Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1912-07-10
BRYAN WON IN BATTLE
AGAINST MONEY KINGS
The Commoner Agnored Rebuffs and
Insults of Wall Street

Barked at by petty politicians and
traduced by party leaders, Bryan
has conquered in his battle for the
people.
Single handed and alone the Neh-
raskan arose in the Democratic
National Convention at Baltimore.
Single handed and alone he de6ed
Wall Street and defeated Tammany.
Pitted against him we're the money
kings of New York.
Belmont and Ryan. with their
henchmen, were joined by William
Randolph Hearst, with his press
syndicate. The names OF Murphy,
Taggart and Sullivan were a tails
man at the doors of the convention
ball and nightly the building wa+
packed with rowdies to participate in
counter Wilson demonstrations.
The ruling of the chair repressed at
all times demonstrations in the gal
leries, and the police were more
than once instructed to clear the sec
tions. But not all the gold of Wall
Street, nor all the gall of Tammany
suficed to stifle the voice Of Amer
lean Democracy, or to longer pro-
stitute the will OF the people.
The unanimous nomination OF
Woodrow Wilson was the result OF
the conflict. but the true issue was
far more important than the mere
naming OF candidate. The issue
represented the revolt Of a people
against longer submission to polit-
ical and plutOcratic tyranny.
Backed by the people, Bryan led
the successful revolt, but witho ut
Bryan as a leader the movement
would not have succeeded. Accus-
ed OF Interior designs and charged
with selfish ambition the Nebraskan
was bayed by a yelping political
pack which barked but dared not
bite. Like Colossus he lowered
amid the pigmies and defed Sullivan,
of Tammany, with his ninety wax
figures.
Insulted in public convention by
the entire Missouri delegation,
Bryan was denied the right OF the
floor by the chair when rising to a
question Of personal privilege. On
every side the odds were against
him. At times his cause seemed
HOPELESS, But his arms we're up
borne by public opinion and his
determination was sustained with
righteous justice. At times be
presented almost pathetic figure.
For many days and nights he sat
with haggard face amid the dele
gates from Nebraska. He became
at one time a figure of popular
ridicule against whom were hurled
the jests and gibes of paid palt-
rooms. But his earnestness was in
vulnerable and his honesty proof
ever against mockery.
The history OF the Virginia dele
CATION to the national convention is
interesting, not alone by reason of
it's attitude OF hostility TO Bryan,
but on account of the presence of
Thomas Fortune Ryan among its
members. For more than a wee K
Virginia battled together with Wall
Street and Tammany against Wood
row Wilson. Up until the recording
Of the forty-second ballot Monday
night the Virginia delegation stood
mistaken in it is alliance with Ryan
and his faction.
Credit is due to the Virginians,
however, on the two last roll-calls
They caucused on the morning of
the nomination. They had learned
that after the forty-second ballot
New York. West Virginia and III
inois had determined to desert to
the standard of the probable win
ner. 1t was at this eleventh hour
that Senator Thomas S. Martin re-
ceived q revelation, and had visions
of band wagon. He became at
once aware that Wilson was the
logical leader and that the moment
for an announcement Of this strong
conviction was become not only
psychological. but imperative. In
the caucus of the Virginia delegates