The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1907-11-22
He Will Heed the Call of Duty,
If the Party Needs Him.
Frank in Saying that He Cannot
Claim Place as Reward.
However, Rank and File of De-
mocracy Are to Decide.

Lincoln, Nov. l5.-William Jennings
Bryan has issued the following state
ment:
a year ago last summer while in
Europe, Mr.. Bryan in an interview
stated that it was too early to discuss
the campaign of 1908 from a personal
standpoint, although during that sum-
mer the democratic conventions in
something like half of the states of
the union had passed resolutions COM
plimentary to him and mentioned his
name in connection with the demo-
cratic nomination for president. He
has from time to time refused to dis
cuss the availability either of himself
or other candidates, believing that the
party should have all the light posi-
BILE before attempting a selection. A
presidential candidate should fit the
platform adopted by his party, and
platforms are made to fit the cOndi-
tons existing when the platform is
made. No one can see very far ahead
or speak with certainty as to the is
sues or as to the relative Importance
of issues in the campaign. Sometimes
Il day will change the situation, and a
few months may bring forward a new
issue which will have an important
bearing upon the availability of a can
didate. For this reason Mr.. Bryan has
refused to make AMY announcement as
to his own position although he has
from time to time discussed issues old
and new. Now that the election of
1907 is past and plans are being made
for next years campaign, he feels that
Il statement is due to the public
Those who prefer another candidate
are entitled to know his position, and
those who favor Ais nomination have
a right to demand an answer to the
question so often put-will you accept
a nomination? His refusal to answer
the question has led to the circulation
of many false reports, and unfriendly
newspapers have taken advantage of
his silence to misrepresent his atti-
tude.
Mr.. Bryan will not ask or seek a
nominations; and he will 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 can not claim nomination as a
reward: neither should his ambition
be considered, for he has had honors
enough from his party to satisfy any
reasonable ambition. The only ques-
ton 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
someone else. If he can serve the
party by being its candidate, he will
accept the commission and make the
best fight he. can. If, however, the
choice falls upon another, he will not
be disappointed or disgruntled. His
availability is a question to be de-
cided not by him, not by few lead
ers, not even by the leading news
papers that call themselves democratic
but by the voters of the party and
to them he entrusts the decision of
the question-they are the supreme
court in all matters concerning cam
dilates, as they are in all matters
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 for
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 barren
victory.
1T has been asserted that Mr.. Bry-
an was waiting to see who the re-
publcan nominee would be. This is
untrue. He has never felt that his
position should be dependent upon
the action taken by the republican
party The republicans must noml-
nate either a reformer, standpatter
or one whose position on public ques-
t1OflS Is ufkHOWH, anu IHe eoui "'
of the democratic party should be the
same no matter which element con-
trolls the republican convention. The
democratic party must make its tight
for what it believes While it may
take advantage of republican mistakes
it must depend upon it's merits for
success and not upon the errors OF
its opponents. If the republicans nom
mate standpatter, the democrats can
take advantage of the educational
work that has been done by republi-
can reformers; if the republicans nom
mate a candidate who is believed to
be favorable to reform, such a nomi-
nation will strengthen democratic doc
trines, because republican reformers