The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-07-11
THE LOCHINVAR
OF THE WEST
William Jennings Bryan, OF Nebraska,
Nominated by the Democratic
Convention.
Ms NOmination a Surprise to All-A Bril-
lihnt Speech 0yerthnN the Best Laid
Fians Of the LEADERSHIP
Parallel.

Chicago. July io.-wnllam Jennings
Bryan. OF Nebraska, the young classic
featured orator from the plains Of the
Platte. swept the convention on Its
feet today and was nominated for pres
ldent on the nth ballot. Political his
tory furnishes no precedent for today's
proceedings In the Coliseum, either as
great spectacular show or az re-
suit Of the deliberations OF the conven-
tlon OF a great party
Bryan is but 80 years old, younger
by ten years than any man ever nom
mated for the chief magistracy OF the
American republic. He came like a
young Lochlnvar, out OF the West.
which has never before nominated a
presidential candidate. 10 WOO the bride
for whose hand the country's greatest
chieftalns have been suitors. His name
was barely mentioned in the prelimi-
nary sklrmishlng. Four days ago when
the convention met he was not entered
In the lists. but yesterday he made an
impassioned speech and stirred the con-
ventlon 20 frenzy by his eloquence.
That speech overthrow the diligently
organized work OF weeks and months
for other aspirants for the honor.
The cause Of silver was uppermost In
the minds OF delegates when they as
sembled here. For the cause they de-
liberately placed the eastern wing OF
the party on the altar. now. when the
convention II coldly analysed II is seen
that the support ot Bland and Boics as
candidates was never solidly grounded.
II was only as the representatives OF
an issue that they rallied delegates TO
their standards. and even after many
OF them had attached themselves 10
the fortunes Of one or the other candi-
date they appeared restless and In an
lnstictive way 10 be casting about for
a new Moses.
Far-sceing. siaid and seasoned lead
ers OF silver, realizing that their new
creed would ALLEVIATE the eastern DEM
ocracy. believed In an alliance with
the silver Republicans beyond the Mis-
souri,. through Teller's nomination. but
the rank and file would have none OF
Il. Yesterday when Bryan made a
speech the delegates suddenly turned TO
him with an impetuosity that nothing
could halk. They wanted n tribune OF
the people: they felt that they had
heard an eloquent young Nebraskan
who set their imagination on fire. II
he had been placed in nomination
then. the convention would have STAN
peded as Il was today. Some OF the
gray-haired leaders saw and feared It..
Last night when he was placed in nom
nation. those who thought they had
found their candidate We're confirmed
In their opinion. The idea that Will
liams, OF Massachusetts, conveyed in
his seconding speech, that II needed
the strength OF youth to endure the
hardships Of the new cause, that a
young man should WELD the scimetar
OF an indignant people, sank home.
Here. as Williams said, was Cicero
to meet the Catalines Of today, Lead
ers who doubted the wisdom of nom-
mating so young and so inexperienced
a man. tried TO check the stampede by
adjournlng to today. They hoped a
nights reflection would suffice. At the
suggestion OF adjournment there was a
rebellion. The motion was declared
carried against Il storm of opposition
from the Bryan enthusiasts, who want
ed to nominate their candidate at once,
A nights reflection only made them
the more determined, This morning
when the convention met to ballot Bry-
an showed second ON the first roll call,
He had already overhauled Boies. Only
Bland was ahead, and 1t was a strug-
gle for the Missouri farmer to get the
2SS votes which he cast, The stam-
peut ptbun ul blt ANAl pdlAob' vi bAS
fourth ballot Bryan took the lead and
Bland fell back, hopelessly beaten. The
nomination was made unanimous on
the next ballot.
Some have sought to find in the nom-
nation Of 1880 of Garfield, who was not
candidate, a parallel with Bryan's
nomination today, but there is no par
allel. Garfield was only nominated af-
ter one of the hardest and most pro-
tracted convention contests Of the cent
tury, Grant, Blaine. Edmunds, Sher-
man. and Washburn were then con-
testing for the mastery, and after
thirty-five ballots the rival leaders and
the convention turned to Garfield. who
had electrified the delegates by his
matchless oratory and commanding
presence, Today the support of other
candidates simply melted away and
Bryan won without a struggle.
on the first ballot Bland got 25S; Bry-
an 1906; Boles So; Matthews IS; Mclean
81; Pattison 50; Blackburn SO; Pennoyer
10; Tillman II; Stevenson 2; Teller s.;
Campbell 2; Russell 2; and Hill /. There
were 1S6 gold men who refusede to
vote, They declined to participate in