The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-12-18
Gets $4,000 Bonus On his
Bryan Contract.
ATLANTA SYNDICATE BUYS
Mr.. Bryan viii Not Lecture IN
North Carolina.
BIG PRICES FOR ENGAGEMENTS
Sevao Dates in Texas Sold For $io, 900
MIR. Bryan viii Get Much
Over $4,000 For His
Eiftv actures.
Fifty Lectures

oNGt DS01S0~ -
Fifty Lectures.
It is learned on good authority that
Mr.. V. e. McBee, Superintendent of the
seaboard Airline, who has made ar
engagements with William ]. Bryan, 70
have him deliver fifty lectures for $780,
oo0 has sold his contract to syndicate
80 Atlanta oeople for $4,000, or $4,000
honus The transaction was completed
yesterday afternoon
Mr. MeBee. accompanied by his wife,
his nrivate secretary, Mr.. Chas. Il. WIZ
Iams and Mr.. Anthony Comstock' VINO Is
managing the Bryan lectures for Mcbee'
came to Raleigh yesterday afternoon on
rho train from Norfolk. They were
.-av.,,;ng in Mr.. McBee's private car.
The car was sidetraeked here and all the
Marty. except Mr.. Comstock, who went
On m Atlanta, remained here for uhe
night.
asked Mr.. McBee as to the truth Of
rho reported sale Of his contract. lie re-
Fused 70 either affirm or deny the rumor
Rnt I learned from another source that
he had lust authorized Mr.. Comstock
- ,,rooaad 70 Atlanta and complete the
deal
Mr. Comstock came from Atlanta yes
terday morning and was to meet MI.
MeRee here, but ON reaching here ne re-
caived a telegram from McBee telling
him to come on until he met the train
from Norfolk, TO which Mr.. McBee's car
was attached. This Mr.. Comstock did
and returned with Mr.. McBee in the al
ternoon. When he reached here he left MI.
ucRee's car and took the regular train
back to Atlanta.
rrhe sale of seats for the Bryan lecture
in Atlanta began Wednesday morning
and nearly 1000 tickets were sold the
first day. An immense audience WIZ
greet Mr.. Bryan in the Gate City OF the
South.p Mr.. Comstock thinks. From
there he will go to New Orleans. lie
will speak in two places in Tennessee
Nashville and Memphis, and at seven
places in in Texas. These seven dates,
Mr. Comstock tells me, have been sold
for $4,000.
Mr.. BRYAN will not come to North Car
DINA. though Mr.. McBee has been anxi-
ons that he should do so. The trouble Is
that there is not an auditorium IN the
State large enough to accommodate the
crowd or pay the managers. Richmond is
anxious to have him lecture there and
claims to have an auditorium with
saat;np capacity of 10000 which she
PROMISES to fill. Augusta is also bidding
for one of the lectures. 1t has not been
definitely decided whether or not Mr.
BRYAN will go to either place, but 1t is
probable, Mr. Comstock says, that he
will lecture in Richmond.
1T has been published that we are to
give Mr.. Bryan $4,000 for fifty lee
lures" said Mr.. Comstock, but the
truth about it is that we are to give
him great deal more. 1t is a great
venture, but it will be a great financial
success. My principal trouble is to keep
the tickets out of the hands OF specula-
tors Only yesterday / received a tele-
gram from fellow in New Orleans say.
Ing that be had just sent me $1,000 for
block OF seats. / wired him back that
tickets were on sale at the regular place
in New Orleans and he could get them
in the regular way at the regular price.
The money has not reached me yet, when
it does / shall simply send 1T back at
his expense"
Mr.. Cornstock is a small, elean-shaven
man of about 80, pleasant in address and
actiye-just the kind of man to make
friends of everybody whom he meets,
and a success of just such venture as
that he has undertaken to manage Tor
Mr. McBee.