Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-04-03
OF Invitation to Attend Jefferson
Day Dinner OF N. Y. Nation
al Democratic Club.
HE REFUSES TO TALK OF IT.
He Was Asked to Attend the Banquet
But Not To Deliver u
speech.

Des Moines, Iowa, April 2.-While In
Des Moines today William j. Bryan put
quietus on the speculation as TO
whether the New Yori. National DEM
ocratic club had intended that he
should speak or maintain discreet
silence at the banquet to be given
there April 49, by wiring withdrawal OF
his acceptance OF the invitation to at
tend. He viii not be present and
therefore cannot speak.
Beyond announcing his decision in
this respect he would not discuss the
matter.
In view Of the discussion which had
arisen AS TO whether the invitation was
TO make speech or merely to be pres
ent, MI Bryan said that he felt it
would be embarrassing, both to the
club and TO himself. to be present in
either capacity, and therefore he wired
President Fox of the club yesterday
morning that he Withdrew his accept
ance of the invitation. TO be present
he would run the risk of being called
upon for an cxtemporaneous speech
ma to refuse or to accept would he
alike subject To criticism, aud the cas-
iest solution was not 10 be present at
all
Mr.. Bryan was kept busy from the
time of his arrival in Des Moines in
thhe curly morning until late at night
making speeches, greeting the promi
nent Democrats who came from every
part of the state, and holding confer
noes His speeches during the day
were non political. His first address
was made at st, Josephs academy
Then followed in quick succession 9TH
or addresses AT Des Moines college and
Drake university during the morning
After luncheon he spoke to the Bryan
volunteers at . o'clock in the after
noon; to the students OF the East high
school at 1 o'clock, and to great
crowd In University Church of Chijst
AT 3 p. m.
He was greeted with great crowds
whereveF he appeared and the demon
stration of tn college men was especial
~ enthusiastic The whole day was
suggestive of BTyan's famous cam
paigning of 1896, and he stood It's
strain we'll
This evenings banquet was attended
by throngs of Democrats, hundred or
more of them from out of the state
Gov Haskell of Oklahoma divided
honors with Bryan this afternoon and
at the banquet. He arrived with n
large party of Oklahomans, including
i D. ~
National Committeeman Tate Brady
CLUB SAYS NOTHING.
New York, April THE Democrat
10 club has made public very little
concerning it's attitude in the matter
of William j Bryan and the Jeffer-
son dinner Even tho fact that Mr..
Bryan had accepted an invitation had
not been officially announced Presi-
NO ha oh 10.
night and no one Mt theDemocratic
club wished to discuss the action of
Mr.. Bryan in reconsid ering his earlier
decision to be present at the dinner
u Is understood, however, that Mr.
Fox received Mr. Bryan's telegram
last night about the time that Harry
Walker, head Of the Democratic Pro-
gressive league received message
from Mr.. Bryan, declaring that the
latter would have no part in u Jeffcr-
son banquet arranged In rivalry with
that OF the Democratic club.
WOULDN'T CONSIDER MATTER,
New York, April William j.
Bryan telegrap hed from Lincoln Neb
last night that he would not consider
attending dinner to rival the def
fersou day dinner to be held under the
auspices of the National Democratic
club on April 10.
Mr. Bryan was invited to attend the
clubs dinner, but was not asked to de-
liver speech. H. II. Hughes of
Springfield, Mo. offered 81 900 toward
the expense of celebrating Jefrerson's
birthday If Mr.. Bryan would speak
at a rival dinner
The large ballroom at the Waldorf
Astoria was tentatively engaged by
Mr. Bryan's friends, but the telegram
stopped all plans for rival dinner.
Mr. Bryan's telegram was as follows:
Lincoln, Neb., April HAIRY
Walker. No, ESQ Broadway. Telegram
just received. | am very much elnbar-
raised by your action. Please do moth
ing regarding myself without first sub
hitting matters TO me. / would not con-
slider a rival banquet. Constant public
ity very unfortunate.
"CSigned) VIM. J. BRYAN"