The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-06-25
lContlnued from page -

floor which, was Joined In only In par,
by the galleries.
Bryan was very pale and his face
was set and rigid. He shook his head
In a deprecating manner and raised
his hand in an attempt to still the
audience but they were not to ba de.
MED. The cheers swelled across from
delegation to delegation and at last
the galleries took It up.
The delegations from Ohio, Wiscon.
sin, Minnesota, Texas, New Jersey,
Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma we're
on their feet but the big New York,
Indiana, and Illinois delegates sat
stolidly in their seats. q
Bryan appealed to Mack to restore
quiet and finally he was able to begin.
6ryan's First Speech.
Gentlemen of the convention,' he
said, Il rise to place In nomination
for the office Of temporary chairman,
the name of Hon. John w. Kern Of
Indiana
The mention Of Kern started the
applause again, the same state dele
cations leading, Indiana remaining
silent. In thus dissenting from the
Judgment of our committee" Bryan
continued, Il recognize that the bur
den OF proof Is upon me to overthrow
the assumption that the convention
can claim that 1t is representing the
wishes OF the party in the nation. i
remind you that the very fact that
this convention has the right to reject
Is conclusive proof that the wisdom OF
this convention is the last word on
this matter.
II any ask for my credentials or
why as a delegate from one OF the
smallest states should presume to pre-
sent a name, beg to tell you that in
three campaigns / have been the
champion of the democratic party's
principles and in these campaigns /
have received the votes of six million
and half of democrats. This, feel,
shows that | have the confidence OF
the democrats of this nation. Confi-
dence carries with 1t responsibilities.
would not be worthy of the trust of
the democrats OF this nation il were
not willing to risk humiliation in their
defense.
A man cannot Carry on political
warfare in defense Of the people for
sixteen years without making enc
mics. / recognize that these enemies
have attacked me. The fact that 1.
have lived is proof that have not de-
serted the people.
81 take for my text quotation:
He never sold the truth to serve
the hour
That Is the language of the sage
OF Monticello. | would not be worthy
OF the support have received, If /
were unwilling to do less.
Sixteen Year Battle.
I'VE are told it is disturbing har-
mony to dissent from the committees
ruling. Is there any other delegate
who tried earlier than to secure ,har-
mony? | began several weeks ago. II
announced to subcommittee that |
was not candidate for temporary
chairman. / could not serve without
immodesty. asked that at the end OF
16 years of battle, when | find the
things j fought for, triumphant, not
only in my own party but In the rel
n, Ia f-fty hof ho tn1 Ia
preside here. But refused. l ad-
vised the committee to consult the
two leading candidates. ! asked this
committee to get the two leading can
didates to agree in temporary chair
man. | asked them to allow two
thirds Of the convention word in Its
voice. In the subcommittee the Clark
and Wilson forces could not agree. In
the full committee last night the Will
son men supported Mr.. James, the
Clark choice, but yet the choice of the
Clark men was not chosen.
When admit that the plan / fol-
lowed was for harmony while the com
mittees plan was not for harmony, lett
me present the qualifications offered
for this occasion. This is an epoch
making campaign. We have had such
a struggle as was never seen in poll
tics before. know the sacrifice that
has been required; know of the men
who we're working on the railroads who
have notified the railroads, and risked /
their bread and butter to aid the fight
for the people. Men in business have
been threatened If they did not sell
their citizenship, but have seen them
defying the democrats of predatory
wealth.
I have seen men give up every
thing to aid In this fight for the peo-ll
pie. Now that the hour of triumph
has come feel that the song of vic
tory should be sung by one, whose
heart has been in the fight.
John w. Kern has been faithful
everyA day of that is years. 1t has
cost him time and money and the
wear of his body and mind and he has
given cheerfully.
!