The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1920-07-27
CAN NOT ACCEPT
TIE EOMINAIION
RRyAN DECLINES PROHIBITION
PARTY OFFER.
VIII Remain Member OF Democratie
Party as Before and SO Serve
Country.

Bozeman. Mont, July 22.-Wil-
liam J. Bryan tonight reiterated ms
refusal to accept the Prohibition par
ty nomination.
tion for the presidency by the FRO
hib;tion convention at Lincoln, Neo''
was received by him at l O'Clock this
afternoon at Madison Lake, upon his
return from? q fishing trip when ne
' read an Associated Press dispatch
giving the text Of the telegram sent
to him by the convention at Elncoln.
He was 40 miles from, any telegraph
office at the time but as soon as ne
reached Norris, he telegraphed a re
ply declining the nomination.
The text of his telegram is as 1oi-
lows:
"Please deliver following message
to the chairman Of the Prohibition
national conve ltion now IN session
at Lincoln, Neb.
Having been away from the rail-
roads and telegraph facilities for the
past "a hours, have moi received
your telegram notifying me of the
nomination rendered me by the Pro-
hibition party convention. But read
ing copy of it in the Bozeman
Chronicle, ! hasten to reply. l pro-
foundly appreciate the honor done
me in tendering this nomination and
l fully share in the conventions in
terest in prohibition as the perma-
nent policy of our country and In the
strict enforcement of the Volstead
act without any weakening of its pro-
visions. I also share the conventions
disappointment at the failure Of the
Democratic and Republican parties
to pledge their candidates to such a
policy but L can not in justice to the
Prohibition party nor to myself a!c-
cept the nomination.
"My connection with other reforms.
would make it impossible for me to
focus my attention upon the prohlbl-
tion question alone and besides | am
not willing to sever my connection
with the Democratic party, which
has signa.4y honored me in years
past.
Il have not decided yet how
shall vote this fall, but whatevt'
may feel it my duty to do in this
campaign, l expect to continue as a
member of the Democratic party,
and to serve my country through it:
The telegram was addressed to Mr..
Bryan's brother, Charles Bryan, at
Lincoln.
Lincoln, Neb., July 22.-Delegates
to the Prohibition national conven-
tion were completely nonpulsed when
Informed by the Associated Press to-
night that w. j. Bryan had fatty re-
fused to accept the nomination ten
dered him yesterday by the party.
It had been believed generally
that he would accept, and the con-
vention through the day had made its
plans with that view.
The convention was in recess when
the first dispatches from .Bozeman,
Mont. were received, but the news
quickly spread and a funeral could
not have given more disconsolate
appearance around the Prohibition
headquarters.
The dispatches from Bozcman end
ed a search by hundreds of persons
for Mr.. Bryan dI'ing the past "a
hours. during which time Mr.. Bryan.
although a national figure and on
public speaking tour, had been unin-
tentionally completely hidden from
friends, relatives and the publx.
During the day hundreds Of teie-
grams came to his Office here urging
him to accept the nomination and tel
agraph companies reported several
hundred more dispatched to the Va
rious places where he was reported
to be.
Meantime the platform committee.
which early this morning was ready
to present its tentative draft to the
convention, went back into executive
session to redraft certain points so
that a platform certain to suit MIR.
Srvan could be adopted.
Late today t.s> convention gave
official approval to a draft which ITS
Sponsors declared Mr.. Bryan would
he proud to run on,
/. u.u- 3ftnn2i committee VIII