Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1920-03-30
BRYAN NOT CANDIDATE
FOR THE PRESIDENCY
Offifiice and Would Not Accept
Unless His Nomination
Actually Demanded.

In his paper. the Commoner,
under the caption IA Personal
Word" William jennings Bryan an
nounces that he will not be a candi-
date unless q most unusual situation
were to arise which would positively
demand it of him. He makes 1t
clear, however. that he will be at
the San Francisco convention and
will have something to say about
who the candidate will be. He says:
During the last few weeks have
been receiving an increasing number
0f letters asking me to become for
the fourth time candidate for the
presidency. A It IL impossible to
make personal answer to these let
Ltsrs~-I. give this one reply to all.
recognize 1t to be the duty of the
citizen to respond to the calls of his
country in peace or war. Therefore,
il the situation became such that my
nomination was actually demanded,
as In time of war soldiers life Is
demanded on the battlefield, would
feel 1t my duty to consider it. but
hope no such situation will arise, and
do not now see any probability that
such q situation will arise. For 30
years I have taken so active part
in public life that the demands upon
my time have, to large extent, de-
MED me the pleasures of the fireside
and the companionship of my family.
I have been rewarded as few public
men have been-not with Office,
which is the least of rewards-but
with the satisfaction of seeing nearly
every reform / have advocated writ
ten into the unrepealable law of the
land, and now / see my peace plan
made the chief cornerstone of the
League of Nations. This is reward
enough for any man. Who could de-
sire more? l desire quiet and rest,
and look forward to few years of,
uninterrupted happiness at home. =
At home can devote myself to
literary work. long ago planned but
crowded out Of my busy life-work
that will make permanent record
of what l have tried to accomplish
for the American people and the
world.
! have not lost interest in public
questions, nor shall l while I live,
but prefer to aid younger men with
full pulse and tireless energy, who
can take up and carry on the peoples
cause. have scanned the horizon
for such men: have welcomed them
into the arena of politics whenever
have discovered them, and 1t gives
me JOY to support them in every way
possible while they champion the
cause of the masses. We have great
issues before us and mighty work
for those who are willing to put the
welfare of the public above their own
ease and comfort and risk all in the
protection of the common people
from the assaults Of privilege. Be-
sides not desiring the nomination, I
think 1t my duty to the progressive
democrats of the nation to go as q
delegate to the national convention II
Nebraska democrats desire 1t and aid
them in opposing the reactionaries
and friends of the saloon. This is
my position. and conclude with a
heart overdowing with gratitude for
the loyalty and confidence which my
friends have manifested. No Amer
ican has been more fortunate than
In the character and the constancy Of
his personal friends. 1t is an honor
Ito have been a co-laborer with them.