The Madisonian. (Virginia City, Mont.) 1873-1915, 1896-07-18

nomination those who thought they
had found their candidate were con.
frmed in their opinion. The leaders
who doubted the wisdom of nominating
SO young and so inexperienced a man
Tried to Check the Stampede
by a%djourning. hoping a nights reflec.
ton would suffice, At the suggestion
of adjournment there was rebellion.
The motion was declared carried against
a storm of opposition from the Bryan
enthusiasts, who wanted to nominate
their candidate at once.
A nights reflection, however, only
made them more determined. When
the convention met to ballot Bryan
showed second o. the first roll call. He
had already overhauled Boies. Only
Bland was ahead. and it was a struggle
for the Missouri farmer to get the 234
votes which he received. The stampede
began on the next ballot. On the fourth
ballot Bryan took the lead and Bland
fell back, hopelessly beaten. The NOM
ination was made unanimous on the
next ballot.
Bryan Gained From the First.
On the first ballot Bland led, with
Bryan second. and the balance scat
tered. There were lS5 gold men who
refused to vote. They declined to par.
tioipate in the nomination on the plat
form which had been adopted. The
latter realized that the gold men would
probably place another ticket in the
field. or If they did not actively oppose
the nominees of this convention in the
campaign which was to follow. that
they would passively, at least, give aid
and comfort to the political enemy.
Pennsylvania alone Of the gold states
continued to participate in the proceed.
lngs. She cast her "a votes for Pattison
to the end. Most Of the other gold men
who voted cast their votes for Pattison,
but there We're scattering votes for
Stevenson, Hill, Russell and Campbell.
On the second ballot Alabama
Sought to Check the Rout
that had already begun by changing
her vote from Boies to Bland, but
Bryan was overtaking him with giant
strides. Bland gained 4s, while Bryan
advanced 80. Boies was the principal
loser. On the third ballot Colorado
gave up hope Of Teller, the mention of
whose name had been cheered and
Kissed by the galleries, and Oregon gave
up P%ennoyer. In the Ohio delegation
tho Pr-o, P>rcor 1oa1-ol L.A 49,
OF a majority and there was open rebel
lion in Illinois and other states which
wanted to swing into line, On the
fourth ballot. Alabama. the first state
to vote. headed the stampede to Bryan.
Idaho, California and other states fol-
lowed. The revolt in the other delega-
lions spread, even among those bound
by resolutions Of instruction. Kansas,
Illinois, Ohio, Indiana and even Iowa
We're lettering. On the
Fifth and Last Ballot
Kansas went over. Illinois and other
states came tumbling along in her
wake. When Ohio was reached Bryan
had AS votes of the 504 required to
make q two-thirds majority Of those
voting. Chairman White had ruled
that two-thirds of those voting consti.
tuted a two-thirds majority under the
rule. Ohio hesitated. The Bryan men
in the delegation demanded a poll of
the vote. The friends of Mclean saw
that the end was in sight. and Mr.. Nc.
lean himself mounted q chair. He
withdrew his name as a candidate and
c1Sf tho ~ vnfoc nf O1;o Gov D~-o~ |
This gave him 492-12 less than enough
to nominate. Montana changed her 6
to Bryan and Oklahoma Territory fol-
lowed with her 6. To the Territory of
Oklahoma, therefore,
Belongs the Honor of Nominating
the Democratic candidate for president
in 1896, as to that of Arizona belonged
the honor four years ago. OF course
the other states then scrambled over
each other. Governor Stone of Mis-.
souri, withdrew BANDS name, and Sen.
atOr Turpie of Indiana withdrew that
OF the Hoosier governor, and on his mo.
ton the nomination was made unani.
nous.
There were frequent Bryan demon
strations throughout the day. The
most dramatic occurred at the conclu.
sion of the fourth ballot, when it was
apparent that Bryan would be nomi.
mated on the next ballot. The colors of
the states were again uprooted and the
Coliseum for ii minutes shook with the
storm of cheers. while frenzied men
marched and sang, and historical
women became frantic.