Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1907-11-22
Mr. BRYAN WILL RUN.
Announces His Position In the Comm onel
Talks GuardedIy-Wants Rank and
File to Make Choice.

The first positive declaration by Mr..
Byran on the subj ct of bis attitude
toward the Democratic Presidential
nomination of 1908 appears in last
weeks Commoner.
The statement in the Commoner 10
as follows:
IA year ago last summer. while in
Europe, Mr.. Byran in an interview
stated that it was too early to discuss
TIE campaign of 1908 from personal
standpoint, although during that
summer the Democratic conventions
In something like half of the States of
the Union had passed resolutions CON-
plimentary to him, and mentioned
his name In connection with the Dem
ocratic nomination for President.
"He has from time to time refused
to discuss tho availability. that the
party should have all the light possible
before attempting a selection. IA
Presidential ca ldidate should fit the
platform adopted by his party and
platforms are made to fit the conditions
existing when the platform Is made.
mo one can see very far ahead and
speak with certainly as to the issues
or as to the relative Importance of
issues In tho campaign. Sometimes q
day will change the situation and q
few months, may bring forward new
issues which will have an important
bearing upon the availability Of a can
didate. For this reason Mr.. Bryan
has refused to make any announce
ment as to bis own position. although
he has from time to time discussed
issues old and new.
Nov that the election of 1907 is past
and plans are being made for next
years campaign he feels that state
ment is due to the public. Those who
prefer another candidate are entitled
to know bis position, and those who
favor bis nomination have a right to
demand an answer to the question so
often put, Will you accept u nomina-
tiOn2' His refusal to answer the ques
ton has led to the circulation of many
false reports. and unfriendly news
papers have taken advantage Of bis 81
lence to misrepresent bis attitude.
"Mr. Bryan will not ask for nor sock
nomination, and be will rot assume
to decide the question of bis availa
bility. He has been so amply recomp-
ensed by his party for what he has
done and for what he has endeavored
to do that he cannot claim n0mina-
ton as a reward; neither should his
ambition be considered. for he has had
honors enough from his party to satisfy
any reasonable ambition.
1.-The only question that onght to
weigh with the party is whether the
party can be strengthened and aided
more by his nomination than by the
nomination Of some and else. II he
Can s,rve the party by being Its candi
date, he will accept the commission
and make the best fight he can. II,
however, the choice falls upon another,
he will not be disappointed or dis
gruntled.
His availability is a question to be
decided, not by him. not by q few
leaders, not even by the leadiDgsnews.
papers that call themselves Demo.
cratic, but by the voters of the party,
and to them be intrusts the decision
of the question; they are the supreme
court in all matters concerning candi-
dates, as they are In all matters con-
corning the platform.
HE assumes that they will not &C.
lect him unless they desire to make an
aggressive fight for the application of
Democratic principles to present can
ditions, and he also takes 1t for grant
ed that the organization of the party
will be in harmony with the platform
and will be composed OF men whose
political records will invite COL fidence
and give assurance that a victory won
will not be barren victory
1T has been asserted that Mr.. Bryan
was waiting to see who the Republic
can nominee would be. This is IN
true.
1.-The Republicans must nominate
either a reformer. standpatter, or one
whose position on public questions is
unknown, andstbe course Of the Demo
cratic party should be the same, no
matter which element controls the Re-
publican convention.
1.-THE Democratic party must make
its fight for what it believes. While 1t
may take advantage of Republican
mistakes, 1t must depend upon its
merits for success and not upon the
errors of opponents The action Of
the Republican convention may have
its influence In the determining Of the
relative availability Of Democratic
candidates, but 1t ought not to have
any Influence In determining the ques-
tion whe Their the one chosen by the
Democrats should accept the nomina.
ton. If the rank and file OF the Demo
cratic party desire Mr.. Bryan to make
the race, he will make it, no matter
who may be the Republican nominee -
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