The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-07-11
IS SELECTED
Famous Orator from Nebraska
Is Nominated for President
Of the United States.
ON The FIFTH BALLOT
Amid Scenes Of the Widest Excite.
ment the PaVorlte Son Of Nebraska
Passes the Veteran Champion Of
Silver, Richard Parks Bland, IN
the RaCs for the Presidential
Nomination.

VI -NeDraSka, was SelecteO tOudy rs tne
standard bearer of the Democratic
party In the campaign for the pres!-
dency 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 rhetorical ef-
fort, he had become a seeming proba-
bility. With the hours of the night his
chances grew. and when the convention
resumed business this morning. he had
been established as Richard Z. BANDS
most formidable competitor. As the
balloting progressed his popularity
among the delegates became more and
more apparent, and his strength in
votes went by leaps and bounds until
the elimination came in the capture of
Illinois and Ohio. and the withdrawal
of Bland with the consequent transfer
of Missouri to the Bryan column.
There were no transparencies, no life
sized Autographs. no special bands of
music to attract to the eloquent young
man, lawyer and newspaper man. Tho
modest banner Of the William J. Bryan
club. Nebraska organization was the
only conspicuous emblem of the Bryan
cause. During the night standard
had been prepared bearing the con-
concluding words of Bryan's speech Of
yesterday: mo crown of thOrns no
cross of gold" and this alone was the
most suggestive outward Indication
that the Nebraskan was in the race to
stay. But ii needed no artificial
means, such as these to keep the name
of Bryan to the fore. His striking
presence. his wonds srful melodiousress
of voice as exhibited in his speech had
not faded from the minds Of the dele
gates. and spectators, and every men
tion OF his pame brought hearty cheers
that the old story of the firm hold he
had upon those who could make or un
make him in his presidential aspira-
tiops and upon the thousands who were
onlookers and not active participants.
BATTLE OF BALLOTS.
The battle Of the ballots was fought
with doggedness that showed firm
determination on the part of those
pledged to particular candidates to be
converted to the desire of thc-r 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 great leap would be
made as some delegation of formidable
numbers would throw in its lot with his
cnh ThC haInt ranohal
and the result was still :lHcertain, but
at its end Bryan was all but within the
goal. DELEGATES and the audience be-
came excited when 1t became apparent
that the Nebraskan had secured the
necessary vote. A rumor went around
the vast hall that Illinois, consistent as
Missouri in adherence to the lifelong
champion of free coinage of silver was
wavering. and when Governor Altgeld
and his associates withdrew for con-
sultation the excitement grew to fever
heat.
But the story of how it all came about
and of how Bryan at last was triumph
ant in the race. is told in detail in these
dispatches and need not be dwelt on
here.
When Missouri withdrew her support
of Bland. the race had been won and
William J. Bryan was the man.
Every man and woman in the hall
were supporters Of Bryan. and marched
In triumph through the aisles bounding
the square spaces reserved for the dele
gates and as the guidons of other states
joined the procession the cheering be-
came madly intense. Bland banners,
Boies banners. and emblems Of other
candidates fell In line and the culmin-
ating point in the enthusiasm was
reached when the Bland band, headed
by the numerous transparencies bear
ing the Missourian's name, took step
with the rest and bent their endeavors
to "Dixie's" lively step. And when it
was over,people fell back in their chairs
weak and exhausted and listened quiet
ly to the formalities which concluded
the session. Tonight session was held
for the purpose Of selecting the candi-
date for vice-president, but without
proceeding to ballot and an adjourn
ment was forced until tomorrow morn
ing at ten o'clock, when efforts will be
made to complete the business Of the
convention.