Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1912-07-05
BRYAN In SENSATIONAL SPEECH EXPLAINS
HIS CLARK GOES TO BALTIMORE
AND HITS BACK AT NEBRASKAN
Speaker in Statement Given Out After Conference With Hearst
Stone and Other Friends HOdy Asserts That the CommOneF
Must Prove Charges or ReraCt.

Baltimore.-William ]. Bryan's ap-
pearance on the platform and his vlo-
lent attack upon the New York State
democracy and the Ryan-Morgan-bel-
mont coterie Of financiers proved tne
sensation of the Democratic Natlonal
Convention. 1t reused the great mass
of humanity to a wild demonstration
at once of applause and denunclatlon'
BRYAN threw the convention into tur-
moil by deserting Clark for wilson
and declaring he would not support
any candidate supported by Murphy
and the RyanBelmont crowd.
Violating all precedent Mr.. Bryan
mounted the platform and made a
speech in which he took occasion to
denounce Charles F. Murphy by name
and to impugn the sincerity OF the en-
tire New York delegation. To achieve
this end Mr.. Bryan went through the
Sorm of obtaining unanimous consent,
but there were number OF objections
to his course, and these were finally
withdrawn only because no individual
cared to be recorded as the objector.
And when he had begun his speech
Mr.. Bryan took absolute charge He
yielded to those who wished to ques-
tion him, wholly disregarding the
chair; hurled back answers which won
the galleries as much as they angered
the delegates opposed to him, and
through it all the leaders were OBJ
viously frightened beyond measure for
fear of a Bryan stampede.
Various delegates hurled defiance at
Bryan, to his obvious delight, for in
every encounter he came out by far
the best of it. Asked if he would sup
port the nominee of the convention,
provided such nominee were chosen
through the influence of Murphy and
the Ryan-Belmont interests. Bryan de-
clared that he would not commit HIM
self in advance, but that such support
was comparable to the defence by
lawyer of defendent after a crime
had been committed, which was quite
a different thing from the conspiracy
OF lawyer with the culprit before the
crime was committed.
And before he had closed his re-
marks he had, in effect, placed in the
record a threat to oppose any candi-
date who received the support of the
New York delegation and had actually
made Murphy and his friends appreci-
ate that the throwing of New York S
vote to any candidate would be regard
ed by the Progressive forces as prima
facie evidence of guilt of such candi-
date To say that the New Workers
frothed at the mouth would hardly be
an eXaggeration, but they were power
less. No one dared seek even to shut
off the Nebraskan. 1t was far too OBJ
vious that he sought to be made
martyr and would welcome anything
which even remotely resembled being
steam rollered"
1t would be hard to imagine a more
tense situation than prevailed for
more than two hours, during which
the hearts of the "old guard" quaked.
They trembled in their shoes lest the
great magnetism of the Nebraskan
should one again fire the imagination
of delegates as well as galleries to the
point of combustion
New Mexico delegates had minia-
ture sombreros fastened to the lapels
of their coats They appeared to be
more anxious to boost their new State
than to shout for any of the candi-
dates.
One OF the interested spectators of
the proceedings was Mrs. Taft, wife of
the president, who was entertained by
Mrs. Norman Z. Mack, wife of the
herman of the Democratic national
committee. Mrs. Taft wore white, en,-
broldered with white cord, and a
white straw hat, set off with aigrcttes.
The Florida delegates spent much
time boosting their own State. They
wore long badges telling of the ad-
Tantages to be gained by living in
Florida, and at the bottom was the
invitation, Come and see u.s."
Exn the "wife-beater." The wife
teater is a noise-making instrument
Ike a clap-stick designed for merry
making in crowds Men we're using
II sc frequently on women and girls
'Ai I lne pollco ordered its Danish
ment.
Mrs. William II Taft attended the
convention. While in Baltimore Mrs
Taft was the guest of Mrs. Hugh C.
Wallace and Delegate Wal!ac, of
Washington State.
Mr.. Parker's glowing tribute in his
speech to Bryan. whom he forthwith
recommended for the chairmanship
OF the resolutions committee, was re.
Ce'ved with cheers.