Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-08-01
BACK is up.
Bryan Demands Resigna-
ton Of Roger Sullivan.
Says National Committeeman
Holds His Office by Fraud.
Impossible for Honest Democrats to lsso-
ciate With Him, Mr.. Bryan Says.

Cd this afternoon that in a letter dated
July IL, William J. Bryan requcs.rj
| that Judge Thompson call upou Mr.
| Roger Sullivan with message from Mi
| Bryan requesting that Mr.. Sullivan in
| the interest of harmony at once resign
Is national committeeman from Hi
| nolS Judge Thompson says he saw
MT. sullivan today and delivered Mr
| Bryah'S message. Mr.. sullivan dcclin-
ed To resign as requested. Jud.St
| Thompson th"rcupon made pubic Il l";-
| ter from Mr.. Bryan declaring hat Ma
| tional Committeeman Sullivan holds
| office ~ a fraud ami that il is i'm
possible for honest Democrats to as
| sociatc with Mr.. Sullivan as L member
| Of the national committee.
| Mr.. Bryan'S letters to Judge Thou?p-
son. both Of which are dated at til.
ThossachS hotel. Loeb Katrinc, july
IL, are as follows
My Dear Judge: am going 10 en-
trust You with message to Roger Sui
| Ivan. If were at home I would So
him myself, but rs do not arrive un,il
after your state convention. aud rs
| think action ought to b" taken q:
once. | will send tho message by Won.
fIE'' say 10 ME- SuIl1Ean mat To <
pressed desire for harmony. ANA that
l assume that he means t. help III"
party to the extent of his ability, but
there is but one way in whic he can
promote harmony. and that is by IT,
| signing as national committeeman.
we are approaching another nation
al campaign. and our pArtys chances
depend upon its ability to convince
the public of it's good intentions. Mr..
Sulivan'S prcSenC" on the committee
contradicts all that we can say in the
party's behalf. His corporate connec-
tons would harm the Darty far be-
yOnd his power to aid the organization.
but this could be left for some future
convention to deal with if he were az
tually the choice of the Democrats of
Illinois The fact, however, that he
holds his office by a fraud and against
the express wishes of q majority OF the
delegates to the state conviction makes
il impossible for honest Democrats 10
associate with him as a member of the
committee. as we do not maintain the
right OF the majority to control party
polcY and select the party's represent
tatives. for which we contend
THE fact that Mr.. Sullivan has spoken
kindly of me enables me TO discuss the
matter without risk Of having my actions
attributed to personal welfare. but he
ought to see that | would be unworthy
of anyone's confidence if I failed to pro-
test against the continuance upon the
committee. either to conciliato him or out
Of fear Of his hostility. There Is room
in tho party for I'll who honestly favor
Democratic principles. but the leadership
must h" in the hands of thos, who have
the confidence Of the party and whose
prominence will etrrnctk"n the party. II
he viii at once scrd his resignation to
the chairman Of the national committee
and make the matter public. Nc will
show his dcs ire 20 help the party and VIII
do much to restore himself in The opinion
of those who fclt outraged Ivy the last
stat" convention.
IF he refuses TO resign cnd thus puts
his ambition or his business before tho
party'S success. the sooner he is elected
from, the commit 200 tho hotter II oI;--ht
to he made an issue In TIE state CON
vcntiCn If ncccsS1ry for the Democracy
Of Illinois cannot fight under such lo~d-
| orship ard ought rot to rc~mit Itself to
J." miSrCpr scented or The national com
inttec''
"My Dear Judge: II the effort to in
duce Mr.. Sullivan To resign from the M
tional committee fails. wish YOU would
deliver the following message to tho
Democrats Of Illinois:
:" You live in the largest of tho West
err statc>; ami must play an important
part in the work which lies before the
Democratic party. You can 10 little In
advance Democratic principles 50 long rs
Won hermit the most Fundamental Of these
principles. namely. tire right Of The ma
iority to rule. to i" violated Mr. SrilI;-
van was selected rs national commit. r.
ram by delegates who wcrc not chn@c II
by The convention. AS Nc was ono Of ~,
leaders in the h'"h crimes and missile
moanors committed against the D"mocra
cy of Illinois. his refusal to resign can
not - attributed t" ignorance of the
facts. but is proof positive Of his unfit
ncse for thn place.
we are about to enter upon a cam
paign in which our party will appeal ~
the people and ask tho confidence of the
nation. d" not know how you tho
Democrats Of illinois. could better open
| the campaign in your state than by Do
| mandnr his resignation. Let il he known
| that Won insist on honest politics within
| the party: then you will be believed whcr
| YOU plead for honesty in the government
/ am sorry that your convention meets
before I return. for ! would like TO come
| to Illinois and give you any assistance
| within my power I have avoided taking
part in personal contests within the par
| ty. but whenever anyone calling himself
| n Democrat assaults the right of the par
| t. to govern itself. J do not hesitate r.
| take part In the fight. had hoped that
| he would resign in the interests of har-
monv, but his refusal leaves you m
| choice but to repudiatc him or abandon
Democratic principles
Mr.. Sullivan. in replying to Mr.. Bry-
ans letter, gave out a statement to-
| night in which he said in part:
81 have seen the letter purporting Il
have been written by Mr.. Bryan, and
am prepared to accept it as genuine
although the character of the NOR
| whom MIR. RrVan anpaarc 70 Lo,