Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-11-15
OPEN AN0 HONEST STATEMENT
Says Declaration From Him is Due to
the Peoplc Who Want to Know:
win You Accept the Nomiration7'
Party Should Not Be Influenced by
Republican Nomination - Public
Conscience Campaign.
An Associnted press !

LINCOLN. NEB.. Nov. li-Wiiliam
Jennings Bryan will accept the Demo
cratic nomination for President in lyOS
hut he will neither ask for nor make
q fight for it. He says that for year
or more he has been pressed to an
swer the question: will You accept
the nomination. and he believes the
public is entitled to an answer and
took the position lie occupies.
The question that ought 70
weigh most. he says. is wheth
or his nomination will strength
on the Democratic party moro
than the nomination OF some one
else. Not only will he not seek or
ask Tor the nomination, but he will
not assume to decide the question OF
his availability and If the prize falls
TO another he will neither be disap
pointed nor disgruntleu,
At the same time. he denies that
he has waited this long in n desire to
sec whom the Republicans are likely
to nominate. or to ascertain the
chances of victory.
Mr.. Bryan says: Now that tho
election OF 1907 is passed and plans
are being made for next years cam.
7 ngn, Mr.. Bryan feels that n state
ihNie ~ uhc VIC DuDllC. lnO5G WHO
prefer another candidate are entitled
to know his position, and those who
favor his nomination have 4 right 10
demand an answer TO the question
so often put. VIII you accept tho
nomination. His refusal to answer
this question has led to the ciicula-
tion of many false reports and UNI
friendly newspapers have taken nd.
vanrnge OF his silence to misrepre-
sent his attitude.
mfr. Bryan will not ask nor seek
nomination and he will not assume
to decide the question of his ayaIl.
ability. He has been so amply recon-
pensed by his party for what he had
done and for what lie has enedayored
TO do that he cannot claim q nomina
tion as Il reward; neither should his
ambition be considered. for he has
had honcrs enough from his party
TO satisfy any reasonable ambition.
Fair and Square Position.
The only question that ought tc
weigh with the party Is whether tht
party can be strengthened and aided
more by his nomination than by the
nomination of some one else. If lio
can serve the party by being its can
ddate. he will accept the nomination
and make the best fight he can. If
however. the choice is for another he
viii not be disappointed. His avail
ability is question 10 be decided by
himself. not by party leaders. not
even by the leading newspapers who
call themselves Democratic. but by
the voters of the party. and to them
ne entiusts the decision of the uues
tiOn- thRN hn c,,, u,
all matters concerning candidates as
they arc in all matters concerning
the platform.
lie assumes that they will not Sc
lect him unless they desire 10 make
an aggressive fight for the appllca.
ten OF Democratic principles to pres
cnt conditions and he also takes IL
fer granted that the organizations oil
the party will be in harmony with tht
Platform ard will be composed OF men
whose political records will invite
confidence and give assurance that q
victory. If won will not be barren
victory.
Democratic Must Stand on Merits
The Republicans must nominate
either n reformer, stnndpatter or
one whose position on public questions
Ia unknown. and the Democrats should
be sane no matter which elemen: con
trolls the Republican convention. The
Democratic party must make the neht
for what it believes While il ma,
take advantage of Republican mis-
takes. 1t must depend upon lis own
merits for success and not upon the
error of its opponent
THE action of the Republican con
venton may have its influence in de
terminiug the question whether the
one chosen by the Democrats should
accept the nomination. II the rank
and file of the Democratic party dc
sire Mr.. Bryan to make the race, it
will make II no matter who may BIZ
the Republican nominee.
No ono can estimate the chance.
0f Tho nnrfv trlth cnNffniont nnn,,.o =.