The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-07-12
BRYAN'S FIGURE
ALMOST SUPERB
Compelled Admiration in
Last Convention Speech.
HIS POLITICAL DEATHBED
Illness Raging Within Him Could Not
Conquer His Spirit-Exhausted
When He Finished.
HIS POLITICAL DEATHBED

mere was TOO much OF IL TO be Snuffed
out the day after the last fan Of the
gavel There were incidents, dramatic
scenes, thrilling moments Of that last
session which ended OF Sunday morn
Ing that have not found their way into
print. writes the correspondent of the
Philadelphia Times"
Men were too eager for the skeleton
Of the news 10 find time 10 clothe it.
The history that was made YVES so vital
that one had little time 10 talk of the
anecdote and side scenes that accom-
panied it.
II was Sunday morning when mems
passions We're at their height in ora
tory. invective argument, and personal
vindication.
There are more tales today of those
early morning hours than yesterday. be-
cause on yesterday the city slept from
sheer fatigue: today men and women.
who suspended judgment while they
were swayed by appeals, are telling the
other side Of those events.
All the talk is of Bryan, his political
death, and his tremendous influence
ever the people.
Many were there who did not love him.
some who hated him: others who looked
upon him as a Democratic freak. a
peStlenual power TO disrupt party 9th
ers We're there who would have followed
poleon; ldolzing. worshipful, dominated.
Storm Center Of Convention.
Whether right or wrong, whether
freak or power, Bryan after all in those
early morning hours was the supreme
pesonality Of that convention
The world knows that he was defeated
in what he desired: that he stood for
silver when others stood for gold; that
ne antagonized enough delegates TO have
them vote against his proposals.
But what Of the man? Right or wrong
In his principles. what of his personal
ity? What quality was It that made him
dominate thousands, even when he was
politically dying and physically III?
That was "A remarkable scene in ths
early hours of Sunday morning. The
audience was small, because the world
at large did NOT know the dramatic tur-
MOL into which Judge Parker's telegram
would throw a harmonious party that
had collapsed into Hfelessness through
blood vessel bursting intensity.
Mr.. Bryan had been i'll all day The
famous telegram had been read 10 the
convention at 8 O'Clock at night TO empty
benches 10 a hdlr-dlled floor. The rumor
went tolt Colds greatest opponent was
desperately H. threatened with pnou-
tncn-a. and that fate had disposed OF
him and his energetic opposition at a
vital moment.
The delegates were glad. for they
wanted more sleep and less trouble. The
pe92ie were sorry, Tor caring little for
gold or silver as theory they wanted
the disorder. the discord, the storm that
Bryan always created
Bryan's Dramatic Entrance.
At half after 10 O'Clock. when that pic
turesQue. coarse, and utterly uncontrOII-
ed Senator from South Carolina was de-
manding his way and asking who there
was today that would stand for free
silver, there was a sharp. wild scream
from the rear of the hail, voiced in the
word Bryan" Then followed the APP
pearance Of the dramatic leader at the
psychologist moment He staggered 10
the platform, while his followers tore
the dun, hot air 10 fra gInents with theit
braves fo- him.
II was the shouts of the others which
had brought him 20 the Coliseum H.
was ill IN bed. His fever racing. his
lungs sore. his body exhausted. Again
ana again through his window at the
hotel he could hear the acuuiescence 81
the people 10 the telegram 70 be sent
10 Judge Parker.
He stepped forward TO speak under a
hush that was half praise. hale fIrv
Men realized he was the political petrol
and they waited for the crash OF the
storm.
His Voice Was Gone.
He was n very IN man. His Jaws
clinched with pain. has body trembIed /
from weakness. The first sentence caus-
ed gasp. His voice had gone. u was 7
little more than a whisper. Il was as
thick as molasses and couldn't be beard I
beyond the first three rows of seats.
Bryan without his voice IS Hamlet I
without Hamlet"
II was Mr. McAdams who described Il /.
as yellow as rich cream, far-reaching as /
"a rainbow. round as billiard oau. firm
as a Hons tread.
lie could not raise it now beyond that /
heavy, husky pitch for rvc minutes |
Then slowly The volume came back to /
him. II rose over the delegates. round /
ed out later 10 the galleries, then lifted |
70 The balconies. How he did il is |
vocal wonder
As he got more indignant. as he out /
lined The inner working OF his commit /
tee. as me told his own efforts. his face |
began 20 blaze in way that frightened /
one. 1t was the madness Of fever.
The face was white as linen, the mouth /
drawn back. the eyes blazing in a queer /
furious way ont OF their deathly set /
tn8. Ills fever was lgl and rising
Nhen ne sat down Mr.. Walsh ard mr..
DeFord put their arms about him. for I
II looked as though his collapse lad |
come Ills mead against the back OF his /
chair two men flaming him. and a t-Ie- /
graph boy giving him ice water 10 were |
wise y argue that this man had spoken /
his all aad lost
Spoke Furiously But Well.
Again auG again. however. he verify
pitched forward and spoke Spoke ruri- !
ously but well Looking AT him from a |
sentimental viewpoint he became the |
most dramatic point Of that crisis.
So desperately weak that you could |
see the dropping movement Of the shout |
cers every now and then as though he /
would fan 20 pieces: his lungs giving |
him so little air that here and there MS |
voice would snap like q broken harp.
the heat % the humid night pressing
upon and cHveloping him. he COM
manded and demanded applause.
re was dying politically. and De EGew
fl. and he was dying spleudidly
Ills jaws were not clenched from def
ance, but from sheer physical agony
And yet Ia that moment Of pain ana &C.
ver-burned brain he was sighting hard in !
the center Of ring that Was Closing ir |
on hin like the deadly Indian wall lie
"a l. HFfr Inf lao 81