The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-05-31
BRYAN PUTS HIMSELF
OUT Of THE RUNNING

Minneapolis, May 23.-William Jen-
nings Bryan, speaking before the
delegates of the Methodist general
conference at Minneapolis yesterday,
declared that he is not candidate
for any office. He made it clear
that all his future political activi-
ties will be carried on as a private
citizen, allowing him to do more eff
fective work than would be possible
otherwise.
Mr.. Bryan, who is to lecture this
evening at the Minneapolis auditori-
UNI on THE Price of Soul" under
the auspices of the conference, APP
peared on the platform about eleven
O'Clock, during recess. Bishop War
rem, presiding, introduced Mr. Bryan,
amid loud applause.
Not Candidate For Bishop.
Il understand the proprieties too
well to attempt to make speech at
this time," said Mr.. Bryan. 81 know
you asked me more from courtesy
than from desire.
Il know that no unfriendly news
paper would accuse me of being a
candidate for bishop" he said, amid
laughter. Il assure you that | have
no connection with your kind of
politics. | am here because ! feel an
interest in the work at hand. / came
from a Presbyterian assembly at
Louisville and I expect to attend
many national gatherings of similar
character. i am oscillating from one
church to the other, but / have
enough sympathy for all the others.
Knows Little of Creeds.
81 have been a member of achurch
since / was fourteen years OF age.
/ did not know much about creed
then and / have been too busy since
to learn any; in fact, the older i
grow the less interest ] take in
things that separate us and do not
unite u.s. I am glad that ! live in
an age when we consider more OF
the fundamental and less of the
artificial things. ..
II do not mean that the churches
should dissolve into one and be-
come one denomination. We need
separate shurches to stimulate
rivalry and have expression in lati-
tude of ideas.
The Spiritual Uplift.
81 am glad the time has come
when the different churches can fight
together for raising the spiritual
above the material. l am anxious to
see all the churches lined up against
the atheists and agnOstics.
"Christianity needs no defense. 1t
is aggressive 1t is not answering
questions, but asking them.
THE older | grow the more | be-
come convinced that the heart is the
greatest thing. l look not at mans
reason but at what he wants.
81 know no better school than
notifies. From it comes all that Is
good and all that is bad. There is
no place where truth can triumph
as III pOlltlCS.
The Downfall in Politics. ....
1--WE found that what has been
said by your preachers is true, that
character is the power of endurance
in a man. Downfall in politics is
ALWAYS due to a moral breakdown,
as one who has been in politics all
his life and expects to continue
the remainder of his life can testl-
fly.
Loud cheers greeted this state
ment and Mr.. Bryan continued:
"Now do not misunderstood me, l
do not want to leave an impression
that I am a candidate for any OF
fee. I find pleasure in private Ire.
When | was a candidate jealous
friends were always pulling my coat
tails.
81 do not say I have made no er-
rors, but | insist that | have never
advanced any idea that at the time
7 did not believe was right. | well
come the honest man into polltlcs'
Truth need fear no opposition OF
conflict" ~
Did Not Want to Discuss Politics.
The Commoner declared that his
mission in Minneapolis was to talk
to church people and not to discuss
the present political enlargement.
He even refused to have anything TO
saw about the situation in Ohio de-
claring that the reports from the
Buckeye state were not sufficient 10
warrant any statement regarding the
nrosnects of either candidate for the
republican nomination and that he
did not like to discuss politics
"half-way."
s'What do you think of the prefer
entail presidential primary IN NH
pesota?" Bryan was asked
Believes in the Primary.
"It's a very good thing" was the
reply. "You know l am in favor or
letting the people express thelr
wishes in the clearest way possible
so there may be no mistake as 10
what they want, and the primary Is
the very best method. But TINS IS
notifies" he reminded the interview
er. and with a wave OF ms manu-