The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-12-23
He Expects to Write Next Dem
Ocratic Platform.
Promises There Will Be No
Amendment" This Time.
ONE PLAN is SPOILED
Nebraska Forces Decision From
Roosevelt, Holland Says.
Progressive Republicans May
Fail at Convention.


William J. Bryan was in New York, on
the eve OF his excursion to the West
Indies. he met informally number Of
Democratic leaders of this city. some
of whom have always been staunch in
their loyalty to him, others having at
times opposed his policies. To these
friends Colonel Bryan spoke with much
freedom. He discussed the existing
conditions in the Democratic party and
the action he thought congress should
take in the session which viii not end
until after the presidential nominations
are made next spring. but the most
emphatic and earnest OF his comments
related to the Democratic national con-
VentiOn. He made it clear to his friends
that his purposes are all centered upon
the control of that convention He
also intimated that he must be taken
as having spoken with perfect sincerity
when he said few months ago that
nomination.
Little by little the substance OF the
conversations Colonel Bryan had with
his friends in this city has been COM
municated by these friends to others.
NO doubt Charles +. Murphy the Lead
er of Tainmany, has been told that
Colonel Bryan stated to his friends at
the recent conference that il was n
matter OF small moment to him who
the candidates for the presidential
nomination may be. or in fact upon
its choice
He VIII Write Platform.
Colonel Bryan is quoted bv these
friends having said. first that he
VIII not concern himself any more than
any other Democrat may do so FAR az
the nomination is concerned. He did
say 10 mis- friends however. as re-
ported. that he intended II possible to
dominate the construction of fhe ufat
form. He asserted that with a plat
form written as he intends to have the
Democratic platform written the per-
naturally disclosed.
He RecoIIects 1904.
In substantially the following words
Coionel Bryan is reported BY friends
who heard him to have said what bis
purpose respecting the platform are.
went to St. Louis in 1904 caring
httle ABOUT who the nominee was pro-
Nued could write a platform upon
winch the candidate would stand I
did prepare a platform OF fbat lind
as 1 supposed. I Thought IL yvae @asf-
IRON 50 tar as any change was concern
ed- But | was mistaken. Judge Par
ker forced an amendment to that plat
form by telegraphic communication he
sent from his home at -..opus and L
was powerless to prevent the modinca-
dity.
Il don't intend to have ANYTHING OF
that kind happen at the convention ~
1917 II I am successful. as 1 intend
10 be- then at our national convention
OF next year we shall embody in the
PLATFORM all that was written into the
Denver platform, including the initia-
tive, referendum, the guarantee of de-
posits in banks and the other distinc-
i've Poheles or the Democratic party.
and in addition, there will be much
more written into the platform based
upon matters of which we have learned
the Importance since 1908"
No Parker EPISODE Feared.
Colonel Bryan is also quoted as hav-
ing further said: THAT platform will
be so written and so comp sed that Il
will not be possible for candidate or
anybody else to tear II 70 pieces as
Judge Parker did in 1904"
Upon platform Of this kind Colonel
Bryan said emphatically that he was
certain that Governor Harmon of Ohio
would not stand. Knowing the COVER
nor as thoroughly as he does. Colonel
Bryan feels assured that the intellect
ual and political integrity or convictions
of Governor Harmon Will not permit
him to accept nomination II he has
to stand upon such a platform as
Bryan intends TO write.
Some Of Bryan's friends then asked
him If that were also true Of Governor
Woodrow Wilson. With jrst the faint
est ghmmer OF a smile ana with a
curious twinkle i'm his eye. Bryan is
reported to have ancwcred that ques-
ton in these words. Governor Wilson
form that We write"
Bryans friends in this city are con-
yinced that If he regards the platform
writing as the key to the strategy OF
the Democratic national convention or
next year he must have ina reserve
some one whom he believes. will ht
the platform and whom the platform
will fit. Yet these local Democrats are
Convinced that Bryan spoke with sin
cerity when he said to them that not
again would he be the Democratic
candidate for president.
On the Other Side.
Matching the extremely interesting
disclosure of his purpose which Colonel
Bryan made upon his recent visit to
this city is a curious complication
which has suddenly embarrassed the
so called, who have been
playing the game OF politics for some
months in the expectation that IN the
end they will win that game through
the nomination OF Theodore Roosevelt.
It is no longer any secret that part
of the strategy of those who hope to
compass the nomination of Roosevelt
consists in bringing IL about that a
large number OF uninstructed dele
gates be elected from various states to
the Republican national convention. In
that way it was hoped that the con-
vention would be deadlOcked. favOrito
sons perfunctorily named by delegates
Of one or another state commanding
Of votes to prevent the comination go
ing either to President Taft or to La
Toilette. Then. at the expedient mo-
ment, when the temper Of the conven-
ton would sufficiently dispose Il to ac-
Cept with enthusiasm the suggestion OF