The sun., 1912-07-01

departing from the time honored custom II
our party in recognizing the voice OF the
, majority are not reasons at all, but the
shallowest OF pretexts put forward 10
! achieve some purpose which I shal not
attempt to divine.
bid you. then. say to my friends that
accept with deepest era ttude their renewed
| assurances Of loyalty and now declare with
out qualification that my name " ill remain
before the convention. subject to no trade
or dicker. until two-thirds Of the delegations
shall ratify or refuse to ratify the action OF
the majority. Very respectfully yours.
CHAMP CLARK.
The Stone letter. to W. n the above
was replv is as follows:
Baltimore. Md. June 80.
To the Hon. champ Clark:
Sr-As result Of conference Of
large number Of your supporters for the
Democratic nomination for President. I
am directed by their unanimous voice
TO address to YOU the following COM
municatiOn:
II is first principle of Democracy
that the will Of the majority shall pre-
vail. The two-thirds rule, observed by
the Democratic party In national con-
Nention. adopted originally in connection
with the nomination Of candidate for
Nice-President, was abrogated by prac-
tice long ago. Whenever. during the past
sixty years. a candidate has received
II majority OF votes his title to the nom-
nation has been recognized. and has been
ratified Immediately by the addition OF
a sufficient number to meet the tcchni-
cal requirement OF two-thirds.
The precedent trus maintained during
al! these years has become a party law.
as binding in morals and In equity as II IL
were a written statute. No fair minded
man can deny that. but for this fact,
the two-thirds rule would have been dc.
finitoiy abolished years ago. Nor
can any one. in reason or in right Ques-
ton the declaration that IL Is point
OF honor with the party and the party
representatives to sustain this tradition,
Even though the bare majority OF the
delegates had voted for you but once.
the obligation OF tho party's representa-
tives to designate you, as tho nominee
would have been established. But the
fact is that you held a clear majority
In eight successive ballots. thus provinp
ccHclusively that the expression OF the
majority was in lao sense tentative, but
was deliberate and definite. From every
point OF view. therefore. your title to the
Democratic nomination for President is
clear and unmistakable,
In view OF these circumstances we IN
sist that YOU owe 1t to the Democratic
party, to your supporters In the con-
NentiOn and to your own honor to con-
tinue as Il candidate before the conven-
tion until two-thirds OF the delegates
shall meet the technical requirement arm
confirm the nomination, which In all fair
ness. justice and morals has already been
conferred upon You by "A majority OF the
delegates representing thirty-six States
and Territories Of the Union.
Upon receipt OF assurance from you
that under no circumstances will you
permit your name to bc withdrawn, We
hereby pledge ourselves 10 vote for you
on every ballot that shall hereafter he
taken In the convention.
Very respectfully yours
WILLIAM j. STONE.
Chairman OF the Missouri Delegation.
Clark leaders are elated over the Sneak
er's references to Mr.. Bryan. They ex-
press the belief that despite surface in
dications to the contrary the Clark can
didacy is stronger now that the Mis-
so!irian has broken with Bryan. .
1t is generally known OF course that the
Underwood candidacy represents a pro-
test against Bryan domination. The
Clark people insist that when the lines
begin to tighten tomorrow the Under
wood people will belforced to throw their
support to the Missourian.