The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-27
ONE or THE HACKERS LEFT OUT
Peculiar and Interesting Complications
Grow Out of Byan's Lecturug
Crbc01o


Scheme.
NEW YORK, N. Y. Dsc. 27.-The
Journal this morning prints story OF
William J. Bryan's sudden change of
managers in connection with his lectures.
1t runs as follows:
John Roach of this city conceived the
idea that Bryan would be star lecture
attraction and mentioned his idea
to E. V. Foote, who was formerly
partner of E. S. Stokes in the Hoff-
man House. Foote was greatly taken
with this plan and volunteered
to get a hacker for the enterprise. He
mentioned the name OF Passenger Agent
McBee of the Southern Railway, who is
stationed at Norfolk, Va, and McBee
agreed to furnish the capital. being we'll
acquainted with Foote and Roach.
The selection of an experienced theat-
rical man was necessary and Alex Com
stock was selected. Comstock telegraphed
an offer to Mr. Bryan at Lincoln, setting
forth an agreement to pay him $1,000
lecture for series of fifty lectures.
After Mr.. Bryan's guarantee was paid
the profits of the concern were to be di-
yided as follows: One-half to McBee,
who furnished the money; one.ha!f to
Comstock, who contributed the expert
ence, and one half of Comstock's half to
Roach, who was the owner OF the idea.
McBee and Comstock went to Atlanta,
Coms.ock travelling on money furnished
by Roach. 1t was agreed that the three
Roach, Comstock and McBee-were to
meet in Lincoln to close up the contract
with Mr.. Bryan.
Roach mad a provisional agreement
with McBee and Comstock that, if the
plan went through. his name was to be
featured on the bills. He was very par
ticular about this.
McBee and Comstock arrived in Lincoln
before Roach got there. They closed their
contract with Mr.. Bryan and McBee de-
posted $4,000 in the Lincoln National
Bank to bind the agreement, while Mr..
Roach was somewhere in Illinois.
The morning after the contract was
signed Roach bought newspaper on the
train, and the first item that met his eyes
was the story of it. He saw that Com.
stock had ignored him entirely, and, as he
thought of other men getting the benefit
OF his idea, he grew exceedingly angry.
later be made haste to find McBee and
Comstock. They were just getting aboard
an eastbound train and Roach got on the
same train. After short and heated ar
gument Roach swung his right arm and
landed his fist with great force en- Com
stocks Jaw.
While he was getting his hand straight
ened out for another blow Comstock re-
treated to the smoking-car and McBee
made soothing attempts to mollify Roach.
The latter wanted to break up the
whole agreement right there. but he was
persuaded 10 wait until satisfactory ar
rangemeut coulu be made. On this the
trio parted, McBee and Comstock going
to Atlanta and Roach returning to New
York.
Affairs in the direction OF satisfactory
agreement did not progress rapidly.
Roach insisted on getting his one-half of
Comstock's one-half profits.
Down in Atlanta, Comstock was making
dates for Mr.. Bryan all over the country,
asking guarantees as high as $500 from
the managers of opera-houses and lyceum
bureaus.
He got big guarantees or he would not
close date, and the more profits he saw
in sight the less he felt like delivering up
half of his share to Roach.
Roach's anger was SIN ouldering. He in
sisted on his share as originally agreed
upon, and when Mr.. Bryan delivered his
opening lecture in Atlanta. Roach went on
there.
Mr.. Bryan lectured to q full house in
theater at Atlanta that figured up S23CO
at the regular prices Of admission when
every seat is occupied although Mr.. Com
stocks box-otfice returns showed but
$500 in the house. Roach stormed
around and finally went to Mr.. Bryan and
told his story.
The revelation was shock to Mr.. Bryan,
but be was under contract. He talked
the matter over with McBee and Roach
and Comstock, but the three could not
come to an agreement and Mr.. Bryan
finally decided to continue the new man
agement of II. Briggs & Co.