The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-06-24
With His Back to the Wall,
Brayn Answers Questions
of Reporters
SAYS HE IS THERE
AS A HARMONIZER
Would Accept Any Mention :
ed for Chairman Ex-
cept Parker, Who
Is ReactIonary

BALTIMORE. MD. June Erwin
his back against the wall and per-
spiration streaming down his face In
rlvuiets. William jennings Bryan to-
night answered q rapid voley of ques-
lions shot at him by half u hundred
or more reporters who crowded his
room at the Befvedere almost TO sHfse--@
cation. He told thesi that he was OPP
posing Alton r. Parker, for temporary
chairman simply and solely on the
ground that Judge Parker Is reae-
tionary. He also declared that he mad
himself declined the place two weeks
ago In Letter to National Chairman
Mack, and his only interest now was
to see that pronounced progressive
was substituted for Judge Parker. MIR.
Bryan declared that he had suggested
since his arrival in Baltimore this
evening, that the two leading candi-
dHtes for the presidential ffofttitiat ion
sttonttf agree between themselves on an
acceptable progressive candidate for
temporary chairman He explained
that Champ Clark and Woodrow VIII
son were the two leading candidates
because they have the largest number
Of Instructed delegates to the conven-
ton. He did not say whether or not
he had heard from them or their rep
rescntatives regarding his suggestion
Of an agreement between them on a
temporary chairman.
He's a Harmonixer.
Il am a harmonizer.' MIR. Bryan
began, land only In the interest of har-
mony I have suggested that the two
leading candidates for president agree
upon u candidate for temporary chair
man with whom to oppose at tonor-
row meeting OF the full national
committee, Its subcommittee's selec-
| ton of Judge Parker. ! know judge
| Parker I know Judge Parker liz u
reactionary. / have convincing proof
| that he IL Il reactionary. 1t would be-
!, a shame for the party that Is so over
i whemingiy dominated by the progress
! siye element to be represented in the
| preliminary proceedings of It's nation
al convention by a reactionary of any
| sort, but particularly OF the Parker
brand. The eight men Of the commit
| tee on arrangements OF the national
committee who selected him know as
well as / do that he Is q reactionary.
| These eight men know that in their
J selection OF Parker for this post of
such great Importance they were rep
| resenting two men. and that these TWO
| represent one man.
| Would Senator o'Gorinan answer
| your idea of progressive for tenn
| porary chairman" WIS another Gues-
| tiog
/ Yes" replied Mr.. Bryan. ''or any
| of the other three or four progressive
| voted for the other day by the other
eight members of the committee on
| arrangements"
} These men were Ollie James, OF KEN
/ lucky. Robert Heney, OF Texas. and
: John w. Kern, OF Indiana
Then you have no, candidate of your
own Mr.. Bryan
( Il have no candidate of my own. All
/ am insisting on is that IL real pro-
gressive shall be temporary chairman
/ OF the convention. When 1 saw In
the papers q short time ago thar was
I being talked OF for temporary chair
man I wrote to Chairman Mack that
/ did not want the place.
Would you accept it now II it should
| be offered TO you?'
1T has not been offered: ! have no
!, idea that 1t will be offered. Therefore
! " - acz--
! How Would You Pross?
| would you accept the presidential
! nomination OF the convention, Mr.
! Bryan n brash young reporter biurt-
| ed out, Mr.. Bryan's face grew serious
and the perspiration increased In vol
| ume.
| Young man" Mr.. Bryan replied. "ff
| YOU were so much in love with a young
/ tluI you U6tti III i'SnC III J0~SA
wife, provided she would have you.
would YOU first ask her II she would
accept you. should you propose to her;
/, or ~ee,ild ys,ti- make a direct proposal ?
| This question in several forms was
| repeated to Mr.. Bryan by other repor-
! tiers, and TO each he replied that he.
| already had answered 1t. He hnally
| showed irritation over the reTetifion
/ Of .,,e question. and ii was not asked
him again.
"can Won conceive a combination
| OF circumstances arising at this con.
venticn to similar to those at the
| Chicago convention that would c4uses
| ~, 10 do as Mr.. Roosevelt did there
| boltT' was a question which seemed
| also ~ irritste Mr.. P-van.
| Finally he answered It thus:
.'There is no occasion to discuss
! that subject Nobody has said any
+ thing about boi; In this conventions.
( The prorrcssives control II over
/ wnalmingiy and tn, Y will be the 49,
! Of the convention. il seems likely
: that we are to ',avs here light oSeR
| the temporary organization OF tho
/ Democratic conveiti.;, Just as the H.
publicans had at their convention. bU3
this convention unlike that at Ch1&
/ cago, will be completely dominated hN
! the progrcssives. We had a tiEht N&
( 4
| temporary organization over David u
| fifif, of New York. representing e1eS
/ ments which correspondent to thu T@@
1 dictionaries and Senator John NJ
| Daniel. OF Virginia. representing age
ynents which correspondent to the pS1
gressives. We won our fight thu n. NH
we shall more easily win II now. =
No Hy1,otheticaI Questi0al Sas
| There is a good deal in the pAp&1
about possible combinations a. M
! ting together between you and Co1oM&X
| Roosevelt In the organization ~
third party in the event the proG4
ssye SHOULD lose at sthis convsnttnS
Afr. tstyan Was reminded ana Al1&
wus uskrt. l1iNAfr said ron John eo
Roosevelt In such movements &
s.YOnnr man. NJ ren1AA11 ~ -