Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-11-15
Mr.. bryan IS XuL|N
Peerless One Issues Statement
in Which He Says He Will
Accept Nomination
WILL TAKE IT If OFFERED
Is Willing to Make the Race it His
Candidacy Will Strengthen Party
cause-satisfied if Another is Chos-
en-Text Of His Statement to the
Party. !.

Lincoln. Neb., Nov. Is. - William
Jennings Bryan will accept the demo-
| cratic nomination for president in
| 1908. but he will neither ask nor make
| fight for it.
| He declares that for a year or more
| lie has been pressed to answer the
question, will you accept the NOM
ination?" He believes the public is en-
titled to an answer, and to know the
rcsition he occupies. The question
that ought to weigh most, he says, IL
| whether his nomination will strength
en- the democratic party more than the
nomination of someone else.
Mr.. Bryan denies that he has waited
tLis long in a desire to see whom the
republicans are likely to nominate, or
to ascertain the chances of victory.
Mr.. Bryan's statement follows:
"Now that the election or 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 accept
a nomination? His refusal to answer
the question has led to the circula-
"a n.
friendly newspapers have taken advan-
tage of his silence to misrepresent his
attitude.
"Mr. Bryan will not ask for or seek
the nomination, and he will not as
sumo to decide the question OF his
availability. He has been so amply
1ecompensed by his party for what he
has done and for what he has en-
deavored to do that he cannot claim
a denomination as a reward; neither
should his ambition be considered,
for he 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 strengthened and
aided more by his nomination than by
the nomination of some one else. If he
can serve the party by being: its can
cidate, he will accept the commission
and make the best fight he can.
IF, however, the choice falls upon
another, he will not be disappointed or
d,sgruntled. His availability is ques-
gtion to be decided not by him, not by a
few leaders, not even by the leading
newspapers, that call themselves demo-
cratic, but by the voters of the party,
and to them he entrusts the decision
of the question-they are the supreme
court in all matters concerning cam
dtdates, as they are in all matters con-
corning the platform.
'He assumes that they will not Sc
lect him unless they desire to make
an aggressive fight for the application
Of democratic principles to present
conditions, and he also takes it FIR
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 con-
fi6ence and give assurance that VIC
tory, il won, will not be a barren VIC
tory"
1.-THE republicans must nominate
either a reformer, a, standpatter or one
whose position on public questions is
unknown, and the course of the demo-
cratic party should be the same no
matter which element controls the
republican convention. The demo-
cratic party must make it's fight for
its beliefs. While it may take adj
vantage of republican mistakes, it
must depend upon its own merits for
success and not upon the error Of its
opponents.
Rank and File to Decide.
1.-THE action of the republican con-
vention may have it's influence in the
determining of the relative availability
Of democratic candidates, but it ought
not t, have any influence in determin-
ing the qeustion whether the one
chosen by the democrats should ac-
cept the nomination. If the rank and
file Of the democratic party desire Mr..
Bryan to make the race, he. will make
it no matter who may be the republi-
can nominee.
mo one can estimate the chances of
the party in the next campaign with
sufficient accuracy to make his can
didacy dependent upon the outlook.
While democrats have reason to be
encouraged ny Inc 1dCl LudI uculO-
cratic principles have grown in popu-
larity and that democratic policies are
now praised by many who denounced
them few years ago, and while fur
Their encouragement is to be derived
from the fact that the democratic par
ty is more united than it has been for
many years, and the republican party
more divided, still the action of the
democratic party cannot be made de-
pendent upon the prospect of success.
"The prospects now seem excellent
that democratic national convention
will be held, platform adopted and
candidates nominated, whether the
prospects are bright or gloomy, and
the party must make the best fight it
can whether it enters the campaign
with fear or with confidence. Demo-
Gratis believe that democratic prlncl-
pies are sound, and that democratic
policies are necessary; they should,
therefore, indorse those principles
and present those policies and then
select as their candidates those who,
in their judgment, will give the party
the greatest assurance of benefit in
case Of victory.
IF the members of the party believe
that Mr.. Bryan's nomination will
help the party, its principles and it's
,,ol;oioc ba will oocapt