The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-28
BRYAN VISITS HIS
 OLD COLLEAGUES Democratic Leader Welcomed
 In the House DENIES OPPOSITION STORY MT. Bryan Declares That Former Sen ator Jones and Oliver Belmont
 Did Not Approach Him In
 Regard To Candidacy.
DENIES OPPOSITION STORY

Washington, January H.-W. J. Bryan today held an impromptu reception in the rooms of the house committee on ways and means, where a number of demo- crats and many outsiders shook him by the hand and chatted with him. Asked by some one to name his choice for run ming mate at Denver MT. Bryan laugh ingly replied: T shan't tell. That is too bold a question:
 To the newspaper men he said: You may say that my coming to Washington was not to consult any man or set of men as to whether or not I ought to be can didate for the nomination. I have not put that question to any man, nor shall 1. The people, not individuals, have the sole right to decide that point. am not here to solicit support for myself as possible Presidential candidate. 1 never solicit in- dividual support; l never ask any man to vote for me. In the past, when was before the people as a candidate my eff forts to obtain votes have been confined to statements of my views
 Asked about the story published in some quarters that Former United States Sen ator Jones, Oliver H. P. Belmont, and others came to him day or so ago and told him he was not the logical candi- date for the democratic nomination, urged him not to run, and promised to oppose him if their advice should be disregarded, MT. Bryan said: 'oThere is not a shred of truth in that story. No one has ad- vised me not to be a candidate. 1 saw Senator Jones and we talked politics, but nothing of the sort occurred. l have as yet had no formal conference since my arrival in Washington. Tonight at din- ner at the home of Senator Newlands of Navada I shall meet and confer with the first one-half of the democratic Senators on the alphabetical list. Tomorrow night l shall meet the second half
 MT. Bryan, before leaving the Capitol, dictated in response to a request the fol- lowing interview, setting forth briefly his views on the financial questions:
 Lack of confidence is what drives money out of circulation Restore pub lie confidence and money returns to it's accustomed channels. For lack of conf1- dence, the best remedy is insurance of bank deposits, and I have urged upon various states and Congress the passage of some measure similar to the law adopt
 
 creation of a guaranty fund by assess ments upon the banks in proportion to t cir deposits, and authorizes the banking bogrd to make such assessments from time to time as may be necessary to re- store the guaranty fund when it is low cred by the payment of money to deposi- tors of failed banks.
 'As to an elastic currency think pro- la 1a fAt ioin nnt al e. ticity in times of emergency by law providing for the issue of United States notes, such notes to be loaned by the government to the banks upon adequate security and at a rate of interest which would compel the retirement of notes when the emergency is over 1 suppose nearly all members of Congress and sen ators favor some provision for an emer- gency currency The democrats as a rule favor a system under which the government will issue and control the value of emergency currency, while most republicans favor some system under which it would be issued and controlled by the bank. This presents the point of dispute between the two parties. The high fnanciers have been largely responsible for the present panic by reason of their reckless methods; and I am satisfied that a number and majority of the peo- pie would prefer to risk the government, rather than risk these men,
 Dinner With NeWIands.
 Washington, January 27.-Senator New lands of Nevada, gave a dinner tonight in honor of William J. Bryan. who is a guest of the senator at "Woodley," his country residence Those invited to the dinner were one-half of the democratic members of the Senate, according to the alphabetical arrangement of names in the congressional directory. Senator New lands has arranged for similar dinner when the other half of the democratic senators will be invited. The invited guests tonight were W. J. Bryan, Sem ators Bacon, Bailey, Bankhead, Clarke, Clay. Culberson, Daniel, Davis. Foster, Frazier Johnston, Latimer and McCreary. Senator Newlands said today that no political significance attaches to the din ner He added, however, that demo- cratic policies in the matter of legsla- ton might be discussed.