The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-07-07

without direct charge, made capital
of the fact that the New York dele
gates preferred Underwood, Harmon,
or Clark to Wilson. By sly system
of insinuation, he spread the poison
to such an extent that many delegates,
fearing the whip which with heartless
recklessness the Nebraskan used, de-
clined to support the speaker, despite
the fact that their states, through
presidential primaries, had instructed
! them so to do.
So darkly and so mysteriously had
Bryan moved that no delegate could
foretell whether it was for Wilson or
for himself that he was laboring so
assiduously. There was open discus
sion as to whether or not the Ne
braskan intended next to betray the
Jersey governor. While it is now
most probable that the discussion was
unjust, still the fact remains that
there was no opportunity for treach-
cry even were it planned.
In swearing allegiance to Wilson,
the Nebraskan did not foreclose
against himself all possible avenues
of escape. For he made this pro-
vision-that when New York cast it's
80 votes for Wilson he would with
draw his patronage.
While many of those 10000 people
who watched his magnificent maneu-
vers considered him powerful agent
for evil, only in one regard could they
point with even partial proof to
Bryan's alleged unfaithfulness.
He was instructed to vote for
Clark. He declined to obey those in
structions.
He was instructed by the people
who expressed themselves in presi-
Dental primary method of express
sion strongly advocated by Bryan,
and in keeping with the advanced
ideas of the ultra progressives."
In taking his stand against the
Speaker, Bryan left the impression
that he, who has ever claimed to love
the people, is with the people only
when the people do as he thinks they
should do.
Bryan's excuse was this-Nebraska
is progressive, Clark is not progress
sive because New York is supporting
| Clark.
/
And he further, by most virulent
insinuation, charged that in his opin-
ion New York would support no man
who had not made to New York GER
tain direct promises or certain implied
promises.
Mr.. Bryan went to Baltimore in
fighting humor. He had sat in en-
forced silence during the Chicago
skirmish. His appetite for battle was
whetted. He was peering into every
corner in an effort to find excuse.
And he found one in the fact that the
national committee had determined to
nominate Alton B. Parker for tenn
porary chairman.
Mr.. Bryan's objection to Parker was
based on the fact that the gentleman
is resident of New York-and there
fore of necessity "reactionary."
Because of these distressful environ
ments," Bryan foresaw great danger
to the people" and the party" and
the country" all this despite the
fact that the temporary chairman is
about as important as the exact loca-
ton of the north pole.
There was great excitement that
! Tuesday morning, therefore, as the
Nebraskan, following the nomination
of Parker, advanced to the chairman's
stand and prepared to speak. As
Bryan, leaning forward with his pal
metto fan, uttered his first syllables,
the convention hall reverberated with
applause. Previously, there had been
scattering Kisses. But his voice was
too deep, his tone too sincere, his
words too beautiful, his sentences too
ornate, his strength too POWERFUL
With one hand, he grasped the con-
vention and stopped the beating of its
heart. AS long as he spoke, his sway
endured
Following his conclusion, however,
the delegates thought that right on
the jump, Bryan was planning to
grasp the nomination. Therefore,
despite Judge Parker's lack of mag
netism, the delegates, in his defense,
prepared to strike the Nebraskan.