The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1907-11-15
Regarded As Stumbling Block
to Democratic Victory.
SuIIivan-Hopkins Faction Want
Him to Remove Halo.
Ideas Enough to Make A. Ham
i'ton Shake His Bones.

Chicago, Nov. l3.-Sullivan- H. pkins
democrats in Illinois have asked
William Jennings Bryan to Jay aside
his ''halo' long enough to Kermit the
party to elect a democratic president.
They think it would be possible to
achieve this result if Mr. Bryan will
forget himself long enough to permit
democrats to unite and pass up their
partisan fighting.
Letter BY Ladd.
The request has been made in the
form of a letter written by Charles
X. Ladd, of Kewanee, who has
served IN prominent capacity in
demo ratio state and national con-
ven IONS, and who has been affili-
aIed with the Sullivan Hopkins fac
zion in the party. Mr.. Ladd set forth
his views in long letter to Mr..
Bryan, an epistle which he asked Mr..
Bryan to make public.
Mr.. Bryan has not availed himself
of the OF, jrtunity of giving the letter
to the public, and Mr.. Ladd now is
willing that it should receive fitting
recognition. In this willingness he is
joined by Roger Sullivan and John
T. Hopkins.
Sullivan Hopkins democrats in Hi
nois are convinced that the time has
arrived when it is possible to make a
successful democratic campaign for the
presidency. 1ney believe the first
requisite is party harmony, and for
this reason they have asked Mr.. Bryan
to forget government ownership of
railroads, his most recent idea, and
get back to the simple doctrine of
equal rights for all and special privi-
leges for none"
Would Jolt A. Hamilton.
They have informed him that his
own ideas, if carried out, would be
sufficient to cause the shade of Alex
ander Hamilton to arise and dance
on the grave of Thomas Jefferson.
They ask him to forget himself and
to allow the party to cake advantage
Of economic conditions, which they be-
lieve will make it possible to elect
a democratic president.
They believe the democratic party,
if unified, can secure the support of
enough republicans to insure the sue
cess of the party ticket next No
vember, but they do not believe this
can be accomplished if Mr.. Bryan
continues to advocate theories which
are bound to ALLEVIATE many democrats
and prevent the enlistment of republic
can support.
In the hope that Mr.. Bryan can be
brought to take this view of the sit
uation, and can be persuaded to forget
his animosity to corporations as such,
the letter has been sent to him. Mr..
Ladd is corporation attorney, and
he endeavors to convince Mr.. Bryan
that any theory that corporations as
corporations are vicious is bad and can
not lead to success.
Doesn't Appear Willing.
Mr.. Bryan was in Chicago yesterday
afternon for two hours on his way
to Milwaukee. He had a short talk
with Secretary John p. Tansey, of the
Cook county central committee, but
he did not indicate that he was will
ing to lay aside his "halo" long
enough to allow the election of dem
ocratic president, even if that event
could be made possible by his re-
nunciatiOn.
The Sullivan Hopkins people have
endeavored to convey to him the idea
that the question of who is "the
greatest living democrat" can be set
tied without detriment to the party
if the contest is postponed until aft
er the presidential election instead of
being conducted in advance of it.