The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-07-06
THE FLAG STUCK.
0ldhan's Speech a Disappointment
Short Talks Approved.
IspeciaI 10 the STATE Journal.l

Especial to the State Journal
Kansas City, July 6.-The manage
ment of the Democratic convention
slipped a cog in the machinery which
was put up to drop from the rafters
huge flag at the moment Bryan's name
was mentioned at the close of the nomi-
mating speech.
When ''Pitchforlx'' Tillman read that
part of the national platform which de-
clares that Imperialism is the para
mount issue in this campaign, the
crowd, which had been waiting in more
or less disorder for the important mo-
ment of the nomination, could no longer
be restrained. The enthusiasm was
manifested by presiding officers, dele
gates and spectators. Every person in
the convention hall stood up and
cheered.
On the upper gallery boundaries and
on the supporting truSSes men had been
standing for hours holding bundles of
twenty-five flags. At this moment they
dropped the bundles. The excited crowd
seized and tore them open. In less than
five minutes these free flags, which
.by the way, with the ice water, were
the only things which were not bringing
famine prices in the town, were waving
in the hall. The great mass of 10000
people waving flags made the conven-
ton hall a sea of colors. The band
struck up MY Country, Ills of Thee
the assembled thousands joining. Never
before has the great and bounding west
heard such a volume of music. The
crowd outside took it up. The multi
tude in and out of the convention hall
fairly yelled the words and the effect
was wonderful. Following this the
usual march around the hall by the
delegates carrying the state standards
gave way to a demonstration at the
platform.
One of the ropes holding the flag re-
fused to slip, and the center was not
released. After considerable delay the
full dimensions of the monster flag were
released and completely screened from
the delegates the presiding officer.
The officers were finally unveiled by
the returning of the flag to it's place
in the iron rafters, where 1t remained
until the nomination was completed by
the roll call of states and the announce
n1ent of the result.
Delegate Oldham of Nebraska norni-
mated Bryan. He worked very hard do
ing it. His voice approached a squeak
when he attempted to make it reach the
people sitting over fifty feet from the
speaker. The speech was not calculated
to arouse enthusiasm apparently.
1t was not what was expected. The
chairman and officers near. him talked
during Oldham's speech. The news
paper men and delegates talked, too;
the audience, the guests of the conven-
ton, as they were called, paid not the
slightest attention to Oldham until he
closed and named Bryan. Then pande-
mOnium again broke loose and con-
tinued for thirty-one minutes accord
ing to Rock Island time, furnished by
Conductor Holden. who runs a Rock
Island passenger train out of Topeka.
He was off for a trip to see the Demo-
Gratis. The day preceding he had charge
of the Roosevelt special through Kan
Sas.
The men who seconded the nonina-
ton of Bryan had hard trials. The con-
vention was eager to vote and demands
for the roll call were frequent and per-
sistent. The speakers could do nothing
but recite their pieces while the crowd
chafed.
Apropos of this topic here's an Incl
dent which illustrates the tendency of
the American people towards less ma
chinery in such proceedings. Men of
prominence were called upon for
speeches during the morning session
Thursday.
Edwards of Maryland told the crowd
he had finished. AS he was preparing
to take a fresh start some one yelled:
"Sit down." but Edwards rambled on
and spoiled an otherwise good impress
sion.
Then came the boy governor of Ken
lucky. He approached the ordeal mod
estly, but firmly. He made few
opening remarks, did not apologize for
falling to prepare speech. The gov
ernor talked not more than two min
utes, then in a burst of eloquence said:
1.-THE Democrats of Kentucky, this
year, hope to wipe from the fair name
of our state the awful disgrace which
has recently befallen u.s.
Mr.. Beckham made a true Kentucky
bow, then stepped back, bowed again,
and turned away plump into the arms
of a dozen men who were there to grasp
his hands.
But to the point of this story. In the
afternoon session Edwards of California
had a long speech which he was labor
ing with.
"Beckham's the only mans got any
sense; he made a short speech" bel
lowed a man in the iron work Of the
roof.
Everybody heard this, and the thun-
derouS applause to which the CaIifor-
MAN bowed and delayed his speech was
for the man in the gallery, who touched
the hearts of his coun trymen with an
outburst against long speeches