The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1904-07-15

IL il is proved TO be unsatisfactory
TO the majority. / request YOU 10
decline the nomination for me at once.
50 that another may he nominated be
fore adjournment
ALTON b. PARKER.
The telegram was then discussed at
length. John Sharp Williams, of Mis-
sIssippi. was the first speaker. He
was followed by Senator Ben Tillman.
While he was speaking, William Jen-
nings Bryan. pale with illness and
with lips compressed. entered the
hall and went to his seat in the
Nebraska delegation. Instantly a
great cheer went mp and there were
loud calls for Bryan. Bryan" Ii
broke into an uproar and Take the
platform" came from all parts Of the
hall. Mr.. Bryan made his way to the
stage. He spoke on the Parker tele-
gram, and was loudly cheeIed when he
said that il was "a manly thing in
Judge Parker to express his opinions
before the convention adjourned, but it
would have been a manlier thing if he
had spoken before the convention met.
Senator Daniel, of Virginia. Gen. j.
b. Weaver. and others spoke. After
good deal of discussion, lasting until
past midnight, the following message to
Judge Parker, PRESENTED by John Sharp
Williams of Mississippi, was adopted
by the convention:
THE platform adopted by this con-
vention is silent ON the question of
monetary standard because it is not
regarded by us as a possible issue IN
this campaign. and only campaign
issues were mentioned in the plat
form. Therefore there is nothing in
the views expressed by you in the tele-
gram just received which would pre-
clude man entertaining them from
accepting a nomination on said plat
form. (Applause.
The convention then went into tn g
nomination of Vice President, and
ex-senator Davis of West Virginia,
was nominated on first ballot, the
nomination being made unanimous
before the result was announced. The
convention adjourned sine die at | 80
o clock Sunday morning, to the sing
ing, of "Old Lang Syne, led by
the band.
Bryan the Gre IT Figure.
Thus ended one of the most notable
political conventions ever held in
America. 1t was notable in many re-
spects, filled with many dramatic Incl
dents that will never be forgotten by
those who witnessed them. Men who
had attended political conventions for
a quarter of century-veterans who
never miss battle-said that they
had never seen any thing like IL be-
fore Climax upon climax came at
every session, eliminating Friday
night in that memorable, never -to-be
forgotten all-night session. And now
that it is all over. in looking back
over it, there rises before the view OF
all who were there one grand. tower
ing figure which stood out in bold re-
lief like Saul of Tarsus head and
shoulders above all his fellows.
and dwarfed into insignifcance almost
men who in the convention held thrice
times the power he himself had; but
in the splendor of his matchless
genius, his lofty patriotism, his pure
and undefiled Democracy, which had
been put to tho most crucial tests; in
his magnetic personality and his illus
trious craftsmanship and his wonderful
oratory-unsurpassed in the history
of public speaking like giant
among pigmies, that great man from
Nebraska-William Jennings Bryan.
At every session of the convention
he was the one commanding figure
in it. When he entered the hall
it was to his seat in the Me-
braska delegation that every eye was
turned. At first, the fear that he
would bolt created GOODNESS toward
Bryan that kept him from getting
the demonstrations that came to him
in the closing sessions one upon
another. But from the day, on Thurs,
day, that his voice was first raised in |
the convention on the Illinois contest,
when he announced in silver tones
that he was there for harmony. and
that he hoped that platform and can
didate would be selected upon which
all could unite, and Indicated that he
was going to stay in the party,
from that moment he was the
idol of the convention. Not, in
deed, of the delegates. and many OF the
leaders, for they We're overwhelmingly
against him; but the thousands VINO
were jammed in the galleries and
packed in the balconies applauded him |
at every opportunity and hung upon
his words with an eegerness unknown
to any other speaker in the convention.
IL WAS Oh OHtuTudy mOInluS az loui
0 clock, in tie closing hours of that |
never to- be-forgotten all night session. |
that he made his final and greatest
effort. All night long he had sat in his
seat while the nominating and second
ing speeches for president were being |
made, and through the wild demon
STATIONS that followed them. I'M
moved The great building was pack
ed with people, and hardly a seat was
vacated through the long night. Final
ly, the state of Nebraska was called on
the roll. The chairman of the Ne
hraska delegation arose in his seat,
but instantly an uproar came from all
parts of the hall for Bryan. Bryan.
Every eye was turned to the Nebraska
standard, under which the great leader
sat. What will Nebraska do? was the
question that flashed through the minds
of the thousands present. The Chairman
OF the Nebraska delegation was forced
to sit down. Then Mr.. Bryan arose.
One could hear a pin drop, so intense
l. =. Ill