The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-08-13

UereSU OF tne WnOle City OF New DIX was
focused to-day upon Madison Square
Garden, where William j. Bryan, of Ne
braska, and Arthur Sewall, of Maine,
were to be formally notified of their
nomination by the Democratic party for
the offices of President and Vice res-
dent of the United States, was proven by
the groups OF sovereign electors which
as early as the middle of the afternoon
began to come under the trees lin Madi-
son Square, which by 5 o'clock had been
reinforced by hundreds, ana at 6 o'clock
was multiplied to eXpectant thousands,
and before O'Clock swelled to a strain
ing, clamoring army.
On this sultry night the wide oval of
the garden was furnace in which 20, 600
were to suffer n fiery torture for enthusi-
asm's sake The glass ha been removed
from the acre of skylights in the roof
and sheets of canvass hung below. The
platforms 'as small affair erected at the
north = of the hall in the centre of
one of Ute broad arcs of the oval, hardly
more than twelve feet square and draped
simply with American flags. The deco
rations were simple and not elaborate.
but III good taste, consisting entirely of
the national tri-color. The hands of the
clock marked seven when the main doors
down at the west of the garden swung
inward and announced their opening by
the thrush of a yelling war cry. Then
with roar cimo the people pouring
through the entrance and spreading over
the floor like the enchanting of flood of
water Men and women-they swept
down to the centre of the hall, climbing
over chairs and distractions like an in
fantry charge
Two or three times as the crowd rush
ed in, some enthusiast rose in the gallery
and proposed three cheers for BRYAN,
which eXhortation brought the expected
shouts. But the first real demonstration
OF the night was given to the wife of the
Presidential candidate.
1t was O'clock when Mrs Bryan was
seen climbing the steps that led to the
first box rallied off at the platforms right.
She was on the arm of Hon. William p.
ST. John, treasurer of the Democratic
national committee. AS Mrs. Bryan
swept her eyes across the ha1l they had Il
weary look and her face seemed very pale.
1t lighted up with bright smile at the
roar which swept across the floor and on
ward through the galleries and which
grew into swelling cheer and rose and
fell III half Il dozen waves Twice Mrs.
Bryan bowed to the right and left and
then she was seated
The cheer for Mrs. Bryan had not end
ed when the foremost parsonage of the
hour, the Democratic candidate for Presi-
dent, in the midst of II small group of
his chief supporters, appeared and push
ed through the same doorway The first
glimpse was of a black coat, broad
shouldered man, with roll of manu-
script held at his side, stepping with
quick, light strides up the short flight of
stairs. At his side and towering over
him was the strong figure, clad in gray
of Senator Jones, of Arkansas. the chair
man of the Democratic committee.
AS the smooth shaven. strong faced
young statesman from the West stood at
the front of the platform a flag was rails
ed and waved just above him in the gal
lery so that its folds swept down as back
ground for his form and made him the
one figure of the whole assemblage.
The cheer that broke forth was of
tremendous force. Certainly its recipient
had never heard its like but once before
and that other was the cheer which fol-
lowed his now famous speech at the
Chicago convention. The cry was ''Brv-
an! Bryan until the crowd wearied 1t
was only when he had sat down ut the
right of the stand that the people took
notice of the people who were with him.
Foremost among them was Arthur Sew
all, candidate for Vice President There
was Governor Stone, of Missouri, and the
IL.
eX-treasurer of the State of New York
There were no vacant chairs in the hall
when the nominees mounted the platform
and all standing space was filed.
Among the prominent Democratsarrayed
back of the platform were: Senators
Blanchard, of Louisiana: German of
Maryland; Roach, of North Dakota; Till
man, of South Carolina: Congressman
Richardson and Mcmillan, of Tennessee;
Livingston, of Georgia; Rusk, of Mary
land; Governor Hogg, of Texas, and many
Others. who had borne parts in the con
vention which nominated Mr.. Bryan
1t was twenty minutes after eight when
Senator Jones stepped to the front of the
box eand lifted his hand for order. The
response came in the form of calls for
Bryan. After moment the Senator was
able to hear himself introduce Mr.. Dan
forth as the chairman of the meeting.
Mr.. Danforth in his turn pounded with a
gavel on the rail and in his turn was
showered with calls for Bryan. Mr. Dan
forth's speech was brief one. mere for
NAL introduction of Governor Stone.
Governor Stone read his notification from
printed slips, but his voice carried almost
to the ends of the hall.
Mr.. Stone, in opening, expressed his
regret that the permanent chairman of
the Chicago convention, Senator White.
could not be present to make the official
notification, and explained that the duty
had been delegated to him. He spoke
feelingly of the long struggle within the
ranks of the Democratic party, which
had resulted in the victory for the silver
men. He described the victory of 1892 as