Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-07-01

supporters forwarded TO me by you, |
beg to say that. in ordinary circum-
stances l would be the last to encourage
any movement which might tend to ere
ate a deadlock in Democratic National
and thereby perhaps imperil
the standing of our party in the estima-
ton of the country | believe that | am
speaking the exact truth when / say that
no personal interest would weigh with
me for one moment as against my life
tong devotion to our party. If a major
ity of the delegates have not declared
their preference for me as their eandi-
date. | could not entertain your proposal
The fact. however. that they have done
so on eight successive ballots creates an
exceptional 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
wish of a majority. This was done, ac-
cordiug to my understanding et the
instigation of Mr.. Bryan. who sue
cessfully solicited the cooperation of
Others in an effort to prevent such rat
ification. Mr.. Bryan set forth his rea-
sons for pursuing this course in his
speech explaining his own change of
vote. He declared that | was a candi-
date at the primaries of Nebraska as q
Progressive and that upon this under
standing, he was elected delegate
and instructed to vote for me in the
National convention. This is correct.
was regarded then and had been re-
garded for years as a Progressive by
the Democrats of Nebraska and by
Mr.. B~yan. What has since transpired
to convince Mr.. Bryan that though in
his Judgment a Progressive only two
months ago and even one week ego
am not a Progressive now Have I
snddenly proved faithless to the prin-
ciples which | have upheld steadfast :
ly for 20 years? No. Have | been reere-
aat to my trust as Speaker of the
House OF Representatives? No. Mr..
BRYAN cites no act of mine of evidence
Of his assumption. He withhold his vote
from me because he will not particle
pate in the nomination of any man
whose nomination depends upon the
vote Of the New York delegation
Mr.. Clark then quotes at length from
the statement which Mr.. BRYAN read
in The convention and then continues:
Although Mr. Bryan-s words are
shrewdly chosen to avoid making a
direct charge upon me. the implica
!tion is plain. It is that if elected
President of the United States |
would consider myself .Obligated' To
those whom he mentions and that
would be under the Control of those
Influences II would be unbecoming
in one holding my political position
IN express the Indignation which | felt
al these yelled aspersions upon my
character. Ny integrity has never
before been questioned for the simple
reason that never once during the
seventeen years | have served in Con-
gress have / been subjected to the
test of temptation through wrongful
influence in any form. But whether /
snail become your designated candi-
date for President or not | am Your
speaker at time when your party
is in the crucible of scrutiny and |
cannot. in duty, permit these asper-
sions To pass unheeded. AS Speaker
of the House of Representatives. as
lifelong Democrat, proud of my
party, as an American man, pro-
nounee Mr.. Bryan's implied aceusa-
tons both false and infamous.
If / am speaking the truth with
respect to this matter. it follows nee
essarily that the reasons advanced by
Mr.. Bryan for departing from the
time-honored custom of our party in
recognizing the voice of the ajority
are not reasons at ALL but the shall
lou
achieve some purpose which | shall
not attempt to divine
Il bid you then say to my friends
that accept with deepest gratitude
their renewed assurances of loyalty.
and now declare without qualification
that my name win remain before the
convention, subject to no trade or
dieker, until thirds of delegates
shall ratify or refuse to ratify the
action of the majority