Omaha daily bee., 1912-06-27
SAYS MAJORITY SHOULD CONTROL
Is Not in Sympathy with Forces
Dominating Convention.
VOTE TO DEFER ANY ACTION
Platform May Not Be Reported Until
Nomination is Made.
BRYAN ADVOCATES THIS STEP
the Platform and There should
Not BE Perpetual Debate
Between Them.

BALTIMORE, June 26.-Because he Is
not In sympathy with the forces seem
Ingly In control Of the Baltimore con-
vention," w. j. Bryan of Nebraska to-
day declined to accept the chairmanship
Of the resolutions committee unanimously
rendered him. Senator John w. Kern was
elected, after Mr.. Bryan twice refused
the honor.
When the committee met Mr.. Bryan
was not present and his absence was dis
concerting. No one appeared to know
what the Nebraskan's attitude was to
be-. but It was decided unanimously that
the place should be proffered him.
Senators Rayner Of Maryland. o'Gor-
man Of New York and Culberson OF
Texas therefore, were sent post chase
to Mr. Bryans rooms to urge him to
assume "a duty to his party" They ar
rived too late, as Mr.. Bryan had started
TO the convention hall.
Mr.. Bryan refused the chairmanship
In a speech In which he said he was
mot in sympathy with the forces who
appeared to be directing the trend of
political events In the party" and he
was not sure he could support the plat
form to be presented by the committee.
lie said that unless the platform en-
braced his ideas of true progress he
would submit minority report to the
convention.
Not content to abandon their harmony
program without further effort the COM
mittee turned the matter over to Senator'S
Rayner. o'Gorman and .Culberson. who
held an earnest discussion with Mr..
! Bryan In corner Of the room Mr.,
Kern was turned TO as representing the
| progressive democrats" and there was
no nomination In opposition to him. His
| election was unanimous.
Mr.. Bryan Arrives.
Mr. Bryan arrived at the committee
/ room at. 1870 o'clock. crossing the COM
nittee sent to confer with him.
| Cautious advisers of the Nebraska
leader argued against his accepting the
crairmanshipA Aof.tl,A. RESOLUTIONS commit
| tee on the ground that the attempt to
have him draft the platform ia a poorly
concealed plot to commit him In advance
to. the subsequent acts Of the convention
| and ITO any nominee willing to accept
what would be known as the Bryan
platform.
Mr., Bryan himself, 1t Is said, was loath
TO have anything to do with the plat
form, until he Is sure who the nominee
will be. For that reason, 1t was declared.
he would advocate the upsetting Of
precedent and the naming of a candi-
date before the platform is written and
adppted. .sa sx,8
Returning to his hotel from visit to
Mayor Preston. the Nebraskan spent the
eaily morning hours in Correspondence
and then went to the convention hall to
attend the meeting OF the resolutions
committee.
"The delegates are saying below stairs
that you will write the party platform"
was suggested.
But progressive platform would be a
rebuke to this convention, would 1t not?"
was Mr.. Bryan's reply.
Mr.. Bryan was told that many dele
gates believed the vote yesterday indi-
Gated the convention was progressive and
that he would be able to name the candi-
date for the presidential nomination.
Il think I have given the opinion
the convention would have the reaction
ary stamp with the qualification. unless
the delegates hear from home.- The vote
would indicate that l am down."
But not out" added friend.
with the qualification that I don't
mind It bit,'" snilingly said MIR. Bryan.
Moves to Defer Platform Report.
AS soon as the committee organized
Mr. Bryan moved the presentation OF
the platform be deferred until after nom
ination by the convention. Senator Ray
ner seconded the proposition. He spoke
at some length, urging progressive plat
form and particularly in reference to the
tariff and direct election of senators. on
which planks there was found to be
division of sentiment. The motion was
carried Al to .. The committee will re-
commend this action to the convention
and adjourned until the convention should
determine the matter.
I'VE do not want and must not have
perpetual debate between the candidate
and the platform" said Mr.. Bryan In
advocacy of his motion pOstponing ac-s