Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-07-02

better than anyone else!" arose in the |
Missouri delegation.
Attempts to strike the Nebraskan
We're frequent and it was only through
the most strenuous work that the po-
| lice were able to escort him unharmed
to the speakers rostrum.
The great gathering was thrown into
turmoil. For several minutes 1t looked
as if the presiding officer would be
forced to clear the galleries and also
discipline many of the delegates.
Chairman James ordered the police
to arrest any nah who refused to take
his seat or might later be found to
be responsible for the bringing into the
| hall of banners intended for stamped
ing purposes.
! BANNER CAUSES THE WAR.
The 33d ballot had been completed
and the delegates were waiting the re.
suit of the voting when from the sec.
ton of the hall near the Missouri
delegation six men appeared with q
streamer. which was raised above the
Missourians. 1t read as follows:
81 have known Champ Clark for 1S
years He is absolutely uncorrptible
and his life is above reproach. Never
in all these years have | known him
to be on but one side Of the question.
and that was the side that represented
the people.
"W. J. BRYAN in 1910"
The appearance of the banner was
the signal for an antiBryan demon
stration. Delegates arose in the chairs
and cheered. A quartet of strong
luneed Missourians began chanting
He has tried to kill off Clark" and
this was taken up in other sections
.of the hall.
Not content with the storm they had
engendered, the Missourians determin-
: ed to carry the war into the Nebras-
kan's own camp.
So they marched down the aisle to
the Nebraska delegation, where they
planted the banner within two feet of
Mr.. Bryan.
BRYAN'S WORD STARTS FIGHT
Until this time Mr.. Bryan had paid
no attention to the cOmmotion. Whep
he realized that the Missourians were
not attempting to spare his feelings,
he demanded that the men who held
the banner take it away. They re-
fused.
Then there was rush.
Twenty Bryan men bore down on the
, offending piece of painted linen and
attempted TO tear it off the supporting
staffs, but they reckoned without the
Missouri delegates. Plenty of them
were on hand to protect it.
Around Mr. Bryan the human mass
began to sway. Instantly dozen alter.
cations were in progress and blows be
ing struck on all sides.
Throughout it all the Missourians
had kept the banner bearing the Bryan
quotation off the floor, but a concerted
rush of the Nebraska delegation sent
. ii under foot. There was a wild scram
u BILE. When the smoke OF battle had
cleared away Mr.. Bryan had reached
the Missouri delegation and was de
manding Of Senator Stone, chairman
of the delegation, whether the gratui
tious insult just offered has the sane
ton OF Mr.. CIark's managers.
- MENACED IN NEW RIOT.
d Then another riot ensued From al
Il sides came an onslaught of anti Bryan
men, who sought to shove the police
aside and take summary punishment
/ on the hitherto inyiolate person Of tho
o three-times candidate for president
u Mr.. Bryan's face was white. the suddeI
change accentuated by the strikinl
blackness OF his fringe of hair. III
a. tried TO get back to his own seat, bu
s the struggling, hOOting mob refused Il
o permit him 10 do so.
n 4 call was sent for reserves and al
Il, extra detail OF police forced d va,
- through the crowd
=. Mr. Bryan was lifted bodily by tn
police and carried toward the plat
,, form. When safe from the battlin
70 delegates he slowly ascended the stair
- leading 10 the rostrum. stopping a
In each step to recover his breath.
Again the offending banner appeare
on the scene. II was accorded "a trt
mcadous ovation" Its bearers climbe
on the press stand, but were prcmptl
:. thrown on b. newspaper men who's
= copy" they trampled on. This was
:. signal for Z resumption Of the rIotou
- scenes Of few minutes before.
- Finally fue aiz.es were cleared b
- Continued On PAGE EiEhL)