The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-07-09
BRYAN WAS BIG FIGURE.
Dominant Personality in Baltimore
COnYelti0n-From Defeat to
Victory
P. H. MCGOWAN in State.

the Baltimore convention has been
with it's quickly shifting lights and
shadows, one thing stands out more
prominently than anything else that
could be said concerning the big show
the potentiality and real bigness OF
William J. Bryan. Mr.. Bryan has been
the real feature Of the convention
since the vast assemblage Of Demo-
Gratis from every part of the country
got to Baltimore ten days ago; there
has not been a move which he did not
either plan or the full motives of
which he did not understand; there has
been neither move nor counter move
in which he did not play his part. Mr..
Bryan has been the big part Of it all.
True, there have been other inter-
esting and at times almost dramatic
incidents of the convention. In fact,
they have been too numerous to put
in print. There has been the strong
"Tammany" crowd of its 80 delegates
which has drawn the attention of ev-
cry man with eyes to see and ears to
hear. "Tammany's" fame had gone out
over all the country and every one
wanted to look at the tiger aggrega-
ton. They all wanted to see Murphy
the man who has crumpled 80 votes
in the hollow of his hand as an ordi-
nary man a peanut she'll, making Or
marring as his will dictated. Then the
other big New York men. too, O'Gor-
man, Gaynor, Fitzgerald and various
members of the Tammany lineup were
eagerly sought out wherever they
could be found.
Ryan There Too.
Added to the New Workers, scarce
ly less interest attached to the pres
ence of Thomas Fortune Ryan, the
Virginian who has kept not only his
colleagues but every one in the con-
vention on edge trying to find" him.
The very manner of Mr.. Ryans selec-
ton as a delegate to the convention
when he was simply named as "Mr.
Ryan" all the while his opponents
thinking they were choosing his son,
has lent added interest to his move
ments and actions in Baltimore.
''There goes Thomas F. Ryan," has
been the remark a thousand times in
and around the Hotel Rennent since
the Virginians reached Baltimore. Mr..
Ryan is man of mystery. He knows
his own plans and follows them with
out the help or advice of the public
1t has been remarkable thing how
Mr.. Bryan would rise from one defeat
to plan another coup; how he would
apparently with renewed strength, re-
sumo combat after what seemed to be
crushing defeat; how, in every in
stance, he showed himself the master
of the convention Parker's selection
as temporary chairman, over his pro-
test and fight on the floor, did not in
any way weaken his power, neither
was it weakened when the strong
Tammany-Clark crowd united to run
the steam roller over him. When the
Clark men, frantic lest they would be
swept to sea in the next succeeding
ballot, waved in Bryan's face a big
painted banner in which former eulo-
s;es of Clark by Bryan were portrayed
in large letters, the Nebraskan sat in
his seat until they had finished then
asked for the privilege Of stating his
position He was calm and deliberate,
through it all, perfect master of all his
forces and wonderful mental equip
ment
This much must be said when all is
over. The big end of the convention
is Bryan. Though many man would
have been crushed and defeated with
less than half of the opposition hurled
into him and doubtless would have
been glad to quit the scene, Bryan
came through it all and no man there
can say that he was not its dominat-
ing force and master hand whether
he be friend or foe.
Praises Bryan Very Highly.
Orangeburg Times and Democrat.