Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1897-01-09
...JANUN 9
BRYAN'S LECTURE TOUR.


Although the first md last lect ), re
at DE Gives opera-house, in At antn
brought receipts amounting to s., 800
Mr. Bryan was induced t O cancei his
contract 10y the acton Of The mapap.
err, who insisted on making n hin.
podrome OF his appearances. Rat " r
than depart from the diguiti.d posi-
sltlon he maintained throughout the
campaign, he decided to return to his
home in Lincoln.
Mr.. Bryan WIS led to believe from
the very start that his tour vas to
nave been of the mo t non-sensa-
tlonal. He understood that he was TO
be taken strictly on bis merits, and
that the most formal and modest
meth"d or illilng was to be used in
announcing his coming. Instead of
this, he was confronted in Atlanta
with huge posters stuck indiscrimin-
ateIy Throughout the city and pictur-
Ing MIN In a most vulgar and distate-
1ul manner. One bill showed him in
Autograph standing besides Jackson.
Jefferson ana Lincoln and Washing
ton. 1hls Particular bill was most
to the defeated Candidate
and most inimical to his sense of
Judgment. He Was so di-heartened Ar
the coarse display thai had been made
OF him that he was tempted to refuse
to enter the opera house. Khan, con-
s~Ideration II the enthusiastic audi |
ence booked for the hous- only de- |
terre'i him from refusal,
However, when he went upon the
stage, he had fully determined to
speak no more under the contract h.
had made. He so announced himself
to his managers. Roach AND Com
stock, next day.
1t had come to Mr.. Bryan's ears
previous to his entry into Atlanta that
Roache and Comstock had uuarreled
in an ugly manner over the no,oIiery
hat each was TO get out of his %afilia-
ton with him. This he was willing
to pass over, as it had not then be- |
come public, but the vulgar display of
posters and the wording Of the adj yer
tisrments offended him to the soul.
Here is a copy Of the original tele-
gram sent to Mr.. Bryan by V. E. Nc
Bee. who was the financial hacker ,f
the lecture tour and with whom he
was Induced to inter into the contract:
"Co~hRratulate you on ynnr magni-
nnent ~endeavOr. Will you entertain
Unconstitutional business proposition
Tor fifty lectures for $50, OOO?"
MI. Bryan answer 10y telegram in
the affirmative. Mr.. MrBee was about
TO close Il contract on this basis with
Mr.. Bryan when he was told that
There was not enough houses -outh of
Washington biz enough IL hold the
people who wouli wal to attend. He
tn n arr tnged with Mr.. B:Nan TO nav
AIM $4,000 cash in advance r ten
lectures. and IL plan foi tur future on
a basis satisfactory ~ 10th. This
was agreed to afer M b T. had sent
Mr. Bryan his ~l-tt-r:
Atlanta, Ga. Nov. g., 1896.
PtiSoral.l
Hon. William J. Bryan, Lincoln. Me-.
biaska:
Referring 20 The telrgi pale CORE
spond-nc- in regard t V NJ Ie.turing
Ihls is quite a departure froin nv
REGULAR V'cati"n, b"t, uein4 both per-
son"lly and po!itIcaIly Interested in
your ina ,nifi 'ent camptign, I am
plompt"t! 10 maxi tai If =.
You select territory AVID sut iAct fer
fifty lectures. Witt d-livr5 yea certi-
fl d check FIR $40, 900 II %-i-uiuc con-
tract. Ibis 10 be r.fwr tor last
ten lectures, o'htr Ie' : paid for on
delivery, which snaii e guaranteed.
En'lie details Of t.ur arranged to
your satisfaction, not more than three
lectures a week expected. Urgent that
tour should begin within fortnight.
Vie me here at Kimball House as to
particulars, and il further entertained
will e n my attorney and represen-
tative to Lincoln to close matters AT
once V. F. McRpE
Mr.. Bryan had the close advice of
friends before he shut off his O af-
rer the lecture in Atlanta, and they
agreed with him that he would he
wise TO discountenance any such out
rageous sensationaIism. Mr.. Brvau
promptly gave Mr.. McBee a certified
check for the SO, coo he had received.
He was paid $1,000 for his nights
work and his railroad expenses.
Far from being compelled to quit on
account OF encouragement in repect
to audiences, Mr.. BRYAN had every