The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-06-24
WILLIAM !. BRYAN
GIVES INTERVIEW
Will Not Give Out Plans For
Fighting Parker
MAKES INSINUATIONS
Says He Made Speeches for Parker
and Parker's Convention Did
Not Name Him Temporary
Chairman
MAKES INSINUATIONS

Baltimore, June 29.--William J. Bryan.
In an Interview given nearly 100 news
paper men tonight shortly after his ar
rival from Chicago, made It clear that
he regarded the fight for the temporary
convention one where pregressivism and
conservatism were the issues.
Mr. Bryan would not throw any light
ON what plans he had made 10 oppose
the ssleqtion for temporary chairman Of
Judge Parker whom he charged With be-
ing a reaotionary. lie fatty asserted
that to begin a progressive convention
with reactionary speech would be an
offense TO the democratic party.
Mr. Bryan was asked If he had any par
tlcular candidate for temporary chairman
of the convention in place of Mr.. Parker.
Il do not care to discuss the matter,
he said except TO say that any pro-
gressive win be satisfactory to me. In
the first place, | urged the committee to
consult with the two leading candidates
and allow them to determine upon sat
isfactory temporary chairman.
do you regard Wilson and Clark as the
two leading candldates2'
do you know of anybody et-e?' he
answered. .4ALkxzH
Views on Candidates
"Yes, | meant Wilson and Clark and If
they had agreed upon temporary chair
man there would have been no objection
whatsoever.
Il want to emphasize one fact right
here" Mr. Bryan continued, and that Is
that | am the original harmony man in
this whole crowd. | did not ask anything
for myself; I did not ask anything Tor
any particular candidate. | do not know
of any better way of beginning the con-
vention harmonously than to have the
two leading candidates agree upon a tenn
porary chairman If there Is any lack OF
harmony / do not see why there should
be any excitement about the matter.
Eight members OF the committee have
seen fit to ignore the opinions of the other
eight and to make the accommodation. 1t
takes the full committee to decide wheth-
er to approve or dsapproye the recon-
mendation of the subcommittee and II is
for the convention to decide whether II
will accept or reject the recommendation.
is not an unprecedented thing for a
committees accommodation to be re-
jeeted. It was rejected In the Chicago
convention In 1896.
would such an action here precipitate
a fight which would be detrimental to the
party2"
ut preclpitated fghts then" he an
swered, "and let me add that our party Is
better for the fight 1t saved the party
from disgrace. When l say disgrace 1
mean that to begin progressive conven-
ton with q reactionary speech would be
an offense TO the party of the nation and
I regard the wishes of the party as para
mount to the wishes of eight men, es-
peclally when those eight men stand for
two men and those two men stand for one
man
Will Not Name Two Men
''Wili you name the two men 10 whom
you refer?'
THAT is a problem which you will have
no difficulty in solving. will let you
guess"
'Mr. Parker made speeches for you in
your last campaign
And l made speeches for Mr. Parker.
also, Mr.. Bryan interrupted, 'and those
Ia control OF his convention did not see
fit to name me as temporary chairman. !
had been candidate for President twice
and was not thought of as temporary
chairman.
would you regard Mr. Parkers re-
cent speech as a reactionary speeeh?'
II have not read 1t, but have con-
elusive proof that he is a reaetionary he
would not have been recommended by the
eight men were he otherwise"
How are you going to conduct fight
for a progressive unless you have some
particular candidate In view?"
1T has been stated that you cannot
have a contest between two men until
you have the men, but / had no DISPOSE
ton to select the man at all 1 simply
urged the committee to ascertain If pos-
sibe the man upon whom the two leading
candidates could agree"
'WiH there be any split in tho cemo-
cratic party?"
Il have no knowledge on that subject"
''Well. can you imagine progressive
programme being repudiated here as in
Chicago?"
Wall Street in Chicago
NO" he replied for | cannot Imagine
so large Wall street element in our
party as they had in Chicago
"They say that you are going to bolt II
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