Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-06-26
BRYAN REFUSES
GUARDIANSHIP
Fail TO Swing Nebraskan in Line for
Work on the Party's
Platform
COMMITTEE MIGHT BE PACKED
Comm0ner Desires to Reserve Free
dom of Action-May Not Assent to
Some Other Suggestions.

Fifth Armoury, Baltimore, June 70
An attempt by the conservative force
now in control of the Democratic Nat
ional convention to swing William j.
BRYAN into line by making him chair
man Of the resolutions committee
which is drafting platform failed to-
dav. Not only did Bryan refuse but
he made it plain in refusing that ne
feared the committee had been pack
ed against him.
BRYAN arrived at the committee
room unannounced, passing enroute,
4. committee composed OF Senators
Culberson, of Texas; Rayner of Mary
land, and O'Gorman of New York.
who had been sent to ask him TO as
sume the craftsmanship and stand be-
fore the country as responsible for the
party declaration.
While waiting for the three sena-
tors to return the proposition OF the
majority was put up to Bryan ana
he fatty refused it.
"There is decided possibility
that the committee may not be uI'i'
in its recommendation to this conVen
tion." he said. 81 myself desire 10
reserve freedom of acting. 1t IS d
certainty that there will be sugges-
+;ons made to this convention which
cannot assent to. This committee
,,,;oht decide that some of the sug-
pestions should be Incorporated IN the
n,atform. So far as ! am concerned
7 have no choice for chairman ana
will not personally assume that res
nonsibilitv because as an indlVloual
n,amber of the committee | can make
NV fpht for the principles for which
stand and if defeated here can re-
serve the right to carry that tght
both onto the floor Of the convention
and before the voters Of the United
States"
The leaders were plainly disconcer-
ted by the action of Bryan. ms
disconcertion became chagrln when
BRYAN told his lieutenant Senator
Inke Lee, of Tennessee Inat he hao
refused the honors because he person
allv "intended to plan national, not
ward politics"
When the full committee assembled
BRYAN stated that he did not refuse
the chairmanshrip with any desire 10
disturb harmony. 81 acted" he sald'
"rather to the interest OF harmony.
Former Congressman Fithian OF
Illinois then suggested that Senator
Kern. the Indiana representative on
the committee to be elected. Kern
at first was going to refuse also, out
finally consented to serve and ne was
unanimously chosen with 7. >. "aish
Of Colorado as secretary.
The committee Immediately went
info executive session to prepare the
platform. ,od
" As soon as the doors were closed,
p,van was recognized to open the gen
eral debate preliminary to presenta-
tion and discussion of the hundreds
of platform planks presented. he
pleaded with the committee to pre-
mare a strong progressive platform
concise brief, but emphatic and clear
in its delineation of democratic pro-
pressiveism. He spoke for 10 MN
ntes also asking for harmony, out
with a yelled threat OF MAJORITY
report if the progressives are gagged
by conservative control.
Baltimore. June 26.-By a vote OF
forty-one to eleven motion OF VIII
liam ]. Bryan to adopt platform al
ter and not before the candidates are
ions comittee today shortly before
named was adopted by the resoiut'
the convention assembled.
The new program will have to Dc
ratified by the convention before II
becomes effective.