The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-07-01
LEADERS CLASH
Controversy Between Bryan
and Clark at Baltimore
Apparently OvershadOws Every
Other Consideration.
BOTH ISSUE STATEMENTS
Deadlock Remains UnbrOken
Late Saturday Night
And Adjournment Is Taken
Until IL O'Clock Today.

Baltimore, July In a letter to SEN
ator Stone, dated at Washington,
Speaker Champ Clark stated:
Replying to the communication of
my supporters, forwarded to me by you.
beg to say that, in ordinary circum-
stances, | would be the last to encour-
age any movement which might tend
to create a deadlock in the Democratic
national convention and thereby per-
hapS 1mperil the standing of our party
in the estimation of the country.
Il believe that 1 am speaking the
exact truth when say that no personal
interest would weigh with me for one
moment as against my lifelong devo-
ton to our party. If a majority of the
delegates had not declared their prefer
ence for me as their candidate, I could
not entertain your proposal. The fact,
however, that they have done so, on
eight successive ballots, creates an ex-
ceptional condition which surely merits
careful and conscientious consideration.
1T is undoubtedly true that the Gus
tom of our party was violated when
the convention refrained from ratifying
by two-thirds vote the expressed
cording to my understanding at the
instigation of Mr.. Bryan, who sue
cessfully solicited the cooperation of
others in an effort to prevent such rati-
fication.
Mr.. Bryan sets forth his reasons for
pursuing this course in his speech, ex-
planning his own change of vote. He
declared that 1 was candidate at the
primaries of Nebraska as a progress
sive ard that, upon that understanding.
he was elected delegate and instruct
ed to vote for me in the national con-
vention. This is correct. 1 was re-
garded then and have been regarded
for years as u progressive by the Dem
ocrats of Nebraska and Mr.. Bryan.
What has since transpired to con-
x-iV,a M IDR-x-s, I, &c
judgment, a progressive only two
months ago, and even only one week
ago, 1 am not a progressive now?
Have l suddenly proved faithless to |
the principles which I have upheld |
steadfastly for twenty years? No.
Have I been recreant to my trust as
speaker of the house of representa- |
tives? No. Mr.. Bryan cites no act OF
He withholds his vote from me because
he will not participate in the nomina-
ton of any man whose nomination de-
ponds upon the vote of the New York
delegation
He Quotes Bryan.
Mr.. Clark then quotes at length
from the statement read by Mr.. Bry-
an in the convention, and continues:
Although Mr.. Bryan's words are
chosen to avoid making
ton is plain. 1t is that if elected
president of the United States would
consider myself obligated to those
whom he mentions and that l would
be under the control Of those influ-
ences.'
cit would be unbecoming in one
holding my present official position to
express the indignation which feel at
hese yelled aspersionS upon my char
lcter My integrity has never before
been questioned for the simple reason
hat never once during the IT years L
nave served in congress have l been
.1-s i - %0z Nf fov,o TOf1 ion IF
wrong in any form. But whether I
hall become your designated candi-
late for president or not, am your
peaker at a time when your party is
n the crucible of scrutiny and can
ot in duty, permit these asperisions to
,ass unheeded. AS speaker of the
louse of representatives, as a lifelong
Democrat, proud of my party. as an
American man, I pronounce Mr..
3ryan's implied accusations both false
md infamous.
eff I am speaking the truth witt
aspect to this matter it follows neces |
arily that the reasons advanced by
Ir Bryan for departing from the time
IGNORED custom Of our party in recog-
izing the voice of the majority are
OF reasons at all, but the shallow
st of pretexts put forward to achieve
ONE purpose which 1 shall not attempt
D. divine.
IT bid you then, say to my friends
hat I accept with deepest gratitude
heir renewed assurances of loyalty,
nd now declare without qualification :
nat my name will remain before the
onvention, subject to no trade or
ECKER. until two-thirds of the dele
ates shall ratify or refuse to ratify I
ne action of the majority" c
Bryan's Reply. G
William J. Bryan replied to the state ]
tent of Speaker Clark demanding that V
lie Nebraskan prove or retract the gen
raj charge made in convention that the
lark forces had allied themselves with Il
lie so-called, privileged classes. In his !,
atement Mr.. Bryan said: !,
at have received notice by publication =
1ly. The only criticism I have made :
zainst Mr.. Clark is ret that he acted r
rongfully, but that ne has failed to act. e
may oYerestimate the Importance OF the d
residential office, but I have felt that an
;pirant for that office ought to manage
IS own campaign and not allow people 1 I
do things for him without his direct | e
lG specific authority. +
The papers announced that Mr.. Clark !,
as neutral between Mr.. Parker and y
yself in the temporary craftsmanship
ght, and that he informed his support
s to vote they pleased If that con- -
st were purely a question between judge
arker and myself as individuals, his re-
though he never sent out a piece OF
erature had a speech made in his
half that did not represent him as my
eciaI champion for sixteen years. Ii he
stributed literature in which ne as
ciated his name with Parker's. I shall
glad to withdraw this statement upon a
spectfon of the literature.