The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-07-09
,JOYLESS THOMAS
QUIETLY LAYS
HIS SPEECH AWAY.
Long Awaited Privilege Of
Seconding Nomination Of
Nebraskall lis Denied
to Playwright.

DENVER, July 7.--lAugustu JUS Thomas,
playwright and orator. lius suffered a
blow under which a stronger man
Notwithstanding. ieis mott enjoy the
privilege OF either putting Alr. Bryan
in nomination or OF seconding lis nonii-
nation. Bryan has 50 willed. and what
Bryan says goes with mr.. Thomas, for
he Is one Of the worshipcrs Of the peer
LEES one.
Mr.. Thomas Is one of Bryan's closest
friends. a year ago ,I'itomas let 1t be
known to Mr.. Bryan that lie would
rather have the honor OF putting the
Ncbraskaii, in nolnination'f ot.the prcsi-
dency thai lie would have future gem,
erltions recognize linn as tho greatest
OF American playwrghts.. Slr, Thomas
would undoubtedly. do himself and his
friends proud In nominating Mr.. Bryan,
for he is a Zine public speaker. So Mr..
Bryan told Mr.. Thomas that his great
ambition should BIO gratified.
h The First blow.
Thomas for many months past has
been preparing for that speech. Not
being a chosen delegate to the con-
Ventlon.s he had to arrange that matter,
and did so by getting Arkansas to give
him a proxy.
Mr.. F'rohrnan wanted Thomas to go
to London and supervise the putting
on OF "Thc Witching Hour" 1t meant
a great monetary sacrifice to Thomas
TO decline to do so, but even the sue
cess of the foreign production of his
latest play was something he had to.
Ignore III the face OF the great oppor-
.tunity that had been given him to
place Bryan in nomination.
Mr.. Thomas came out here fairly
radiant with happiness, wearing n
rakisl soft hat. and was pointed out
by everybody as the man who was to
make the Bryan nominating speech.
He took his honors modestly, and even
when his name was added to the list
of ffty-seven varieties OF vce-pres
dental candidates suggested MS agree
able to Bryan as running mates. he
showed no SIGNS of undue pride.
Then came messare from Lincoln. Eeh.
honor IF having one or hnr own o-a.o-.
,'ace Mr. BRYAN in nomination. Would Mr.,
Thomas give wav' Would he be satisfied
With a snferd'd self-sacrffce Mr.. Thomas
consented to make the secondrv instead OF
N" nn,rlratinr sn.ech; He cor'c'ed him
about as. long as the other any WAY and
that nerhaos he could do so much bettar
man Stavor Dunno. OF Oma l1a. who had
been chosen to renIace him. that Bryan
would be CORY he Rad m ado the change.
The End Of 1t All.
But fate is tickle Jade. and politics a
as deuces In pnochle deck. Yesterday
word came from Lincoln to Mr. Thomas
again; North Carolina. a State in which
trouble IS threatened for Mr.. Bryan and
his ambition. was demanding that Governor
Glenn should have the privilege of seconding
the nomination OF Mr. Bryan.
Political expediency demanded that North
Cardinals wish should be gratihed. Would
Mr. Thomas kindly yield once more?
What could the poor boy do? He has
yielded again. His indorseme of Bryan
Will not be heard in the convention hall.
His great ambition is not to be realized.
He saws his first and foremost duty Is to
serve Bryan. and that II he can serve him
better by remaining silent than by making
speech in the convention he will do so.
Arkansas. which State was to be brought
into some prominence by having Mr.. Thomas
temporarily represent it while making the
Bryan nominating speech. Is quite peevish
about 1t all.