The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-11-06
Was Only Waiting Till Jones
Had Conceded 1t.
FIGHT JUST BEGUN.
Bryan Says the Battle Has Only
Commenced.
Mckinley Sends His Thanks to
Mark Hanna.

Lincoln. Neb, Nov 6.-"The fight has
Just received the signal and responded
j Bryan last night. when asked IL he
considered the result or the election mad
been q serious blow to the cause of be
metallism- He had justs ent a message
TO Major Mckinley cOnceding his cleo
ton and rendering his congratulations.
Mr. Bryan surrendered at $50 He had
just received the signal and responded
within the next ten minutes TO his sue
cessful rival This signal was a brief
message from Senator Jones, chairman
Of the Democratic national committee.
informing him that he did not consider
IT wise to longer withhold the cOnces-
sion Of Mckinley election
This message was received by Mr..
Bryan q few minutes after he had re
turned with his wife from a stroll and
in the presence of a dozen callers, gath
cred in the parlOr and reading room of
their unpretentiOns residence The re-
ceipt of the telegram created no scene
whatever and one unacquainLed with the
facts would never have suspected from
the surface indications the Importance
Of the occasion or that the chief actor
ia the drama had more than a passing
interest in it. He handed the telegram
to Mrs. Bryan who was standing near
him, and without a word sat down at
his desk and penned the following tele-
gram;
Lincoln. Neb.. NOV. 5.
Hon. VIM. Mckinley. Canton o.
Senator Jones has Just informed me
that the returns indicate your election,
and I hasten to extend my cOngratula-
lions. We have submitted the issue to
the people and their VIII is law.
(Signed) W. J. BRYAN
This message was first submitted to
Mrs. Bryan and then, after being amend
ed in some slight particulars so as to
conform to suggestions made by her,
was given to the press. While writing
the message and after 1t was compile
ted, Mr.. Bryan chatted pleasantly with
the newspaper correspondents who sur
rounded him, indicating by his manner
that he felt relieved to have the matter
definitely determined, even though the
result was against him. He also show
ed very plainly that senator Jones'
message was no surprise to him. as it
indeed was not. for, as those who have
been in his confidence, knew, he had
considered the battle as practically
lost ever since the first night after the
election
He has, however. felt that it would
be both diScOurteOus and unWise to give
out any intimatiOn to this effect until
the national committee had spoken.
AIr- Bryan declined to outline his fu-
ture plans or to give his opinion as to
the causes which led to his defeat 1t is
quite certain, however, that he viii be
tempted by none of the hattering offers
which are coming to him to leave Lin
coin. He viii remain about his home
for the next few weeks, recuperating,
for while in no way exhausted by the
duties of the campaign he cOnfeSSeS to
a feeling Of languOr as a result Ct the
arduous labor of the past four months.
1t is also believed that Mr.. Bryan
considers that the result of the cleo
ton has much in it to encourage the
advocates of Independent action by this
country en- the question of free coinage
OF silver.AIrs. Bryan received the news
with quite as much compOSure as did
her husband She had never felt the
same conhdnece of success that he felt
and has. from the first. while not with
out hope, been prepared for the news
which Senator Jones brief message last
night brought.