Birmingham state herald., 1896-07-11

Convention Hall, Chicago, July 10.- William J. Bryan of Nebraska was select ed today as the standard bearer of the democratic party in the campaign for the presidency of the United States.
 Yesterday when the handsome young Nebraskan mounted the rostrum in the convention hall to close the debate on the party platform he was considered the merest possibility in the race for the honor to be conferred. Half an hour later, when he concluded his great orator. ical effort, he had become a seeming probability. With the hours of the night his chances grew, and when the convention resumed business this morn ing he had been established as Richard F. Bland's most formidable competitor.
 AS the balloting progressed his popu- larity among the delegates became more and more apparent, and his strength in votes went up by leaps and jumps until the continuation came in the vote of Ohio and Illinois and the withdrawal of Bland, with the consequent transfer of Missouri to the Bryan column. There was no glaring transparency, no life-sized lithograp pfs, no special bands of music to attract to the eloquent young lawyer and newspaper man. The modest Dan- ner of the William J. Bryan club, Ne braska organization, was the only con- spicuous emblem of the Bryan cause. During the night standard had been prepared bearing the concluding words of Bryan's speech of yesterday: NO crown of thOrns; no cross of gold," and this alone was the most suggestive out ward indication that the Nebraskan was dn the race to stay But it needed no ar tificial means such as those to keep the name of Bryan to the fore. His strik- ing presence, his earnest bearing, his wonderful melodiousness of voice as ex- hibited in his speech had not faded from the minds of the delegates and spectators, and every mention of his name brought forth hearty cheers that told the story of the firm hold he had upon those who could make or unmake him in his presidential aspirations and upon the thousands who were onlookefS and not active participants.
 The Battle of the Ballots
 was fought with doggedness that showed a firm determination on the part Of those pledged to particular candidates 10 De consistent in the desire of their hearts, but little by little the standard of Bryan was pressed nearer and nearer to the point of vantage. At first he gained slowly, then a great leap would De made as some delegation of formidable num- bers would throw in its TOT wltn US co. horts The fifth ballot was reached and the result was still uncertain, but at its end Bryan was all but within the goal. Delegates and audience became excited when 1t became apparent that the Ne braskan had gathered many recruits from the Bland forces, and cheer after cheer went up from floor and gallery. rumor went around the vast hall that H. linois, consistent as Missouri in adher- ence to the lifelong champion of the free coinage of silver, was wavering, and when Governor Altgeld and his asso- ciates withdrew for consultation the ex- citement grew to fever heat.
 But the story of how it all came about, and of how Bryan was at last trium- phant in the race, is told in detail else where in these dispatches and need not be dwelt on here. Change followed change in the ballot cast by various states and all went to the man from the Platte, and when Illinois, Ohio and finally Missouri threw their strength to his sup port the race had been won, and William J. Bryan stood forth in triumph as the leader of bis party.
 Exhausted by Cheering
 the name of the Nebraskan, the vast avail itself of the opportunity of display ing the full extent of it's vigor. but it gradually rose to the demands of the oc- casfon and- turned loose volume nf sound that made the iron roof tremble in unison Every man and woman In the hall standing as Bryan support sers on the floor grasped the guidons in- tlieating the positions of the various states and marched in triumph through the aisles around the great square spaces reserved for delegates, and as the guidons of other states joined the procession the cheering became madly intense.
 Bland banners, Boies banners and em- blems of other candidates fell In line, and the eliminating point in the enthusiasm was reached when the Bland band head ed by the numerous transparencies bear Ing the Missourians name. took step with the rest and bent their endeavors to ssDixie's'' lively step. And when 1t was over people fell back in their chairs weak and exhausted and listened quietly to the formalitfes which concluded the session.
 Tonight a session was held for the pur- nose of selecting the candidate for vice president, but without proceeding to 2, ballot an adjournment was forced until tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock, when nominations will be made.