The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-06-26
Platform Committee Sits Around and
shlvers Every Tlme He
Comes and Knocks
at tho Door.
REFUSED TO PRESIDE
Was Offered Craftsmanship of the
Committee But Declined to
Serve and That Starts
Panic.

UNITED Press Leased Wire Service. ] |
BALTIMORE. June 26.-An attempt
by the conservative forces now in oon-
troll Of the democratic national conven-
tion to swing w. ]. Bryan into line by
making him chairman OF the resolu-
tions committee. which is drafting a
platform, failed today Not only did
Bryan refuse. but he made 1t plain In
refusing that he feared the committee
had been packed against him.
Bryan arrived at the committee
room unannounced. passing enroute
committee composed of Senators
Culberson, Rayner and O'Gorman who
had been appointed to ask him to
head the committee and stand before
the country as responsible for the
party declaration.
While waiting for the three senators
to return the proposition of the ma.
jority was put up to Bryan and he
flatly refused It.
There is a decided possibility that
this committee may not be unit in
it's Recommendation to this conven-
tfon," he said. II myself desire to re-
serve freedom of action; 1T is GER
tainty that there will be suggestions
made to this convention which I can
not assent to. This committee might
decide that some of these suggestions
should be Incorporated in the plat
form. So far as am concerned, /
! have no choice for chairman and !
will not personally assume that re
sponsibility because as an individual
member of the committee l can make
my fight for the principles for which
III stand and if defeated here can re.
serve the right to carry that figh,
both to the floor Of the convention and
4 before the voters of the United
1 States"
i The leaders were plainly disconcert
ed by the action Of Bryan. This dis
concertion became chagrin when
Bryan told his lieutenant, Senator
Luke Lea that he had refused the
honor because he personally planned
national not ward politics."
i When the full committee assembled
Bryan stated that he had not refused
the craftsmanship with any desire tc
disturb harmony. II acted he said
rather in the interests of harmony
i Former Congressman Fithian Of II
linois then suggested that Senator
Kern the Indiana representative or
the committee be elected. Kern a
first was going to refuse also but fin
ally consented to serve and he wai
unanimously chosen with T. ]. Walsh
of Colorado as secretary. The com
mittee Immediately went into execu
tive session to prepare the platform
/ AS soon as the doors were closet
Bryan was recognized to open th'
general debate preparatory to presen
| tation. He pleaded with the commit
] tee to prepare strong progressiv,
platform, concise, brief, but emphati
, and clear in it's delineation of demo
|, cratic progressivism. He spoke 70
fifteen minutes also asking for hal
mony, but with yelled threat of M
) nority report il the progressives ar
gagged by conservative control
/, E. l.. Garrison of Connecticut, 70
j lowed Bryan and presented to him th
i platform prepared by Senator LaFo
! lette which was turned down by tn
1 republican convention. Garrison aske
r Bryan to lend his influence to hav
i the best planks of this platform incol
{ porated in the democratic declaration
L especially the monetary scheme.
g This latter is the plank written b
q Prof. John r. Commons of the Un
(" yersity of Wisconsin.
8 1t was generally accepted that the
!, would not be able to report to tn
}. convention before tomorrow althoug
n a determined effort was being mad
+ by the majority SO the way would b
i. clear for nominations tomorrow.
Gompers and Frank Morrison of til
A. r. of L., presented the labor plank
to the committee and urged action G
! them. They seemed hopeful whe
q they concluded that their claim
$ would receive favorable action.
n Members OF the committee admitte
e that the big fight was to be on IL
e money, trust and tariff planks, Brya
d ii was admitted. would take an a
d vanced stand ON these subjects and
II his wishes were not carried o
d would make fight on the floor whic
- y