The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-06-14
", ]. B. STAYS OUT
CommOner Merely an OnlOOker
at st. Louis Convention.
Relieves Wilson Alone Should
Shape Party's Policies.
LEADER IN THREE BATTLES
Nebraskan Content With Being
War Correspondent Now.
However, He viii Work for
Nominee on the Stump.
LEADER IN THREE BATTLES
Try WILLIS j. ABBOT.)

ST Louis. June 14.-Twelve years
a-o tn the month, if not to the pre-
else dav. William J. Bryan was called
from q. bed of sickness in this city to
make what was perhaps the most bril-
liant fight of his life against Alton B.
Parke- in the Democratic convention
of that year
Tod1y. looking reflectively from his
window upon the city which witnessed
that gallant. though unavailinS strus-
gle he declared his purpose of re-
training from any effort, direct or in
direct, to influence this convention
upon the issues dearest to him.
The leader of three battles and
field marshal in at least one other
rests content today with the duties
of a war correspondent.
II am newspaper writer here. he
said and nothing more. In past years
7 have occasionally controlled conVen-
tions. When I did I usually had
great deal to say about their action
All Up to Wilson.
THAT right 1 concede this year to
President Wilson alone. The conVen-
ton is Overwhelmingly for MN. ne
xrilI be nominated practIcally uhdiIi-
rnouslv. Upon him rests the respoh-
eibiIity for the campaign and ne
should determine the issues upon
which it should be fought. ,o
AT other times have been dele
gate to other conventions ana as suclI
have tried to employ my actlNItige rol
the good of the party, both with re-
sDect to the candidate and the plat
form. This year I am not even
delegate and neither in person nor
through any of my friends, Will try 10
influence the convention in any way
intend to do anything in the way OF
urging prohibition plank upon the
convention
I believe in peace, in international
arbitration, real neutrality Whlcn
would not include supplying one of the
helIigerents with munitions of war.
But l shall make no effort to incor-
porate any of these views in the plat
form to a convention to which L am
not a delegate. I have no intention OF
making a speech. though during the
campaign 1 shall make many in sup
candidate
Keep Views to Himself.
Mr.. Bryan's fnsistence that no friend
of his would endeayor at least with
his cognizance, to enforce his views
on the committee on resolutions, adds
interest to the fight today in the Ne
braska delegation The delegates
tried to select a member of the reso-
lutions committee. William H. Thomp-
son of Grand Island, lifelong friend
and able supporter of the Commoner,
and Willis D. Oldham of Kearney. an
-Bryanite, split the vote of the
delegation fairly, to 8. After re-
peated ballots, the choice was de-
ferred
Had it been Mr.. Bryan's intention
to bring on any fight in the commit
tee. no ADLER representative could
have been secured than Judge Thomp-
son. He Is an old time Bryanite in
conventions and knows all the ropes.
Nobody is in closer touch with Mr..
Bryan than he. Should some later
consideration lead Mr.. Bryan to re-
consider his policy of-aloofness. Judge
Thompson will be precisely the man
who could best lead a fight
But that fight is inconceivable. It
is apparent that all the speculation
concerning the Bryan knife in this
convention or campaign has been idle
vapor-ng In the convention he will
be silent and early in August he will
take the stump for Wilson 1 am as
sured that he has never made a more
vigorous campaign than he plans to
oh