The Washington times., 1904-07-09
BRYAN SPEAKS
HIS VALEDICTORY
Almost Exhausted, Nebras-
kan SWaYed Convention.
DID NOT WISH FOR BALLOT
80 Worn Out That He Fell Asleep
IN the Middle of an
Interview.

81. LOUIS. July 9.-As with hollow.
out blazing eyes, surrounded by great
Diack circles, his voice so husky that il
seemed 70 tear the very flesh Of his
throat and his body dropping with OK
aaustion. Bryan made his last stand in
the convention hall last night: he .nded
the greatest battle Of his life
ihe dawn shOne n upon the slckly
lights Of the convention hall where
thousands of people weary to the verge
OF collapse sat and listened to the proud
Justification of the beaten leader:
Il return to you the standard that
you gave me to bear" he Numbered.
I may have failed in wisdom and
may have lost the fight. but / defy any
man TO say that l have been faIse TO
my trust or untrue to the faith of
Democracy"
For fifty hours Bryan had slept less
than half an hour. He had led the
fight against Parker men in the commit
tee on credentials and-defcatad there
had carried it to the floor Of the con-
vention. Beaten again, he hurried to
conference Of his friends ana then for
seventeen hours ne led the attack in
the resolutions committee. Here he was
more successful and forced the adop-
ton Of a platform upon which he said
any Democrat could stand.
A Series of Battles.
The resolutions committee met at
O'Clock Thursday night, and the Ne
braskan never left the committee room
until o'clock the next day. Then fol-
lowed conferences at which the final
plans of the anti-Parker forces were
made. and finally came the convention
itself. where Bryan directed the opera
lions from g o'clock last evening until
$40 o'clock this morning. when he left
the hal. with his brother In five min
utes Parker was declared the nominee.
A grea; demonstration followed Bryan's
speech.
As soon as order was restored and the
call OF Territories completed the first
ballot was ordered. II resulted as fol-
lows: Parker, COS; Hearst, 200; Cockren, /
Y; Olney, 81; Wall, 2; Gray. z: Patti
son. 3; German, 3; Mcclellan, 8; Miles.
3. Towne. .: COler. /.
Nebraska revealed the plan Of the anti
Parker people when she announced her |
ballot as follows: Cockrell. {; Pattisou.
8; Hearst. Z; Olney 1 Gray. /: Wall. /. /
and Miles. I. The State thus made good |
b. ans statement that ii was ready to i
stand behind any Of the candidates ex- 1
-ept Parker.
Parker lacked nine votes of the 667 4
needed % nominate.
Before the vote was announced Idaho 4
changed six votes 10 Parker and two /
Nevada delegates changed. Parker now /
3cked one vote and West Virginia gave ]
him thirteen.
Upon motion Of Governor Dockery. of 4
the nomination was made \
unanimous with whooD.
a Parker demonstration was started
Jut everyone was worn out. and a /
motion 10 adjourn was put and carried. /
On Verge of Collapse.
Bryan was not on the floor of the
when the first and decisive /.
ballot was completed. He had gone 1
% The Nebraska delegation after his last
stand in the fight on Parker. Bryan
was then totally exhausted and rested
ais head over on the shoulder Of ex-
attorney General Smythe, of Nebraska,
while his brother Charles Bryan. fan
icd him vigorously. The great leader
seemed ON the verge of collapse
The Hawaii delegation was casting its
vote almost AT the bottom Of the list.
when the Nebraskau passed out an exit
II the convention hall almost unnOticed. /
As he fairly fell upon his bed Bryan. /
With his eyes closed, made this state
nent.
AS the end Of the roll call was APP
lrOached. ] saw that Parker was near
.nough TO Il nomination to win on the
irst ballot. Then ! left the hall TO get
much needed rest. ! have not slept any
n fifty hours.
BRYAN said no more. il seemed he had
allen asleep while giving the state
nent.