Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-12-19
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BRYAN AND "BUNCH."

BRYAN AND BUNCH"
How Captain McBee Secured the Contract.
"Caution him to be very particular
about where he puts the cards, hang
ers and posters. Everything must 60
on prominent streets in reputable posi-
tions. There is to be no circus busi-
ness in this"
This was addressed by Mr.. Alex
Comstock to his assistant who was to
give the directions to the billposter.
Turning to the newspaper man, Mr..
Comstock said:
"Mr. Bryan's tour is being managed
in a dignified way. No hurrah or
circus about it. Of course, I am ad-
vertising widely in the newspapers
and by the usual posters, but that
is perfectly legitimate. Some of the
famous preachers are using the bill
boards nowadays to announce the
subjects of their sermons. Look at
these hangers and these three sheets.
Could anything be more modest or
digniied ?"
A long table in the room was COW
cred with advertising matter in big
type announcing the appearance of
the eloquent Nebraskan in Atlanta.
Other smaller tables were covered
with letters-answered and unan-
swered. The window lodges were
heaped with stationery. A three
sheet poster was tackled on the wall.
A hanger was pinned to one of the
lace curtains. Photographs of Mr..
Bryan and his family were on the
mantel. The pretty typewriter was
copying q contract for Mr.. Bryan's
appearance in some western city for a
So, 900 guarantee. 1t was Bryan
everywhere.
"No, sir, Mr.. Bryan's friends need
feel no uneasiness about anything be-
ing done which would detract from his
dignity. In the first place it would
hurt business and in the second place
he would not permit it even if it were
contemplated. never saw Mr.. Bryan
until called on him at his home in
Lincoln, but no one can meet him
without ever after entertaining the
highest respect for him. He impresses
you at once with his manliness, his
earnestness and his force of character.
I never met more charming gentleman
or one more satisfactory to 10 business
with. He is business, too, all through.
The man who sets him down as the
orist and visionary is badly mistaken,
as he would soon learn if he were to
make serious business proposition to
him."
The story of how Mr.. Comstock OBJ
tanned the contract with Mr.. Bryan
has never been told in print before.
1t came about purely by chance.
On the day before the election in
New York a man was in telegraph
office writing a message of instructions
to friend in Oregon, away out on the
Pacific coast, authorizing him to bet
81 900 on Mckinley. The man who
was sending the message consulted
friend who was standing near. A tall,
well built gentleman with iron-gray
hair and mustache and striking feat
ures was waiting to send telegram. :.
"How are you betting2" he asked
of the New Yorker.
"You need not 60 so far away to bet
on that side. I will take some of it,
said the stranger.
They introduced themselves to each
other. One of them was Captain V
E. McBee of Portsmouth, Va, general
superintendent of the Seaboard All
Line, formerly general superintendent
of the Central of Georgia. 1t matters
not what the Mckinley bettor's name
was, but his companion was Mr.. Alex
Comstock, who used to manage the
Academy of Music in New York when
the "Old Homsteadn was running
there.
The party discussed the election
but did not bet anything on it. On
election night Mr.. Comstock and Cap
tain McBee chanced to meet in the
lobby of the Hoffman house. 1t was
about II o'clock. All the news was
for Mckinley. Bryan's defeat was
almost certain. The southerner wa:
blue while every one around was in
good spirits. They tried to guy him
but he declared that Bryan was 8
great man and that the country die
not understand his cause or appreci
ate him.
II tell you, there never has beer
such a wonderful orator in the world,
said the southerner, "and he is states
man, too" Then they by chance fell
to talking about Mr.. Bryan's future
''If kuew anything about the busi
ness I would engage him for tour o.
the world" said Captain McBee i'm
petuously.
"Do you think the people would
20 to hear him ?" asked Mr.. Comstock
"No doubt about it," replied Cap
tain McBee.
The next morning the two gentle
men met in Captain McBee's room at
the hotel and the railway man propos'
ed to Mr.. Comstock that they make
an offer to Mr.. Bryan for series oi
addresses.
A telegram was sent to him asking
him If he wou1d entertain a serious