The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-11-09

!
/ leading to his door between masses Of
! men who blessed him at every step.
I Then he turned about and faced his
townsmen, raising his hands and say
HIS LAST CAMPAIGN SPEECH.
Ladies and Gentlemen--I have now
done all that i can to secure success in
this campaign. and for me there is moth
ing left but to await the returns. I
want to thank the good friends who
nave been 50 kind and courteous in my
leaving and returning and. whatever
may be the result of this campaign. L
shall always be able to say that nv
nelghbors who agree with me in my
political convictions did verything in
their power to secure success in this
election
II ask you now to manifest your fur
ther interest by giving so much OF the
remainder OF this day as you can to
getting the vote out. and to see to it
that every one understands the form of
ballot, 80 that no mistakes viii be
made. You understa nd that in this
state they have allowed the boiling
Democrats to go on the ticket as Dem
ocrats, and they did it in order ia per
petrate a fraud upon the voters of this
state, and il is the duty of all our peo-
pie to defeat the fraud if they can by
having people understand just how the
ballot reads. SO that each person can
vote iutelligently
All We have asked in this campaign
is that each citizen might be allowed
to vote as he pleases, and when that is
done we shall all abide the result. what
ever it may be-"
There was a quick, hearty cheer. and
as Alr. Bryan turned about and entered
the house his little daughter Grace
threw her arms around his neck as he
bent down to kiss her climbed upon his
shoulder, shrieked .Hurrahl" and
pulled his ear
Already hundreds of kilograms had
arrived. The telegraph instrument in
the next room clicked furiOusly- Mr.
Bryan's secretary handed him a sheaf
of messages. He walked UP and down
the room anxiously, turning over the
sheets and moving his lips as if repeat
ing the words to himself.
Most of the kilograms assured him
that he was elected. They came from
all parts of the country. Mrs. Bryan
sat Dn a sofa and watched him as he
paced the carpet. His face was bag
gard and white. His brow was knit
and there were deep lines in the fore
headlines that were not there when
the campaign began. He was reading
the last news Of the great battle. Sud
denly a smile came into his face as his
glance fell on message from Chicago
saying, The vote is heavy and early.
and I do not believe the Republicans
VIII go out of Cook county with a ma
Jority."
a deep sigh was the only comment.
After that Mr. Bryan went upstairs
and took q long sleep 1t is one of
the most extraordinary things about
this extraordinary man that he can eat
and sleep regardless of the almost in
tolerable strain.
ONLY FRAUD COULD BEAT HIM.
kilograms drifted on his desk down
stairs like autumn leaves but still he
slept Just before dinner time he came
downstairs in q velvet smoking jacket
and slippers He told me as he went
to dinner that everything looked wen.
Nothing but fraud could defeat him,
and he did not believe that there was
money enough to buy a majority in the
country.
The wind blew hard and shook the
window panes. The sky darkened and
a few drops Of rain fell Mr. Bryan
sat down at the table with his wife and
little brood and for once all thought of
the election was banished from the
talk
Then Mr.. Bryan came out into his
little office and sat in the soft glow of
lampHght under the great Outstretched
wings of a dead eagle. A group OF cor
respondents lOunged about the room in
careless attitudes. They watched the
leader and tried to read his thoughts.
The news from New York was COM
ing in. Seven hundred and thirty dis
tricts gave Mckinley a majority of al
most 5000.
THAT doesn't look so bad said one
of the correspondents Mr.. Bryan shook
his head and crumpled the telegram in
his big hand.
FIRST NEWS WAS BAD.
III it keeps up that way. Mckinley
>
what those figures mean"
Another telegram rustled down on the
table in front of him. Mr. Bryan read
it and shook his head.
I'VE are getting the news from the
big cities he remarked. ''They will
show Democratic losses. of course. but
later on we viii hear from the country
and know what my chances are
Then Mr. Bryan went upstairs and
lay on his bed His wife and his sec
rotary took the kilograms to him as
they came in
The news from New York was worse
and worse Next came the announce
ment that Brooklyn would give Nc
kinley 23. 1000. "A message from Iowa
said that state was likely to give Nc
kiniey $4,000 majority. And now came
word that Chicago was going against
free silver Where was the great up
rising of labor2 Where was AltgeId2
And Maryland. tool The wire de-
clared that the Democrats had conced-
ed it to Mckinley. Next came a mes
sage from Mr. Harvey. the author OF
Coin s Financial School" saying
Never mind New York. A tide of
mammonism has landed on our shores;
wait till YOU hear from the west"
NEWS GREW MORE DISMAL
Mr.. Bryan was hearing from the west
and the news grew more dismal One
third of the Chicago precincts showed a
majority of q, 600 for Mckinley
The wire which brought the message
from Senator Jones personally kept up
continuous clatter. But even the
national committeeman had little com
fort to offer At 8 o'clock he sent out
this MESA sc.
mir. Campau is just in from Michi-
gan. While he has no specific fnfor-
nation, he is confident state has gone
for you. JONES"
Presently the wire brought the news
that Mr. Bryan had carried the Salt
Greek district in his own county. Tt
was an ominous victory. Then the
news from Chicago began to improve
"a faT 1rr 11r leon
Ohio. showed that Mckinley was fall
ing behind his expected majority.
Mrs. Bryan and the secretary ran up
and down stairs with the messages
Finally Mrs. Bryan stayed lp in the
room with her usband. The kilograms