If he will at once send his RESIGNATION @ tre
chairman Of the national committee ana TaSs
the matter public he will show his desire % neAp
| the partv and will do much to restore nlrreef
in the opinion of those who felt outTaged oy yhs
and thus puts his ambition or hts business before
/ the party's success. the sooner ne Is eJecleo
/ from the committee the better. IT Ouent 70 p
made an issue in the state conventlol " = hsS 80.
/ sary, for the DenOcracy OF Illinois cannot nsn.
under such leadership and ought not 20 Perl.se .al
itself to be misFepresented on the national conf
mittee. Yours truly. w J. btSAAN-
The TrOssachs Hotel. Loeb Katrine. July ~.
| Judge o. p. Thompson, Jacksonville. III
sullivan to 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
I and must play Important part n the vo-<
| which lies before The Democratic party You can
do little 70 advance Democratic principles SO
/ these principles-namely. the right OF the ma
| jority TO rule-tO be violated MF- Sullivan vas
| selected as national committeeman by delegates
| who were not chosen by the convention AS re
| was one Of the leaders in the high crimes ana.
| racy of illinois, his refusal 10 resign ca,Ilot 20
attributed 20 ignorance OF the facts, but IS PROOF
positive OF his Unfitness for the place
4 I'VE are about to enter upon a campaign "a
l which our party will appeal to the people 9nd
| ask the confidence Of the nation do not know
| how you, the Democrats of Illinois, could better
| omen that conpaign in your state than BY de-
i naniine- his resignation Let II be known mat
Won insist on honest politics within the party:
/ then YOU will be believed when you plead Tor
| honesty in the government 1 am sorry tha,
/ your convention meets before ! return. ror
/ would be glad TO come TO Illinois and give YOU
any assistance within my power. / have aVolcet
taking part in personal contests within the parity
/ but whenever any one calling himseH a Dehlo-
/ cvat assaults the right of the party 70 govern
| itself do not hesitate 20 take part IN the nsnt
had hoped that ne would resign l e s
| but 20 repudiate him or abandon Dernocrauo
with best wishes for your success. am. very
/ truly yours, W. d A'-sA<e
MR. SULLIVAN REPLIES
| Mr.. sullivan. in replying to Mr. Bryan's letter.
| qave ont the following statement tonight:
| have seen the letter purpOrting to have bean
i written BY Mr.. Bryan and am prepared 20
accept it as genuine although the character OF
/ fhe men whom Mr.. Bryan appears 20 have
/ chosen as his cOnhdRnts ts such that there
/ might be serious doubts as 70 its authentictty.
letter
/ Uishes DroOf that Mr.. Bryan has allowed HIM
/ self TO persist in what The Democratic National
Convention of 1900 declared was mtsre7re-
/ sentatiOn and q libel 4t Is proof vhat ne -
| mistaken again. as he was on the Tree silver
question, and that. he is wrong again. as he was
/ when he permitted himself 20 cut 50 unenviahls
/ figure as he did in the Bennett will contFo-
Versy.
II is apparently Mr.. Bryan's misSOrtune On
/ lump to conclusions too readily and 20 be mis-
/ led by men whose assumed friendship or boy
hood cOmpanionship is not sufficiently great %
prohibit their attempting to place him In an
awkward and false light before the great ma
JOrity OF the Democrats Of Illinois. The men -
whom ] refer. Mulard Fillmore Dunlap and
Judge Owen p. Thompson. the leaders OF the
faction known as the Jacksonville Cahal. are
men who have been twice utterly repudi8red by
the Democrats Of the state The fact that my
name happens TO be Sullivan Is by far a more
potent reason to them for attempting 20 dis
credit me than any that they have. or can urge
The real reasons for their opposition 60 ns
believe Mr. Bryan to be ignorant or
1t Is not the first time Mr.. Bryan has been Do
pleading their cause two years agO He gave
their claims the only merit they possessed by
presenting them at St Louis.
What was the verdict? He pleaded for them
before a subcommittee OF the Democrats Ma
tional Committee. and the committee decided
against them He renewed his efforts On tueir
behalf before the Democratic National CCnl-
mittee. and again lost hts case COMMITTEES
on credentials. composed OF Democrats repre-
senting every state and territory in the Union.
/ next declared the men whom Mr.. Bryan NaN
| champions 10 be liars and VilifeTS. FINALLY tn-
highest tribunal which appeal could pc
/ taken heard SIr. Bryans plea for Dunlap anu
/ Thompson and the result before
Mr.. Bryan says hold my seat on tne Demo
cratic National Committee By fraud. That seat
came 20 me by virtue OF q vote OK ~ 20 . " His
favor It Is one which q DeIZ0cr9elc naslotlal
convention declared was entlIleo. @ y ~ nolS @ -
seat by fraud then Mr.. Bryan ..'ist accuse sen
/ ator TtlIuan ~ South Carolina. Senator Cul~