The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1907-11-20
''BARK|S IS W|LL|N'."
Bryant Defines His Presi-
Dental Attitude.
WILL ACCEPT A THIRD TIME
IF People Want Him, but Will
Not Ask Nor Fight for
Nomination.

William J. Bryan will accept the
Democratic nomination for President
in 1908, but he will neither ask for
nor make fight for it. He says that
for year or more he has been press
ed to answer the question, will you
accept the nomination." and he be-
lieves 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 NOM
ination' of, someone else. Not only
will he not seek or ask for the NOM
inGtion, but he will not assume to de-
eide the question of availability, and
If the prize falls to another,he will
neither be disappointed nor disgrunt-
!, led At the same time lie denies that
he has waited this long in a desire
to see whom the Republicans are
likely to nominate, or to ascertain
the chances of victory. Mr. Bryan,
in an editorial in The Commoner,
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 entitled to know his position, and
those who favor his nomination have
right to demand an answer to the
question so often put, "Will you ac-
cept a nomination. His refusal to
answer the question has led to the
circulation of many false reports, and
unfriendly newspapers have taken adj
xartage of his silence to misrepresent
his attitude.
"Mr Bryan will not ask for or seek
a nomination, and he will not assume
to decide the question of his available
ity He has been 50 amply recon-
: peised by his party for what he has
done, and for what he has endeavored
to do. that lie cannot claim a nomi-
ambition be considered, for he has had
Lonors enough from his party to sat
isfy any reasonable ambition.
The only question that ought to
weigh with the party is whether the
ssparty can be strengthened and aided
more by his nomination than by the
nomination of someone else. If he
can serve the party by being the cam
did. te. he will accept thee commission
and make the best fight he can. If,
hoL ever, the choice falls upon an
other. he will not be disappointed or
4 disgruntled.
~ His availability is a question to
be decided, not by him, not by few
leaders, not even by the leading news
papers that call ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS,
but by the voters of the party, and to
them he, entrusts the decision of the
que. ton. They are the supreme court
in all matters concerning candidates,
as they are in all matters concerning
tn platform.
He assumes that they will not Sc
lect him unless they desire to make
an aggressive fight for the applica-
ton of Democratic principles to pres
ent conditions, and he also takes 1t
A for granted that the organization of the
: party will be in harmony with the plat
form and will be composed of men
whose political records will invite
confidence and give assurance that a
victory If won, will not be barren
victory.
"The Republicans must nominate
4 eitl er a reformer, a stand-patter or
fone whose position on public questions
is unknown, but the course of the
Democratic party should be the same
no matter which element controls the
Republican convention. The Demo-
cratic party must make its fight for
what it believes. While it may take
advantage of Republican mistakes, 1t
mi st depend on its merits for sue
cess and not upon the errors OF
its opponents.
THE action of the Republican con-
yention may have its influences in
the determining of the relative availa-
bility of Democratic candidates. but 1t
fought not to haveany influence in de-
termining the question whether the
one chosen by the Democrats should
accept the nomination. If the rank
and file Of the Democratic party de-
sire Mr.. Bryan to make the race, ne
will make it. no matter who may be