Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-04
BRYAN ONLY SM|LEO| LETTERS OF ASSASSIN
Editor Ridder Wanted the Me- Murderer of Philadelphia Ply
braskan to Withdraw. stefan Tells of Crime.
HAD HALF AN HOURS TALK VENGEANCE THE MOTIVE
Brilliantly Police Fear Man Who Poisoned
Successful Ale Will Escape
PROMISED TO SUPPORT TICKET NO CLEw TO THE CRIMINAL
Advocating Writer Of Of
Removal Of DUTY on Wood His Taking
Pulp Endorsed DOCTORS Life
Editor Ridder Wanted the Me-
braSkan to Withdraw.
HAD HALF AN HOURS TALK
Mission to Fairview Not Brilliantly
Successful.
PROMISED TO SUPPORT TICKET
Had His Proposed Plank Advocating
Removal Of Duty on Wood
Pulp Endorsed.

LINCOLN. Neb, July 4.-The stream OF
callers and of letters all expressive OF
the best wishes for the political future OF
William ]. Bryan, was interrupted today
when Herman Ridder, editor of the New
York Stats Zeitung, called at Fairview
and asked Mr.. Bryan to withdraw from
the contest In favor of some democrat
who could WIN"
The interview between Mr. Ridder and
Mr. Bryan was pleasant and Of the frank
est nature throughout Mr.. Ridder told
Mr. Bryan in as many words that he
would oppose him openly at the Denver
convention, but in the event Of his being
nominated to head the ticket the Stats
Zeitung and Mr.. Ridder personally would
support the ticket
Mr. Ridder told Mr.. Bryan that 1t was
a matter for the serious consideration of
the latter whether or not he should accept
a third nomination and wreck the
chances Of the democratic party to elect
its ticket at the coming election.
Il do not believe you can carry New
York state If you are nominated said
Mr.. Ridder.
II cannot agree with YOU" replied Mr..
Bryan; but, even though l am unable
to carry that state. l believe l can be
elected without the electoral vote of New
York
Asked how Mr.. Bryan took the propo-
sition to withdraw from the presidential
race. Mr.. Ridder said he smiled. but gave
no direct reply.
Our talk was a most pleasant one.
said Mr.. Ridder. Il told Mr.. Bryan very
plainly that I should 60 to the Denver
prepared to do all l could to oppose 1t.
also told him that in the event of the
convention nominating him l would sup
port him on conservative platform"
Free Wood Pulp.
Later Mr.. Ridder gave out the substance
of his talk with the democratic leader
which lasted half an hour. During the
conference he presented to Mr.. Bryan a
typewriter copy of proposed plank ad-
vocating the removal OF the tariff on
wood pulp, to which Mr.. Bryan wrote
across the bottom: II am in favor OF the
above plank just the way 1t is Mr. Rid
der will carry this bit Of paper to the con-
vention and there is little doubt Of its be-
ing incorporated in the platform adopted
by the convention. The plank reads as
follows:
Every consideration Of public policy
suggests the conservation Of our wood
lands and the removal of those import du-
Ties WHICH put q upon OeStfuC-
ton of our forests. Existing duties have
given paper manufacturers a shadow be.
hind which they have organized combina-
tions to raise the price of pulp and of pa
per and to impose a tax upon knowledge.
The revenues derived from the import du-
ties on pulp and printing paper are SO
small and the benefits to be obtained from
the abolition OF these duties are SO con-
siderable that we indorse the attitude of
the democratic representatives in Congress
who unanimously favored the placing OF
pulp and printing paper on the free list. A"
Mr.. Ridder talked very plainly on the
proposed resolution on the death Of for
mer President Cleveland. saying:
Il think the resolutions in this regard
should be entirely devoid of anything am
internal strife. and that the memory of
urover Cleveland should not be the SUBJ
ject of any quarrel.
Il think undue publicity has been given
the matter and do not anticipate that II
will be the cause Of dissension in the con-
vention."
A Conservative Platform.
Mr. Ridder was asked to define his
meaning Of conservative platform, but
said he could not 60 into details. When
pressed as to what he would oppose, he
said that he would not accept a declara.
tiog for free silver or for government
ownership. He added also that it was
the understanding that Mr.. Bryan consid-
cred the silver question dead and that the
democratic leader did not wish a govern
ment ownership OF railroads plank in
serted.
My ideas of a conservative platform
are that the tariff should be revised entire.
ly on trust-controlled articles and that a
tariff for revenue only shall be retained
on other commodities. These latter /
would not subject to the immediate re-
moval Of the duty, but rather revise the
tariff and reduce it by degrees.
LAS to finance, I believe that securities
on which our currency should be based
should be subject to the approval of the
Secretary of the Treasury and that the
collateral should be of such q nature as
the different states permit savings banks
to accept as an investment for their
funds.
The injunction plank, I believe, should
favor a statute which will make 1t neces-
sary for at least two judges to act on the
final issue. One judge should issue the
injunction and another decide the merits
of the case. did not have an oppor-
tunity to talk of this matter with Mr..
Bryan, but 1 understood that he is in
favor Of a system of this nature. rather
than have the cases submitted to q jury"