The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-11-11
NOBLE IN DEFEAT.
Bryan Sends q Congratulatory Message t.
McKInley-Jokes With Reporters.

McKinley-Jokes With Reporters.
LINCOLN, Neb., Nov. 5.-The frs
intimation that Senator Jones had con
ceded the election of Mckinley was
given to Mr.. Bryan at 8 o'clock this
evening through the medium of 8
Southern Associated Press bulletin.
Mr.. and Mrs. Bryan were out walking
when the bulletin was received. They
had been indoors all day, and after
supper decided to take little needed
exercise. Just as the clock in the Ii
brary of the Democratic candidates
cozy little home was striking the
hour, husband and wife returned. Mr..
Talbot, Mr.. Bryan's law partner, who
has Just been elected TO the Nebraska
legislature on the Republican ticket,
and several newspaper men, were in
the library at the time. Mr.. Bryan
read the bulletin without showing
any signs of fesling. and remarked as
he finished: "I'll wait to hear from
Senator Jones before saying any
thing"
Then he put on a velvet house jack
ct and began chatting pleasantly with
some personal friends who were with
him in the parlor. There was nothing
of the pathetic in the scene. Mr.. Bry-
an had not clung to the hopes held
out to him by some of his enthusiastic
followers, and was prepared for the
news. His wife, too, knew that moth.
ing encouraging was to be expected.
Her good nature came to the fore
when she realized that the strain was
over, and she laughed and joked with
those about her, while Mr.. Bryan also
chaffed the newspaper men during the
wait for the official message from Sen.
ater Jones. Half an hour later tele'
graph messenger handed message to
the defeated candidate. "You may
say" said he, turning to the newspa,
per men, after reading the telegram,
that the election of Mckinley is
conceded and I will issue statement
tonight" ;,
Then he sat down at the big oak
desk at which he works and began
writing a message of congratulation to
his victorious opponent, Mrs. Bryan
leaning over his shoulder as his pen
Gil went over the paper. This was his
message:
Hon. VIM. Mckinley, Canton, O:
Senator Jones has just informed me
that the returns indicate your election
and hasten to extend nay congratu-
lations. We have submitted the is
sues to the American people and their
will is law. w. j. BRYAN.
Mr.. Bryan paused only during the
writing to tell numerous. story apro-
pos of a remark made by one OF those
about him. When he had finished he
handed the dispatch to messenger
boy and then told another story.
There appeared to be nothing forced
about the pleasant manner OF the
young political leader. He seemed
actually happy that the strain was
over. He told the representative OF
the Southern Associated Press in the
conversation that ensued, that tonight
he would prepare statement to be
issued to the bimetallists the country
and would make it public before noon
tomorrow and not this evening as he
had previously said.
Mr.. Bryan said he did not care to
say anything about the result OF the
election tonight, but in response to a
question as to whether he thought
McKinley's election was blow to the
cause of the bimetallism, he respond.
ell: 1.-THE fight has just commenced. "