Omaha daily bee., 1907-11-15
WILL NOT MAKE FIGHT FOR IT
Convention Should Select Candidate
on Basis of Availability.
NOMINEE SHOULD FIT PLATFORM
Democratic Party Must Battle for
What it Really Believes.
is READY FOR ANY SERVICE
VIII work In Any Capacity where
Needed and VIII Not Be DIsap-
pointed or DisEruntIcd 90
Another IL Chosen.

J
! LINCOLN, Neb. Nov I4-wuliam j.
Bryan will accept the democratic nomina-
! tion for president in 1903, but he neither
| will ask or make fight for IT, lie snys
that for year or more he has been pressed
to answer the question "Will you accept
| a 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 win strengthen the demo-
cratic party. Not only will he not seek OF ask
for the nomination, but he will not assume
to decide the question Of availability and
IL the prize falls to another he will neither
be disappointed nor disgruntled. Mr.. Bryan
in an editorial statement in todays Com
.noner. says;
"A year ago last summer while in Eu-
rope, Mr. Bryan in an interview stated that
1t was too early TO discuss the campaign
Of 1908 from personal standpoint, although
during that summer the democratic con-
ventions in something like half of the
states of the union had passed resolutions
complimentary TO him and mentioned his
name in connection with the democratic
nomination for president He has from
time TO time refused TO discuss the availa-
5ility either OF himself or other candidates
oeHeNlnB lnuL the party SnoulQ nave all
the light possible before attempting a Sc
lection. A presidential candidate should
At the platform adopted by his party and
platforms are made to Mt the conditions
'xisting when the platform is made. No
one can see very far ahead or speak with
certainty as to the issues or to tho
relative importance OF issues in the cam
paign. Sometimes a day will change the
situation, and few months may bring
Onward new issue which will have an
important bearing upon the availability OF
candidate. For this reason Mr.. Bryan
has refused 10 make any announcement as
to his own position. although he has from
time to time discussed issues old and new
Now that the election OF 1907 is past and
plans are being made for next years cam
\ paign, he feels that statement Is due
lhe public Those who prefer another can
didate are entitled Go know his position.
; tnd those who favor his nomination have
right to demand an answer to the ques-
lion 50 often put-'wn you accept a nomi-
nation| His refusal TO answer the ques-
ion has led TO the circulation Of many
,alse reports, and unfriendly newspapers
nave taken advantage OF his silence to mis-.
epresent his attitude.
Question of Availability.
: MT Bryan win not ask for or seek a
nomination; and he will not assume TO de-
eide the question of his availability. He
has been amply recompensed by his
party for what he has done and for what
he has endeavored to do that he cannot
} claim nomination as reward, neither
should his ambition be considered, for he
z has had honors enough from his party to
satisfy any reasonable ambition. The only
question that ought TO weigh with the
? party is whether the party can be strength
E ened and aided by the nomination of some
one else II he can serve the party hy
E being it's candidate he will accept the COM
Z mission and make the best fight he can
D If, however, the choice falls upon another.
I he will not be disappointed or dissruntled
! HIS availability is question to be decided
not by him, not by few leaders
I not even by the leading news
papers that call themselves democratic, but
by the voters of the party. and TO them he
intrusts the decision of the questlon-they
are the supreme court in all matters con-
e cerning the platform
\ "He assumes that they will not select him
a unless they desire to make an aggressive
fight for the application of democratic prin-
ciples to present conditions, and he also
! takes 1t for granted that the organization
s Of the party will be composed of men
y whose political records will invite conf
a dence and give assurance that victory, Il
g won, will not be a barren victory
t Not Waiting on Republicans.
8 1T has been asserted that Mr.. Bryan
J. was waiting to see who the republican
nominee would be. This is untrue. He has
] never felt that his position should be de
pendent upon the action taken By the re-
, publican party, The republicans must nom
mate either reformer a standpatter or
one whose position on public questions Is
unknown, and the course of the democratic
s party should be the same no matter which
- ! element controls the republican conven-
y ton. The democratic party must make its
e fight for what It believes. While it may
= take advantage Of republican mistakes, IL
must depend upon it's merits for success
e and not upon the errors OF it's opponents
n II the republicans nominate a standpatter
# the democrats can take advantage OF the
, educational work that has been done by re-
publican reformers; II the republicans nom
\ mate candidate who Is believed to bc
favorable TO reform such a nomination will
strengthen democratic doctrines, because
republican reformers advocate the reforms
that the democrats have advocated before
them, ana the democrats cannot afford 20
surrender their position because the repub-
% licans give a partial endorsement 20 a few
y democratic doctrines II the republicans
e nominate one who straddles the issues and
attempts 10 take both sides Il Is none tile
less necessary for the democratic party 10
u make an aggressive night The action OF
le the republican convention may have its in
y huence in the determining OF the relative
availability OF democratic candidates, but it
ought not 20 have any influence In deter
mining the question whether the one chosen
- by the democrats should accept the nom
:, ination. II the rank ana fie Of the demo
= cratic party desire Mr.. Bryan 10 make In,
- race, he will make Il no matter who may
:, be the republican nominee.
Is Another Charge Denied.
N 1T has also been charged that Mr
!. Bryan was waiting 10 ascertain the
{ -hanoes OF victory. ready 70 run II ths
,s Iutlook seemed bright OF TO refuse 20 run