Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-11-03
BRYAN CLOSES HIS HARD RATTLE
Speaks His Last Public Word in the Cam
paign at Omaha.


Smaha. Nov. st was almost mid
night last night when Bryan spoke the
last public word incident to his cam
paign. lie had then made seven
speeches IN Omaha, beginning at 4
O'Clock in the evening. and had pre-
ooded the nights work with fifteen
speeches made during the day. at the
following places. all in the state OF
Nebraska: Seward. York. Aurora,
Grand Island. Hastings. Harvard.
Saronville. Sutton. Grafton. Fairmont
Exeter, Friend. Dorchester, Crete and
Idnccln. He had Travelled during the
day go miles. II had been Bryan's
original intention to speak in every
congressional district in the state dur
Ing the day, but this was found to he
impracticable, and he entered only four
of the six. Notwithstanding all the
speeches were made in his own state
Bryan made no special appeal to state
pride. nor did he dwell upon state
issues beyond an appeal here and there
to his friends to give loyal support to
the silver state and congre ssional tickets
while they were casting their ballots
for the Bryan electors.
He praised Governor Holcomb's adj
ministration of state affairs. and re-
peatedly called attention to the futility
OF all efforts to secure reforms even
with a favoranly disposed chief eyecu-
i've without congress willing TO CO.
operate with him. He dwelt in the
main. however, upon the national as
pects OF the campaign, and appealed
20 MS hearers to support the cause
upon the same general principles which
ne mad advanced as essentiaiin speeches
maze IN otEer similarly situated COM
munities. His two most caustic speeches
OF the day were made at Hastings and
Lincoln. though he made some short
addresses which were pronounced by
his friends as worthy to be classed
as philippic in character. His strongest
enorts were generally directed at
CROWDS containing more than the usual
number Of persons decorated with gold
badges.
AT many places there was a sufficient
number Of these badges to call out re-
marks. They were generally outnum-
bered. however. by the silver emblems
Squads CO white horses. beyies of girls
in white. and siiver-colored hats and
coats were in evidence ct almost every
stopping place. a fayorite device was
IL TO worked in white and yellow
corn. The demonstrations IN the way
OF greeting and of applause were so ex-
ceedingiy cordial at all points that the
democratic candidate could have
round no cause for complaint on ac-
count or ms reception at the hands Of
the people of his state.
Those who wore the yellow insignia
treated him with entire re=nect. lis
tened with attention. ard in some in
stances apriauded his utterances. At
no time in the campaign has Bryan
been in better physical or mental con-
dIticn than he was for his closing day.
He appeared to realize tina, he was
nearing the end of an ariuous siege.
and ne did not make the usual effort TO
conserve his physical energies. He slept
far less than usual between speeches.
ard he allowed his voice. which Is stiIl
unimpaired. fun range He spent q
greater part OF the time than ordinar.
lily between speeches chatting with
friends.
In these conversations he did NOT dis
play the least nervousness over the
near approach Of the crisis of the cam
paign. and TO all outward appearance,
ne was quite as unconcerned -
we're any Of his conpany. Win IL