The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-07-25

during the Qay-
A WOMAN SECONDS BRYAN.
J. T Millers of Tennessee occupied
Kentucky's time with a speech in
Bryan's behalf. Louisiana yielded to
Colorado and the rugged state sent to
the platform as her champion Mrs
young lady with face aglOW and great
dark eyes flashing, came forward to the
stage. AS she ascended the platform
her dark golden hair shone in the sun
light. She wore white shirt waist
and an attractive hat and as she faced
the audience her radiant face brought
the convention to its feet
Her first sentence, delivered in a clear,
musical and sympathetic voice, aroused
them to cheers. Her brief speech was
one of the most eloquent ever delivered
in the convention. Mrs. Roberts spoke
as follows:
the shadow of the rocky mountains
where men have had the courage and
the chivalry to grant women the rights
they demand for themselves CApplause)
1 have been accorded the distinguished
honor by the southern state of LOuisi-
ana to take their time. Gentlemen
thank you in the name of the women
of the United States. (Applause)
For the first time in the history of a
political convention, a woman has had
the opportunity of raising her voice to
second the nomination of a man who
stands for the people who made
America what she is today, where the
parasites of oppression shall not live
oh, 1 thank you. By our city flows the
Platte river, from where the boy orator
of Nebraska halls, and we of Colorado
second his nomination. 1 know that the
gentlemen whom you represent will
make a gallant fight, and will do what
you can to obtain the victory. On the
one side is arrayed Mckinley and on
the other Bryan. There is no middle
of the road. tremendous cheers.)
"Our factories idle, our lands are IN
md 01Tve IN n
you can do nothing at this convention
but accept this ticket in the interest of
of the people of this great nation, in
the interest of the wives and mothers
and children that we must preserve
America as an independent nation.
will take no more of your time. You
have already surfeit of oratory; too
much of it, indeed. So l will simply add
that I have the extreme honor of sec
Onding the nomination of William Jen-
nings Bryan of Nebraska" (Tremen-
dOus cheers.)
When Mrs Roberts finished the con-
vention again arose and cheered and
she was besieged on all sides of the
platform with congratulations. Gov
ernor KOlb of Alabama stepped gal
lantly forward as she came down the
steps and with the deferential chivalry
of the south escorted her to her seat
in the Colorado delegation, where she
was again besieged by delegates who
offered their congrat tulations.
MIR. CALL TIRES THEM
Mr. Call of New York spoke in the
time allotted to Maine. His tone was
from the beginning opposed to the pop
ular feeling in the convention and
called the marriage of POpUlism and
Democracy. when the general desire to
indOrse Mr.. Bryan was due to a desire
to promote the interest of silver, or to
get into the band wagon. You" he
said, who hold nothing nearer to your
hearts than the abolition of the banks,
are asked to support party, one of
whose standard bearers is a bank pres
ident'' This expression called out
loud dissent and some jeerS, of which
there was an increase when he declared
that free silver was the only POpulIst
plank in the Democratic platform.
Questions were asked as to whether
Mr.. Call was a POpulist or a delegate.
Both were answered in the affirmative
although it was stated by some one
that he had been a member of the
party for only two weeks. 1t had be
come evident, however, that the con-
vention was growing impatient with
Mr.. Call and his sentiments. The feel
ing was apparently strong today for
Bryan and intolerant of expressions
against him. There were, however
encouraging handclappings when Mr.
Call asserted that it was not even
known whether Mr.. Bryan would stand
upon the POpulist platform. He asked
that it should be definitely ascertained
before action was taken where Mr.
Bryan stood. Mr.. McGrath broke in
with the exclamation that Bryan was a.
platform himself.
Mr.. Call closed by placing Colonel S.
NJ Norton of Illinois in nomination.
He eulogfzed Mr.. Norton as a philan-
thropist, a man Of the people and
pioneer in the cause of reform.
Maryland also seconded Bryan. E.
Gerry Brown of Massachusetts declared
that the issue was plain. In the com
ing campaign il was either "a vote for
William J. Bryan and silver or Nc
Kinley and hell and damnatiOn."
DONNELLY SECONDS BRYAN.
When Minnesota was called Ignatius
Donnelly took the rOstrum amid much
applause. He said: Gentlemen of
the COnventiOn:-On behalf of the
state of Minnesota by unanimous re-
quest I rise here to second the nOmfna-
ton of VIM J. Bryan (AppIause.) 1t
is we'll known my friends that 1 have
been out with those who thought we
could best serve the interest and the
perpetuity of the Peoples Party by
making our own independent nOmina-
ton. But my friends there are tidal
waves in the affairs OF men to which
we must yield. The voice of the people
is in the last analysis the voice of God
and the voice of the people demands
the nomination of William J. Bry-
an by this convention. (ApplaUse)
I yield to that demand. There is
some talk here that we must force Mr..
Bryan to a distinct declination or ac-
ceptance of our nomination. We can
readily see that it will place him
very embarrassing position to be
forced to choose between Mr.. SeWaH
and Mr. Watson. I think if we are go
ing to nominate Mr.. Bryan and seek to
elect him, that we ought to be gener-
Gus to him. applause and cries of
that's right.') We ought not to force
him into such an embarrassing dilem-
ma. CCheers and applause-) Neither
do I think that we ought to call upon
him to indOrse our platform. (Great
applause) Our principles do not exist
by the sufferance of VIM. J. Bryan or
any other man on earth. applause
This is not a merging of the Peoples
Party of the United States into the
Democratic party, and therefore there