Mexico weekly ledger., 1896-07-16
HOW THE NEWS WAS RECEIVED.
Bryan's Nomination a Surprise-The
Crowd Awaiting the Bulletins
Was for Bland, But Were
Fully Satisfied With
the Result.

n Result.
Tt was a greatly surprised crowd of
men who at 3:15 on FRAY afternoon
listened to the words, "Bryan is nomi-
nated,'' which came from the lips of a
LEDGER reporter who had just receiv-
cd the news from Chicago and who
stepped to the street in front of the
Western Union Office to inform the
anxious throng.
The new came ike a thunderbolt
from a clear sky. Everyone had felt
confident that the great Missourian,
Richard Parks Bland, would be the
choice of the Chicago convention and
they were only counting on how many
more votes than the necessary two
thirds he would receive.
When the official count of the first
ballot was read by Sheriff Stephens
the crowd did not cheer. They had
expected that Bland would receive at
least more than 800 votes and his fall
ing SO far short of this number caused
many faces to lengthen and many
hearts beating with State pride sank
low in manly breasts.
The second ballot was a little more
encouraging, though not much, and
when it was announced a few cheers
rose on the air. That was outside the
telegraph office. Inside where a few
ardent Bland supporters were count
ing up the results of the two ballots
there we're significant looks and an
omnibus frown spread itself over John
Lanes face.
John was pacing the floor. For many
days he had been thinking and for
many nights dreaming of how he
would raise his voice to cheer the
"Haymaker of Missouri" Was all
this to be lost? What did such an in
crease in Bryan's vote mean?
"Click! Click!" went the little in
strument which vas conveying the
proceedings of the great assemblage
in Chicago to the outside world and
Miss Burnett wrote the significant line
"Oficial announcement, third ballot"
There was not a man who saw this
who did not hold his breath. The
calculators got out their pencils and
prepared to mark down the result as |
received: "Bland, 291." There was
a pause of a few seconds which SEEM
ed like an hour. Then came: "Bry-
an, 3D."
Bland had gained 10 and Bryan %
votes.
"Mark my word; it will be Bryan"
said a newspaper man who was look
ing on. "What's that?' said John
Lane. The prediction was repeated
and in response came the word, "Not
a bit of it. Bryan will give in to
Bland on the next ballot"
The next ballot was being licked off.
When Bryan's lame was reached
there came news of the great demon
stration, which was brought on by the
mere mention of his name. "More
cheers; many states going to where
Nebraska delegation is seated" was
licked off in quick order. Then, for
the first time, the Bland men saw that
all hope for the great Missourian was
lost. They lamented BANDS defeat,
but gloried in the fact that such a
strong young Westerner was going to
be nominated.
Outside the office all was quiet. Not
a cheer rent the air. 1t was hard for
men to give up their pet, a man from
their W state, and the very fact that
he had come so near the nomination
made it harder to bear.
But all was we'll, and when the final
announcement that Bryan raj nomi-
mated was made, after catching its
breath, the crowd cheered and every
body shook hands.
John Lane shed a tea or two, then
recalled the Apollo-like form of the
stBoy orator of the Platte" and
smiled a smile that would have put al
pleasant expression on the face of
statue. "He was my next choice
after Bland, anyway" said he, and
then he shook hands with the crowd {
and laughed gleefully. L
William Jennings Bryan, swho was I
nominated for the first position in the :
land on Friday, is well known in Mex |
leo, having made many friends here .
when he spoke in this city a year ago .
last March. q
His reception here then was a cold I
He was to have spoken at the :
House in the afternoon and l
evening and an admission fee of 25 '
cents was charged. In the afternoon !
there vas no speech, owing to a lack |
of audience, and in the evening the I
house was only about one-third full.
His speech, however, was not stunt !
ed by the size of the audience and l
many of those who heard. him after !
remarked that never before in Q
their lives had they heard such ora y
1t was he who first chrystaIized Il
the silver sentiment in Mexico. I
Perhaps some of those who refused .
20 pay a quarter to hear him then !
would gladly shell out four times that y
amount, ten times that small sum, to .
get a glance of the next President of v
he United States. u
He is the youngest man ever NOM '
mated for this high office, having eel u
sbrated his Seth birthday the 10Th day a
If last March. q
All Democrats here are pleased =
with the nomination and Audrain !
county will roll up an increased ma q
GRITTY for the national ticket next No D
The LEDGER cannon didn't go of, n
,ut it will in November, you bet. y