Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1907-04-18
SOME WILL TALK.
John Temple Graves Makes Most
Foolish Proposition
AT A BRYAN BANQUET

~ ~ ON Hlv OANOUcI
When 1t Was Found Out That .e
Was Going to Advise Bryan to
Nominate Roosevelt for President
He Was Not Allowed to Speak I'm.
til Bryan Requested That He Be
Heard.
Editor John Temple Graves sue-
gestion that w. ]. Bryan nominate
Roosevelt. which the Atlanta editor
intended in eulogistical speech to
Bryan banqueters Wednesday eve
ming at Chattanooga, Tenn, was de-
MED utterance.
| John Tomlinson Of Birmingham.
one OF the speakers and toastmasters.
met Graves on his arrival from At
ianta' at noon. and requested ommis-
sion or this reference in his speech.
| arguing its impropriety in view of
| Bryan's presence at the banquet.
Col. Graves declined to alter his
views or subject his speech to CEN
sorship: He attended the banquet as
an invited guest. remaining but a
short while, when he left the banquet
nall for an Atlanta train. Wednes-
| day afternoon Mr.. Graves addressed
letter to the president Of the Bryan
Anniversary club. defending his DO
sition.
In his letter Mr.. Graves declared
that he yielded to no one in his pro-
found and affectionate regard for
Mr.. Bryan and for the Democratic
party. but that he was profoundly
convinced that in this period Of tire.
| mendous economic crisis the only
| man who can carry to successful con-
clusion the reform instituted in be-
| half OF the people was the man who
| Is already entrenched in the power
and prestige Of dauntless courage and
Is q conspicuous success in the execu-
tive Office.
Continuing. he said: my reasons
for stating this conviction at a Bryan
| banquet. with Mr.. Bryan present, was
because / considered IT the manly
and Democratic thing to do
The time to voice q sentiment SO
momentous to the life and prosperity
and to the realization of the best
| ideals of real Democracy is in a
counsel of the faithful and in the
| full presence Of our great and shin
ming leader who would be there to
comment. to approve or to condemn
| with the full force of his influence
and eloquence as he might see AT.
1T appears to me that the only
fair and honest thing to do was to
speak my convictions in full council
and with open voice. In this belief
my speech, upon the request of the
Associated Press has already been
sent out to the newspapers of the
| country.
~ have not one particle OF dog
matism, nor any mere pride OF per-
sonal opinion, in pressing this mat
ter. but the publicly already given to
my speech commits me to 1t SO far
that l can not encourage. or in con-
sistency. suppress that part on which
the whole revolves."
Later Mr.. Graves, after being per-
lsuaded by members OF the club and
at the request of Mr.. Bryan himself,
took his place at the banquet table
and delivered his speech Graves,
who Is the editor Of the Atlanta Geor-
gian, is an erratic sort of q man, al
though he is brilliant speaker. His
speech at Chattanooga will not sur
prise any one who knows him.
State Senator ]. B. Frazier re-
| sponed to Mr.. Graves address. de-
claring that the Democrats could not
afford to take such action.
Bryan Speaks.
In beginning his address Mr.. Bryan
paid LAS respects to Mr.. Graves and
what he had said. He complimented
Dir. Graves In the highest manner for
his honesty and his boldness and said
II there was any place In the world
where absolute freedom of speech
should prevail 1t ought to be in q
Democratic gathering. He added that
when ne had heard that Mr.. Graves
and retired from the hall because
here might be doubts about the wis
lom of what he hard to say, he had
'ent for the Georgia editor to return
and insisted that the speech should
be delivered. Turning directly to the
subject OF Mr.. Graves recommends
ton, Mr.. Bryan said:
LAS at present advised I shall not
present the name Of Theodore RoOse.
welt to the National Democratic con.
vention. Bear In mind, say, as al
present.
Mr. Bryan contended that II after
mature consideration and reflection
and the presentation Of arguments
In the case, he should feel that hi,
duty lay in that direction. he would
present Mr.. Roosevelts name. ever
though 1t should prove to be the las
act of his life.
He then went on to say that IL any
Republican was to be selected by the
Democrats to head their nationa
I ticket the man should be Senator La
Toilette OF Wisconsin. Mr.. Bryar
then proceeded with his speech. pre-
sentig reasons why. in his opinion
Mr.. Roosevelt was not the proper
mas for the presidency.