The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1912-04-10
WILLIAM ]. BRYAN
CONTINUED From Page One.)


Clark. | have avoided expressing any
preference as between those two gen.
tlemen for several reasons. The first
is that | am not clear in my own mind
as to which of them would be able to
poll the larger vote, and a good deal
may depend upon the action of the
Republican Convention-that is, the
course of the convention may affect
the relative availability of these two
candidates. And would like to have
all the light ! can get before express
ing any opinion regarding either Gov.
Wilson or Speaker Clark.
in the second place, am anxious
to render any assistance l can in
keeping the progressive forces togeth-
er so that they can act unitedly
against the reactionaries. think
can have more influence in this respect
if | observe a strict neutrality be-
tween them.
"And then, again, l desire to help
whichever one seems to be the strong
est in any particular state in the fight
against the reactionaries. l would
not hesitate to help Gov. Wilson in
one state and Speaker Clark in anoth-
er if were satisfied that the weaker
ipf irap 9 %
cause. In my own state we have an
unfortunate situation. Wilson, Clark
and Harmon are all candidates at the
primaries, and the division between
the progressives may enable the Har-
mon force to secure the instructions
even though Harmon might have less
than one-half the votes in that state
the remainder being divided between
Wilson and Clark.
"If | could be satisfied that either
Wilson or Clark was so far behind the
other as to be clearly menace to the
success of the progressives, l would
not hesitate to support the stronger
man in that state, reserving the right
to give the opposite advice in any
other state where conditions we're re
versed.
Won't Be Delegate If Nebraska In
structs For Harmon.
II am a candidate for delegate-at
large from Nebraska. If elected, anC
the state instructs for either Wilson
or Clark, shall be glad to carry GU
instructions. That, however, would
not indicate any personal preference
between the two gentlemen.
"lf, however, the party in my stat
lnstructs for Mr.. Harmon, ! shall re
sign, for am not willing to particl
pate In his nomination or that of an.
other reactionary. l am not Willing
that Mr. Harmons friends in Nebras
ka should control my action and pre-
vent my discharging what I regard a
an imperative duty to the progressive
Of the nation. My resignation will
allow instructions to be carried on
BY some one else who can execut
them in both the spirit and the letter
81 believe in the Primary law, and
believe in it so firmly that l think n
man should be a delegate who canno
give voice to the wishes of the pee
pc. as expressed at the primary.
1T must be remembered, however
that under our Nebraska law plura
ity controls, and instructions nigh
be given by less than one-half of tn
voters-the progressives being divit
ed. In which case the delegates 4
carrying out the instructions would b
enabling a reactionary minority +
override progressive majority"
"The newspapers announce that MI
Harmon Is going to speak In you
slater"
Eyes, and they also ought to ar
nounce that Nebraska is the onl
Western State In which Mr.. Harmo
Is making a fight, and that Their
would be no more Harmon sentimen
in Nebraska than In any other West
! ern state-in fact, there would b.
.ess-but for the fact that the liquo
interests are attempting to use hin
to punish me for refusing to go int
partnership with them two years ago.
"Thst have been number Of 9th
neI mentioned for the prssIdsne,