Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-11-15
MR,BRYAN' POSITION
Says He Is Willing to Accept,
But Not Seeking
DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION
Long Statement Printed in His Per-
sonal Organ.
PARTY MEMBERS TO DECIDE
Campaign to Be appeal to Public
Conscience"-Must Go Before
Voters With Open Books.
PARTY MEMBERS TO DECIDE

| accept 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 will
| strengthen the democratic party more
| than the nomination of some one else
| Not only will he not seek or ask for the
| nomination. but he will not assume to
decide the question of availability, and
| if the prize falls to another. he viii
neither be disappointed nor disgruntled
At the same time, he denies that he has
waited this long in desire to see whom
the republicans are likely to nominate
or to ascertain the chances of victory.
Mr.. Bryan says:
Now that the election of 1907 is past
and plans are being mad for next years
campaign, ! feel that statement is due
to the public. Those who prefer another
candidate are entitled to know his posi-
ton, and those who favor his nominal
ton have a right to demand an answer
to the question often put, Will you ac-
cept a nomination? His refusal to an
swer the question has led to the cir
Culation of many false reports, and un-
friendly newspapers have taken advan-
tage of his silence to misrepresent his at
titude.
Does Not Claim It.
Mr.. Bryan will not ask for seek a
nomination, and he viii! not assume 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 endeavored to do that he
cannot claim a nomination as a reward;
neither should his ambition b. considered,
for he has had honors enough from his
party to satisfy any reasonable amb1-
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 nom
ination of some one else.
IF he can serve the party by being It's
candidate he will accept the commission,
and make the best fight he can. IT, how
ever, the choice falls upon another, he Will
not be disappointed or diSgruntled. His
availability is a question to be decided,
not by him. not by a few leaders, not even
by the leading newspapers that call them
selves democratic, but by the voters of the
party, and to them he intrusts the decision
of the question-they are the supreme
court in all matters concerning candi-
dates as they are in all matters concern
ing the platform.
Names Conditions
He assumes that they VIII not select
him unless they desire to make an ag
gressive fight for the application of dem
oeratic principles to present conditions,
and he also takes it for granted that the
organization of the party will be in har-
| mony with the platform. and will be com
posed of men whose political records will
invite confidence and give assurance that
a victory, If Won will not be barren vic
| tory
The republicans must nominate either
a reformer, a standpatter or one whose
| position on public questions is unknown.
| and the course of the democratic party
| should be the same. no matter which ele-
| ment controls the republican convention.
The democratic party must make the fight
for what 1t believes. While it may take
advantage of republican mistakes it must
depend upon its own merits for success,
and not upon the errors of its opponents.
THE action of the republican conven-
ton may have its influence In the deter
mining of the relative availability of dem
oc-atic cand dates. but it ought not to
have any influence in determining the
question whether the ona chosen by the
democrats should accept the nomination.
II the rank and fl of the democratic
party desire Mr.. Bryan to make the race.
he vii make 1t, no matter who may be the
republican nominee.
Candidacy Not Dependent.
mo one can estimate the chances Of the
party In the next campaign with suffi-
cient accuracy to make his candidacy de-
pendent upon the outlook. While demo-
the fact that democratic principles have
grown in popularity and that democratic
policies are now praised by many who de-
nounced them few years ago, and while
further encouragement Is to be derived
from the fact that the democratic party
is more united than 1t has been for many
years, and the republican party more di-
vided, still the action of the democratic
party cannot be made dependent upon
the prospect of success.
The prospects now seem excellent but
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 1t en-
ters the campaign with fear or with con-
fdence. Democrats believe that demo-
cratic principles are sound, and the demo-
cratic policies are necessary: they should,
therefore. indorse those principles and
present those policies and then select as
their candidates those who, in their judg-
ment, will give the party the greatest as
surance of benefit in case of victory
Up to His Party Leaders.
l. IF the members of the party believe
that Mr. Bryan's nomination will help
the party, its principles and its policies,
he will accept the nomination whether
the indications point to defeat or victory
A defeat can bring no disgrace where
the cause is a just one. but coWardice
would be disgraceful. especially in one
who Is as deeply indebted to his party as
Mr.. Bryan is.
THE next campaign will be an appeal
to the public conscience. The investiga-
| lions have shown not only the corrupt use
of large campaign funds, but the only
source from which they can be drawn
| namely, the corporations that seek to
convert the government into a business
asset. The democratic party stands for
the doctrine of equal rights to all and
special privileges to none. and therefore
cannot promise favors to favor-seeking
corporations. If it made such promises
to the corporations 1t would be guilty
of duplicity, for it would have to betray
the voters. as the republican party has
done, in order to reward these corpora
tons as the republican party has re-
warded them.
The Democratic Campaign.
The democratic campaign must be car
ried on by volunteers who will work be-
cause they desire the triumph Of demo-
cratic ideas. We cannot hope to appeal
to the sordid or to buy the purohasable,
even If such course would contribute to-
ward democratic success. No one should
favor Mr.. Bryans nomination unless the
party is willing