The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1907-11-22
LID IS LIFTED
BY W. ], BRYAN
Says He's Willing But VIII Not
Ask for Nomination.
is UP TO DEMOCRACY
Nebraskan Makes First Statement Regard
ing His Position and Attitude Anent
Fight for the Presidency.

A Lincoln, Neb., special says: Will
liam ]. Bryan will accept the demo
cratic nomination for president in
1908, but he will neither ask for mol
make a fight for it. He says that for
a year or more he has been pressed to
answer the question, "Will you accept
the nomination." and he believes the
public is entitled to an answer and to
know the position he occupies. The
question that ought to weigh most, he
says, is whether his nomination will
strengthen the democratic party more
than the nomination of some one else.
Not only will he not seek or ask for
the nomination, but he will not assume
to decide the question of availability,
and if the prize fails to another he
will neither be disappointed nor dis
gruntled. At the same time, he denies
that he has waited this long in desire
to see whom the republicans are like
ly to nominate, or to ascertain the
chances of victory. Mr.. Bryan says:
Now that the election of 1907 is past
and plans are being made for next
years campaign, Mr. Bryan feels that
a statement, is due to the public. Those
who prefer another candidate are entt
tied to know his position, and those
who favor his nomination have right
to demand an answer to the question
so often put, will you accept a nomi-
nation? His refusal to answer the ques-
ton has led to the circulation Of many
false rumors and unfriendly newspa-
pers have taken advantage of his si-
Ience to misrepresent his attitude.
Mr.. Bryan will not ask for or seek
nomination, and he will not assume to
decide the question of his availability.
He has been so amply recompensed by
bis party for what he has done and for
what he has endeavored to do that he
cannot claim a nomination as re-
ward; neither should his ambition be
considered, for he has had .honofs
enough from his party to satisfy any
reasonable ambition The only ques'
ton that ought to weigh with the party
is whether the party can be strength
ened and aided more by his nomination
than by the nomination OF. some one
else. If he can serve the party by
being the candidate. he will accept the
commission and make the best fight
he can. If, however, the choice falls
on another, he will. hot be disappoint-
ed or disgruntied. f5is availability is
a question to be decided, not by him,
not by few leaders, .not even by the
leading newspapers that call them
selves democrats, but by the voters OF
the partyy5 and to them he entrusts
the decision of the question. They
are the supreme court in all matters
concerning candidates, as they are in
all matters concerning the platform
He assumes that they will not Sc
lbCb ullu uIllCSS JLlCy 0ODAAN ~ AA+1'A-~
an aggressive fight for the application
Of democratic principles to present con-
ditions, and he also takes it for grant
ed that the organization of the party
will be in harmony with the platform
and will be composed Of men whose
political record will invite confidence,
and give assurance that victory, il
won, will not be a barren victory.
The republicans must nominate
either a reformer, a stand-patter or one
whose position on public questions is
unknown, but the course of the dem
ocratic party should be the same, no
matter which. element controls the re-
publican contention. The democratic
party must make its fight for what it
believes. Willie it may take adyan-
tage of republican mistakes, it must
depend upon is merits for success. and
upon the erro8o its opponents.
g..