The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-11-05
A USELESS DEMONSTRATION.
False Election Statements Create Great
Excitement in the City.
WILD CLAIMS And MUCH NOISE.
Much Lung Power But Nothing to Justify
1t Except the Grssping at straws.
Anxious Inquiries At
The Times ONCE.

a noisy demonstration was created last
night among the followers OF Bryan by
the bulletins put up by the morning free
silver organ TO the effect that the Ne
braskan had been elected. a crowd
quickly gathered in front Of the buIle-
tin boards, but it appeared that the only
source OF Information possessed by tho
said silver organ was tho press service.
wherein Chairman Jones had somehow
and in some mysterious way claimed
enough States to elect W. j. Bryan. His
claims. however. were not borne out By
the facts. The crowd quickly sweiicd III
number until hundreds We're packed
around the bulletin boards, and each ono
asked his noighbor what II all meant.
No one seemed TO know. however. just
why he was there or what he was yelling
about. With the Information before them
the silver organ also was doubtless much
mystiiicd as to the cause OF the hilarlty.
USELESS NOISE.
The greater part of the noise was made
by small boys, many Of them from tho
University College Of Medicine, who nave
several times made themselves noisy dur
ing this campaign. without the knowi-
edge OF the college authorities. These
young people, most OF them TOO small
to be out at night, paraded the 0treets
with tin horns and fireworks In spite or
the disagrceable rainy weather.
Tho statement was openly made oy
many. whose only authority was that
they heard "A man" say SO, that the re-
turns had been favorable to Bryan from
the first. hut that they had been held
back bv the gold men in order that IN"
silver market might be cornered. or thaI
New York might unload on England. and
so-forth. This wild statement, of course.
found crcdence cnly among the isno-
rant.
The statement was also freely made by
the silver press that the wires hah peet
tampored with by the hireiines OF tns
gold men. but no more foundation couid
be found for this bum thah iol '"o
former statement.
Whether the thing was true or nor, now
eyer. made no difference whatever to the
excited people. and they paraded the
streets. principally around The Times
office. armed with as many noise-makns
instruments as "A Chinese procession IL
WAS "A noticeable fact, amid all the nun
hub. tin-pan beating, and cannoh-ctaeh,
or firing that very few Of the crowd had
sufficient confidence in the young Ne
braskan's victory 10 bet copper III sup
port OF their convictions.
RETURNS FAVORABLE.
The returns were received put Slowly
last night. but as each State was heata
from. increased maJorlties Tor souhd
money and national honor were III eNi-
donce. phe returns fully bore out TIC
indications Of Tuesday night that Nc
,sff n electoral
lege would be quite large.
The parade in honor Of Bryan's alleged
victory was somewhat lively, but did
not last for any length OF time, the
crowd preferring 70 stand around the
corners and yell themselves hoarsc.
Their iubilation was increased later on
hv the statement that the editor OF tho
morning free-silver organ had received
"a TELEGRAM from Chairman Jones. Bryan
manager to the effect that his man was
dead sure OF 23j votes IN the electoral
college. These figures, however, were
exclusively compiled by Chairman Jones,
and the returns failed 10 bolster up his
statement.
Although the story was totally un-
worthy of credcnce. yet IL stirred up tho
whole city IN a most remarkable manner
All who could get ont on the streets did
so. and those who had telephones used
them vigorously. with the result that Tor
five hours or more the two phones in the
editorial rooms Of The Times rang con-
tinuously. and tho whole time or Two
men was taken up in quieting the fears
Of eager inqulrcrs. To ali the inqulreIs
The Times gave the news OF Mckinney
election beyond the shadow OF DOUBT
Many conservative citizens. VINO had re-
tired to their beds confident that SOUND
money was victorious, arose, dressed
themselves. and came TO The Times OF
fee. where they We're iurnisheh WIN
the true returns. which had not pech
doctored for partisan purposes. Ahohb
these gentlemen was a venerable Metho-
dist minister who was much alarmed
bv tho report that free silver had won
the day.
NIGHT or EXCITEMENT.
For excitement. the night surpassed
election night. and the widest claims
were made by the free-silver people.
without the shadow OF foundation FOR
them. In on Broad street the claim
was made that The Times had given up
the fight. and put out a bulletin an
nouncing that Mckinley had been beat
en- and Bryan triumphantly elected.
Tho story. of course. was on a par with
tho balance Of the rumors flying about.
and was too absurd 10 merit notice. IL
afforded much consolation, however, to
the BRYAN people. and was freely used
By them as a fact.
Later i'm the night press dispatches
stated that reliable Information showed
Mckinley 10 have twenty-three states
sure. netting him POI votes In the elec-
toral college bulletin TO that enecr
was promptly put out. This had tho
effect OF somewhat quieting the siiVerites
and arousing tho enthusiasm or the
sound-money people.
police officer. while efficiently pre-
cerving order on the street. offered TO pet
a cool Si0) note that the Nebraskan had
secured a through ticket from Lincoln
10 the White House. No one took him
M. probably because they did not VISA
such an efficient officer Of the law 10
lose his hard-earned dollars. the doughty
officer. thereby saginb shrdlu mtwypcmt
officer thereby saving a hundred dollars
10 employ 90 better advantage.
As the night wore on. the returns grew
more and more satisfactory 10 sound
money advocates. and stlll further bore
out the returns published In yesterday
mornine's Times, and In all the grea;
newspapers OF the United States.
such I'm brief. IS a summary OF tho
events OF last night. which will 90 down
!, history as "The Doctored Returns. or
a Cheap Bid OF Notoriety.'
DURING THE DAY.
Interest IN the election did not cease
| with the mere announcement or Mehin-
,.t.-.. ~. .,,ve,, i'm The Times YES.