The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-07-08
BRYAN BEATEN.
His Minority Report on the
Illinois Contest
Turned Down by a Vote of 647
to 299.
APPLAUSE is LIBERAL.
But tho Working of the Unit
Rule Too Much for Him.
Further Details of the Greatest
Demonstration on Record.

was w. J. Bryan's effort to overthrow
the report of the credentials commit
tee and seat contesting delegates from
| Illinois. The controversy was ended
by the rejection of the minority re-
port of the committee by a vote of
SAT nays to 299 ayes. Though Mr..
Bryan's speech and his appearance on
the floor of the convention was
cheered far beyond any previous dem
onstration, it made few votes. The
alignment of delegates proved the
| correctness of previous estimates of
| the division between those who favor
| the radicals and those who are sup
porting the conservative element
which is now in control.
When the result of the contest was
| announced the report of the commit
tee on permanent organization was
made. Representative Champ Clark,
who was chosen permanent chair
man, addressed the convention. He
prepared and furnished to the press
| speech of great length. The hour was
so late when he gained the platform.
| however, that he spoke about 800
words and left his audience to read
| the remainder.
| The ovation given to Mr.. Bryan was
| one of the greatest ever witnessed at
any of the notable events for which
the immense Coliseum is famed. 1t
was begun before the afternoon ses-
sion of the convention had been called
to order and lasted for 81 minutes,
with so much Juror that Temporary
Chairman Williams and all of his as
sistants, including a hundred police
men, were unable to restore order.
Quiet came only after the Parker
forces joined in and by persistent
efforts turned the tide by a great
counter demonstration for the New
Yorker, SO that the favorite candidate
for the nomination for president final
ly reaped the harvest of enthusiasm.
a In 10Y ctcffa N1xr( Of
lied body such is formed by the
spectators and alternates making up
great political convention was aptly
illustrated in the gathering. Thou
sands of Threats cheered Bryan as
Justify as they did when he was
chosen eight years ago as the Demo-
GRAZ candidate for president. The
great tumult to the unfnitiated would
have been proof positive that the Ne
braskan, more than ever, was the
hero of his party. And yet. when the
banner bearing the inscription
taken to the platform and held aloft
where all could see. the applause was
directed that way. Without pausing
in their enthusiasm the great throng
of men and women shouting the name
of Bryan switched to Parker as if
their only ambition was to cheer and
make great noise.
When Mr.. Bryan entered the conVen-
ton hall at about the hour the conven-
ton was to be called to order the first
sound of applause in the vicinity of the
Nebraska delegation drew every gaze
in that direction, as if to make up for
the tardy welcome extended to Mr..
Bryan on the previous day. A great
number opened the cheering simultane-
ously from the center of the galleries.
That there should be no misunderstand-
ing in regard to who was the object of
the ovation the Nebraskan delegates
wrenched from the floor the standard
marking their location in the hall and
Nr-sa xya1 fIao h0T, ~ 81, L,
ers. That was a signal for Mr.. Bry-
ans following to congregate about their
leader. Adopting the Nebraska dele |
cations example, other anti-Parker |
rallied about Mr.. Bryan.
For a short time some degree of objec- |
ton was maintained among the majority
of delegates but the sight of the great |
human wall forming the galleries, |
shouting themselves hoarse throwing |
and waving hats, umbrellas and coats |
and many persons on the elevated plat |
form yelling and mOtionfng encourage
ment, proved too much for the more |
orderly delegates to Withstand They |
Joined with the demonstrative ones I'M
til the thunderouS applause was con- |
verted into a deafening roar.
AS the applause opened temporary |
Chairman Williams, who was ready 10
call the convention to order started in
to subdue it with his gavel. Soon that
was drowned out completely. Seeing
that he was getting no aid from his |
fellow convention officials Mr.. Williams
contented himself with a desultory
pounding with his heavy malIet, which |
could be seen, but not heard. The con-
fusion in the hall was unprecedented.
Strong lunged admirers of the Ne
braskan openly left the seats in the
spectators reservation and massed
about the Nebraska delegation. The
noise of the demonstration increased |
even after it seemed the limit of endur
ance must have been reached. All other
nf w ri
in comparison.
After the applause had continued un-
broken for more than Is minutes Tenn
porary Chairman Williams again tried
to get the attention of the delegates
and motioned the band to play. Again
and again he Signaled the musicians,
were pouring out all the
of which they were capable.
Not a note could be heard on the
speakers platform unless it was listen
ed for intently. Then it was that the
forces turned to the aid
of the chair. They started the applause
for Parker. His name on purple BAN
ner proved almost as magnetic as Bry-
an in the flesh. From one idol to an
other the gathering turned.
The Georgia delegation, carrying the
Parker banner, marched to the plat
form and the cheering was increased if
general, coming from delegates, from
the galleries and other parts of the
coliseum. While the delegations partic-
fpating were different in some instances
from those which led the Bryan re-
ception. the galleries did not discrimin-
ate. Every new movement was the sig
nal for renewed efforts. The South Car
DINA standard was held beside the
Georgia banner. In as much as the
South Carolina delegation was original
ly anti-Parker the movement was sig
Other delegations followed
suit and soon the standards of Arkan-
sas, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Alabama
and others which could be removed
from the floor were uplifted over the