Evening star., 1911-05-29
DENIAL FROM BRYAN
Visits Capital and Declares He
Is Not Candidate.
SEES LEADING DEMOCRATS
Says He Was Misquoted in Report
in Speech Regarding Wine
Drinking Diplomats.

William Jennings Bryan was In Wash
ington long enough yesterday and early
this morning TO deny that he is a candi-
date or would be candidate for the
democratic nomination for President next
year. and also to deny that in q speech
at Atlantic City before the general as
sembly Of the Presbyterian Church he
had found the chief business OF the
United States diplomats in South America
was absorbing liquor"
Mr. Bryan also found time to hold con-
ferences with q number Of leading demo-
cratic members of Congress. He made
his headquarters at the home OF Cotter I.
Bride and left here this morning to go
to Harrisburg Pa. where he will deliver
an address this evening.
II am not q candidate and will not be.
Leave me out Of It," said Mr.. Bryan. He
refused to state any preference as De.
tween Gov. Wilson of New Jersey and
Champ Clark for the nomination. He
did not confirm the report that he was
unalterably opposed to the selection OF
Gov. Harmon Of Ohio as the democratic
standard bearer. Much would depend on
the action of Congress, he said, In the Sc
lection of q candidate.
Mr.. Bryan declared he was much
grieved that a report should have been
sent from Atlantic City that in his ad-
dress there he had charged the United
States diplomats IN South America with
Report Of Speech.
According to the report, which was
circulated widely. Mr.. Bryan said:
1--WE of the United States don't have to
keep our representatives drunk in order
to persuade them to do their work. Dur
ing my visit to South America I found
that the chief business Of the diplomatic
service was absorbing liquor"
Mr. Bryan pointed out that the news
papers said he was alleged" to have
made such statement, showing that the
person who wrote the story had not been
present
II did not make such a statement for
the simple reason that do not believe
It to be true" declared Mr.. Bryan.
What I really did say" continued MT
Bryan. referring to the notes of his
speech, was this:
The Federal government has driven
liquor from the Senate and the House Of
Representatives: why not put the gov
ernment on the side OF total abstinence
by excluding its use from diplomatic
lea q year ago last winter was sur
prised at the cost of the diplomatic
branch Of the service OF the South Amer
lean republics. 1t costs them quite a
sum TO meet the pre6ent-Oay reQulre-
ments.
"A considerable part Of the diplomatic
expense goes for entertainments, and
the cost Of wine is a large factor in the
cost of entertaining.
Should Set Example.
1.-The smaller countries might hesitate
to cut out wine, lest 1t might suggest
poverty, but the great nations could
abandon the use Of wine at diplomatic
functions without raising any suggestion
as to their motives. Why should our
nation not set the example? Why should
it not lead the way by throwing the
weight Of it's influence against the use
of intoxicating liquor? Our diplomacy is
open and honest; we do not have to make
people drunk in order to deal with them.
Our nation is in q position to bring about
the elimination Of the use of liquor from
diplomatic functions. Why should we
not take the initiative step?"
Mr.. Bryan conferred with Representa-
tive Francis Burton Harrison OF New
York. a member Of the ways and means
committee OF the House. and q leader
among the democrats for free wool. He
also talked with Speaker Champ Clark,
though 1t is understood that they did not
talk wool, upon which they are not
agreed. Others with whom Bryan con-
versed were Senator Newlands of Nevada,
Representative Rainey Of Illinois, another
FREQ wool democrat, and Representative
Hamill Of New Jersey.