The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-07-01

the delegates had voted for you bat
once, the Obligation of the party $
representatives. to designate you as
the nominee wouit nave been estah-
lishod But the fact Is that You
held a clear majority on eight sac
yyesssivu .buiiots, tiTus proving coret1f-'
sivelv that the expression OF the ma
jority vas in no sense tentative bat
was deiiberets and definite. FROM
every point cf view. therefore, your
tjtlo to the Democratic nomination
for president is clear and unrnts-
taxable.
In view of these circumstances, "e
instst that you owe 1t to the Demo
cratic party, to your supporters IN
the convention. and TO your ." II
honor. to continue as Il candidate o.
fore the convention until two-thIrds
~ the delegates shall meet tho tGeh-
meal requirement and confirm tAe
nomination, which, in ell fairness
Justice and morals. has already heoI
conferred upon you by a majority OF
the delegates representing thirty-s.N
States and territories OF the Cn'oh
"Upen receipt Of assurance from
Won THAI under "no circumstance
will YOU permit your name To oe
withdrawn, We hereby pledge "u'
selves to vote for you on every os.t't
that shall hereafter be taken IN 'he
convention.
Very respectfully yours,
WILLIAM j. STONE,
Chairman of the Missouri Delegation
Mr.. Clark's Letter.
The speakers reply was.
Washington, u. g, June 80, i?4@-
ITO the Honorable William j. S'ohS'
Sir:
Replying to the communication OF
INV supporters forwarded TO me oF
van. I beg to say that, In ordinary
circumstances. / would be the last to
encourage any movement "hleh
might ten TO create deadlock In
Democratic national convention; ana
thereby, perhaps. imperii the s'aho
ing Of our party in the eslinaeio" oi
the public. 49,.
II believe that am speaking the
axact truth when / say that no per
sonal interests would weigh with me
for one moment ne against my me-
long Gtyotion to our party. II a ma
iority OF the delegates had not de-
clared their preference for me, as
their candidate. / could not entertain
vour proposal Tho fact, however.
that they have done so on eight sue
cessIve ballote. creates an exceptional
condition which surely merits carer uA
and conscientious consideration.
1T L.. undoub tediy true that The
-r-rrr1Y,1--r -s,tfs.-- pal Wv --I1olAiea
whan the convention refrained from
ratifytng by a two-thirds vote tne
expressed wish of a majority This
was done, according to my under
standing, at the mitigation OF MT
BRYAN, who successfully solicited ina
corporation of others in an effort %
nrevant such ratification. Mr.. BRYAN
set forth his reasons for pursuing TINS
course in his speech explaiing mis-
own change of vote. He declared that
r was n candidate at the primaries
Of Nebraska as progressive, ana
that I,pon FMS understanding, he was
slected a delegate and instructed to
vota for me in the national conven-
ton,
This IN correct. was regarded
then and had been regarded Tor
wears. an a progressive by the Demo
rats NJ Nebraska and by Mr.. Bryan.
What has since transpired to convlce
Mr.. Bryan that though. in his 1uos-
ment. a progressive only two months
AFRO. and even only one week ago. l
am not a progressive now? Have
since proved faithless TO the princi-
nIes which / have upheld steadfastiy
Tor twenty years. No. Have l been
reereant to my trust as speaker of
the house Of representatives No. NJ.
BRYAN cites no act OF mine as proof
OF his assumption. He withholds his