The San Francisco call., 1904-07-08

vestigate the merits and by so doing said that
/ In some districts there was evidence to show
that questionable methods prevailed.
And now this committee listens two hours
and does not give a chance for a single bit
OF evidencs but only argument, and then tells
you there was no fraud and that you ought
F., to seat these contestees. The gentleman says
! that he unanimously reelected five hours
after he began his gavel rule Yes, my
friends everything done in that convention
was unanimous. II you don't believe 1t read
the sworn Testimony of the highwaynan who
says that he is not man who bolts who
waits until after the convention to decide that
Re. the man with a eavel rule. tries to force
upon the loyal Democrats OF his State two
men who supported Palmer and Buekner in
1896
Bryan closed with the declaration
that while he was willing these men
should return TO the Democratic party
he did not want the loyal Democrats
forced to walk beneath their soiled
| banner"
Bryan spoke in his most earnest
| manner. He concluded with an ex-
preston of Willingness for unity, add
| ing:
But God forbid that it should be
under a soiled banner
APPLAUSE NOT PROLONGED.
sHappy outburst of applause fol-
lowed, but was not prolonged. and the
whole body, delegates and spectators,
showed plainly the WEAKNESS born of
the intense heat and long session.
Chairman Head of the credentials
committee, who followed accused Bry-
an of contributing little to the har-
mony he was advocating. Mr.. Head
admitted that there were things done
in Illinois which should not have been
done, but the committee mad weighed
the facts and it's decision was fair and
unprejudiced. Before he concluded con-
versatiGn had been renewed throughout
the hall-the convention was growing
restless.
There were loud cries of Question"
and Vote" as Mr.. Head retired.
1.-THE question" said the chairman
is on the substitution of the minority
for the majority report
The noes were in a heavy ma jority
and before the chairman announced
the result of the vote Bryan, who was
on the platform, demanded a roll call.
The demand was promptly seconded,
and the clerk proceeded with he call.
1t was the first test of strength in
the convention and was listened to
with interest.
The Hearst faction cheered every
vote in favor of the substitute and
were supported by those parts of the
gallery which had so frequently in
terrupted the anti-Hearst speakers.
BREAK IN PARKER STRENGTH.
A break in the Parker strength came
when Kentucky voted solidly for the
substitute.
BY the time Minnesota was reached
the vote stood 115 for the substitute
and 247 against.
The vote was followed with intense
! interest by the delegates Mr.. BRYAN
who remained on the platform while
the roll was called, gave the responses
mis- undivided attention, but his face
betrayed no sign of feeling.
Illinois requested to be passed when
its name was called.
A Michigan delegate questioned the
announcement of that State and a poll
of the delegation was taken. but the
result was not altered.
| Missouri's vote for the substitute was
wildly cheered, but this was a whisper
! to the roar that went up when New
! York voted solidly against the substi-
tute. This vote adopted the report of
! the committee and defeated the substi-
tute.
Pennsylvania voted as New York had
Voted and j. P. Garman of that State
demanded poll, saying that four dele
gates had not been asked for their
J Totes. The poll was taken, the result
being IL for the substitute and 81
against.
John s. Killing of Pennsylvania arose
in his seat and announced that under
J the unit rule the vote of the State
should be cast according to the major
ity vote and the chairman sustained
him, thus throwing the States full vote
against the minority report.
The result showed CAT against the
adoption OF the minority report and 2s9
for it.
The question then recurred on the
| adoption of the majority report. BY q
viva voce vote, there being no votes
| against it, it was adopted amid such
confusion that the proceedings were
hardly ineligible.