The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1908-07-18
William Jennings Bryan Will
Not State Whether Ideas
Held by Him in 1906 Are
Those of Today.
APPEAL TO FARMERS
FOR CAMPAIGN FUNDS.
Assertion That Party Will Not
Take Funds From Corpora
tions Is Reiterated by Bryan
And Kern.

Lincoln, Neb., July 1S-RemInded
that while the Brownsville controver-
sy was in it's most heated stage he
commended President Roosevelt edi-
torially for drumming out of the Uni
ted States army the colored battalion,
some of whose members were accused
of shooting up the town, William J.
Bryan qualified his declaration that he
had not discussed the incident and re-
called that he had on the date above
indicated penned eulogy of the pres
ident for his conduct.
Mr.. Bryan explained that he had
meant to be understood as merely say
ing that he had not discussed the mat
ter with any negro delegation, adding:
Il now remember that in 1906 be-
fore the real inquiry began, there ap-
peared in the Commoner an article
that If the facts were as stated in the
newspapers the president was abso-
lutely justified in the policy he had
followed.
II did not intend to mislead anybody
but inasmuch as I do not regard the
Brownsville case an issue in this cam
paign, sought to convey the sugges-
| ton that | had not discussed it re-
Gently with anybody. To be sure l
have been asked by negroes who have
called upon me to express myself
Some of them have talked great deal
to me about it.
He Just Listened.
II have listened. When they got
through I would say, in order that
they might not repeat anything erron-
eously from me: You are saying that,
not L.
| Perhaps they have gone away with
the impression that fully agreed with
what they said, though may not have
answered. That may explain the re-
ported statement from Bishop Wal.
ters that l assured a negro delegation
that l regarded Roosevelt's action as
unjust, and that l would recognize
negroes in appointments to Office.
the matter further, maintaining that
the Brownsville case is not a cam.
paign issue and that he will not dis.
cuss as issues other than those which
are included In the Denver platform.
/ Mr.. Bryan refused to say whether
or not the views expressed by him in
the 1906 editorial quoted are held by
h I1 - H.
far more absorbed in the possible eff
feet of an appeael for campaign funds
issued by him and Mr.. Kern anG his
running mate. addressed to the farm
ers of the United States. Here it is
First Campaign Appeal.
The first appeal for campaign con
tributions by the democratic candi
dates for the presidency and vice pres
| idency was made yesterday. In a for
NAL message directed to the farmers o.
the country, Messrs. Bryan and Kerr
urge them to contribute according tt
their means, and in other ways assis
in restoring democracy to power. Ths
appeals is as follows:
ITO the Farmers of the United States
The first contribution made to tht
democratic campaign fund this year
so far as We know was made by al
Iowa farmer, Just before the Denve1
convention met, this man, who mod
estly prefers not to have his nam,
mentioned. journeyed more than 10C
miles to Lincoln with his contribution
of s1oo, which he left with Mr. Bryan
1 l.
ganized for the campaign.
1T is very appropriate that thi
first contribution should come from
that great body of our population
known as agriculturists: the farme
has nothing to gain by privilege ant
favoritism; his hope is in the appli
cation of the doctrine of equal right
to all and special privileges to none
He has been the victim of all specia
legislation and has suffered from tn
control of politics by the great preda
tory corporations.
i And They Are Able.
Now that the democratic party ha
announced its determination not to az
cept contributions from corporations
not to accept excessive contribution
even from individuals. to publish al
contributions when over a resaonabl
minimum, it ought to be able to secur
a sufficient sum from its citizens VIII
ask from the government nothing bu
protection to their rights and consid
: Grafton for the general welfare. Their
E are hundreds of thousands of farmer
4 who are abundantly able to contribut
i to the campaign fund. There are thot
1 sands who could give S1o0 apiece witt
: cut feeling 1t; there's tens of thoul
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