The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-06-27
AFTER REFUSAL
KERN GETS PLACE
Nebraskan Wishes to Be Left
Free to Bring in Minority Re-
port if He Thinks Beside
clares Himself Not in Sym
patty With Forces That
Rule Convention.

is not in sympathy with the forces
seemingly in control Of the Baiti-
more convention" William Jennings
Bryan to-day declined to accept the
Craftsmanship OF the resolution COM
nittee. unanimously rendered lin.
Senator John ". Kern. OF Indiana
was elected after Mr. Bryan twice re-
fused the honor.
When the committee met at l0:15
o'clock. Mr.. Bryan was not present.
His absence was disconccrting. No
one appeared TO know what the Ne
braskan's attitude was u be. but
II was rumored that he had said to
several friends that he would not
accept the responsibility Of directing
the platform makers. Nevertheless.
II was decided unanimously that the
place should be preferred him.
After brief discussion. 1t was sug-
Eested that committee OF Mr..
Bryen's friends should be sent to
his room 10 urge him TO assume what
tho committee declared TO be duty
TO his party. Senator'S Rayner. Of
and Culberson. OF Texas. were sent
Pos, haste to Mr.. Bryans rooms The
committee arrived too late; Mr. Bryan
had started to the convention hall.
Not Sure He Can support Platform
The committee of Senators returned
to the convention hall and entered the
committee room just In time TO hear
Mr.. Bryan conclude a speech refusing
to serve chairman The Nebras-
kan said he was not in sympathy with
the forces who appeared 10 be direct
ing the trend of political events in
/ the party. and that he was not sure
that he could support the platform
to be presented by the committee. He
declared that unless the platform en-
braced his ideas OF true progress he
would submit minority. report TO
the convention. He en:phatically de-
clined the honor his colleagues unan-
imously wanted TO bestow upon him.
Not content so Ca! to abandon
their harmony program. the commit
tee turned the matter over 10 Sena-
tors R4yner. O'Gorman and Culber-
son. and they held an earnest dis
cussion with Mr. Bryan in one coz
ner OF the room. Their efforts were
fruitless. MIR. Bryan had announced
his position. and 1t was unaltera BILE.
Senator Kern was turned TO at once
as representing the progressive Dem
ocracy. and there was no nomination
in opposition to him. His election was
hearings preliminary to closing the
doors for the actual work OF making
the party platform.
AS soon as the committee organized
Mr.. Bryan moved that the presentation
OF the platform be deferred unit! after
the convention had nominated can
didate for President Senator Rayner
seconded the proposition. He urged a
progressive platform. and particularly
in reference to the tariff and direct
election of Senators. on which planks
there was found to be a division OF
sentiment. The proposal was approved
by the committee by the vote OF Il to Q.
Must Not HIVE Perpetual Debate.
We do not want and must not have
q perpetual debate between the candi-
date and the platform" said Mr.. Bryan.
in advocacy OF his motion postroning
action on the platform until after the
nomination OF the presidential candi-
date. And" he continued the only
way to prevent such n result Is 10
name your man first. Indeed" he went
on. I'm these days the man IS the plat
form"
The candidate. ne argued should
have an opportunity to talk about the
platform in advance of It's making
rather than to feel impelled to talk
against it afterwa-d.
Senator Clarke. of Arkansas opposed
the change as a reversal Of all p-ece-
! dents, but was anita sonized by Senator
Rayner OF Maryland. who. taking sides
, emphat!cally with Mr.. Bryan. said the
time had come for overthrowing unde-
sirable precedents.
In refusing to accept the chairman
| shin, Mr.. Bryan said:
II appreciate the compliment. but I
am not willing to act as chairman.
am believer IN harmony. but think
that the committee IN It's officers ought
/ 10 he in harmony with the convention,
ard am not in harmony with the or
eanizaton OF the convention. nor of the
national committee which controls the
orga nization OF the convention.
| May Want to MIKE Minority Report.
we used TO have two kinds OF
Democrats. progressives and conser-
natives: we have now only one kind.
| progressive: hut we find there q n
wide difference in the definition OF the
word progressive and do not define
progressivcness as II Is defined by a
majority of this convention. and. be-
lieving In harmony. / want TO be in
harmony with the convention. and
desire to be more free to represent the.
(Contin,nad IN Tantb Pace