Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-11-16
.NE5RAskAN IN FORMAL STATE
MENT ADMITS HIS WlLLlNG-
NESS TO TRY AGAIN BUT WON'T
SEEK NOMINATION.
WON'T BE DISCOUNTED
If ANOTHERS CHOSEN
TWICE TRIED LEADER SAYS HE
THINK THE CHANCES OF VIC
TORY ARE GOOD AND PROM
IsEs WARM CAMPAIGN.

Lincoln, Nov. 15.-William Jennings
Bryan will accept the democratic
nomination for president in 1908, but
he will neither ask nor make fight
for 1t.
He declares that for year or more
he has been pressed to answer the
question, "Will you accept the nomiu-
ation?" He believes the public is en-
titled to an answer, and to know the
position he occupies. The question
that ought to weigh most, he says, IS
whether his nomination will strength
en- the democratic party more than the
nomination Of someone else.
Mr.. Bryan denies that he has wait
ed this long in desire to see whom
the republicans are likely to nomin-
ate, or to ascertain the chances of
victory,
Mr. Bryans statement follows:
Now that the election of 1907 is past
and plans are being made for next
years campaign, Mr.. Bryan feels that
statement Is due to the public. Those
who prefer another candidate are en-
titled to know his position, and those
who favor his nomination have a right
to demand an answer to the question
30 often put, will you accept q nom
lnation? His refusal to answer the
question has led to the circulation Il
many false reports, and unfriendly
newspapers have taken advantage of
his silence to misrepresent his atri-
tude.
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
recompensed by his party for what
he has done and for what he has en-
deavored to do that he cannot Claim
nomination as a reward, neither
should his ambition be considered, for
he has had honors enough from his
party to satisfy any reasonable ambt-
ton. 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 ne
can serve the party by being it's
candidate, he will accept the commits
sion and make the best fight he can.
Trusts to Votres.
If, however, the choice falls upon an
other, he will not be disappointed OR
disgruntled. His availability is
question to be decided not by him, not
by a few leaders, not even by the lead
ing newspapers that call themselves
democratic, but by the voters of the
party, and to them he entrusts the de-
cision of the question-they are the
supreme court in all matters concern
ing candidates, as they are in all mat
ters concerning 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 fer
granted that the organization Of the
party will be in harmony with the
platform and will be composed of men
whose political records will invite con-
fidence and give assurance that vic
tory, if won,, will not be a barren vic
tory.
The republicans must nominate
either reformer, standpatter OF
one whose position on public questions
Is unknown, and the course of the
democratic party should be the same
no matter which element controls the
convention. The democratic party
must make its fight for its beliefs.
While 1T may take advantage of re-
publican mistakes, it must depend up
on its own merits for success and moi
10
Rank and File to Decide.
The action of the republican con-
gvention MAJ have its influence In tn:
determining Of the relative available
Il tty of democratic candidates, but ii
ought not to have any influence in de-
I termining the question whether the
lone chosen by tre democrats shoult
.accept the nomination. If the rank
Il and file of the democratic party de-
sire Mr.. Bryan to make the race, he
will make it no matter who may be
the republican nominee
No one can estimate the chances o.
the party in the next campaign witt
sufficient accuracy to make his candi-
l5i dacy dependent upon the outlook
While democrats have reason to be
encouraged by the fact that demo
cratic principles have grown in popu-
iarity and that democratic policies are
now praised by many who denounce(
them a few years ago, and while fur.
tfler encouragement is to be derived
from the fact that the democratic par
ty is more united than it has been TO,
many years, and the republican party
more divided, still the action of tht
democratic party cannot be made de-
pendent Upon the prospect of success
The prospects now seem eXcellen
that democratic national convention
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