New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-11-05
BRYAN OWES TT TO CLAQUE

significance, would only have been entitled to
five.
The speech which Bryan delivered that
occasion. and which Is popularity supposed to
have the nomination for him, was says MT
Scott, his set free silver speech which he had
delivered many times as a hired stump speaker
The frecracker on the end of It, about the crown
and cross, however. Mr.. Scott says. he had
never heard before. This time the members or
the clauue fairly howled themselves hoarse, an
exercise in which they were ably assisted by
the spectators and such of the delegates as were
more impressed with flashy claptrap IMAM sane
argument. Bryan's supporters were largeiV aug
mented by this speech. Mr.. Scott aonlts
JOYOUS were the congratulations ana mutuai
admiration at Bryan's headquarters that night
II was felt that the prospects of final success
warranted all the energy that could De mus
tered An effort was made TO nave bryah
nominated for President at the very start OF the
next days convention. Bryan had by TINS time
won so many friends among the delegates thaI
this seemed possible
The Alabama delegation was first urged to
nominate him, but refused Others were tried
in vain. and yet others. until &c" was reached.
and then Henry T. Lewis, of Georgia, agreed to
nominate Bryan Other delegations were dill
gently canvassed for seconders of Bryan's nomi-
nation. II the delegation could not be induced
ond the Bryan motion Considerable success
was had in this line, and this brought Bryan's
name before the convention frequently on nomi-
nation day. Each time the caque started
thunderous applause and kept it up as long
they thought the temper of the convention
would stand II. When the balloting began some
OF the Bryan votes were kept back, as Mr..
Scott advised, that each ballot would show
a steady increase in the Nebraskan's supporters.
HOW THE BALLOTING RAN.
Thus the first ballot was made to show 1877
votes for Bryan; the second, 1917: the third 219:
the fourth 241. BY this time only a few Bryan
votes remained in hand, so to speak, and it
began TO be whispered about among the dele
cations that Bryan had reached his limit, and
many who had voted for him were being urged
TO swing over to some other candidate in time
to get in on the winning side
Just as the fate of Bryan hung lowering over
the brink of failure, Mr.. Scott. moved as he
said yesterday, by impulse. snatched the ban
ner OF Oklahoma Territory and bore 1t along the
aisle The Oklahoma delegation followed him.
yelling loudly for Bryan. Others fell in line
and the contagion spreading with wonderful
rapidity procession was formed of Bryan dele
cations. They marched around the Nebraskan
crowd amid the widest commotion, and were
joined by some delegations not favorable to
Bryan, who merely fell in line to vent their ex-
element and did not fully understand the sig
nihcance of the movement.
This had great effect, however, Mr.. Scott
says, upon delegations who opposed Bryan and
watched the procession from their seats They
got the idea that Bryan was stronger than he
really was. and the Bryan claque did all they
could to heighten the illusion. The result was
that on the sixth ballot Bryan received 652 votes
and the nomination.
Mr.. Scott thinks the same result might have
been produced by the friends of Bland or Boies
or even Claude Matthews, other candidates for
the nomination. had similar methods been used.
He does not blame Bryan for causing the STAN
pede. neither does Mr.. Scott consider that he
himself did anything dishonora BILE in using such
well known political tactics; but he does not
believe in letting the Democratic party remain
In ignorance OF the real manner in which Bryan
sprang from obscurity into the leadership of
National party.