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

in the harness of that quadruped, for
the time, indistinct and obscure.
And thus it came about that the
Nebraskan was the dictator of the
nominee and the supreme boss" of
the national convention.
1t had been said that the cards had
been stacked against Bryan. But he
called for new deal, and had stacked
the cards himself against his enc
mics.
Having, by series of masterful
moves, brought it about that no man
could be nominated who did not bear
his stamp of approval, he proceeded to
|splay the cards. The vote of Nebraska
was called. Some one demanded
poll. Bryan's was the first name
called. The Nebraskan asked unani-
nous consent to explain his vote.
There was a chorus of mays from
the Clark men, because they were
aware of what was about to occur.
Undaunted, however, Bryan, by the
force of his personality, proceeded to
the stage. There he explained him
self-that he could not follow his in
structions to support Clark because of
the fact that New York was support
ing Clark. He affirmed that he would
withdraw his support from Wilson If
New York supported Wilson.
Many of the weak kneed, ard that
there were weak kneed is certain,
reched the conclusion that if such an
eminent statesman as Bryan had re-
fused to abide by the commands of the
people who had created him dele
gate, they, themselves, could follow.
Montana stampeded.
On every ballot thereafter, Wilson
gained. He passed Clark. Physical
exhaustion had set in. The delegates
were out of money and were home
sick. They took the path of least re-
sistance. They piled upon the Will
son wagon, and democracy had can
didate.
If it was Bryan's purpose to bring
about the nomination of Wilson, he
succeeded. If he y was making
strenuous struggle to gain the COM
mand fourth time, that is, COM
mand in person, as was the case in
preceding campaigns, he failed despite
his domination.
Bryan's fourth appearance followed
the action of the enraged delegates
of Clark in Haunting in his very face
banner bearing a 1910 statement of
the Nebraskan to the effect that the
Speaker was absolutely incompatible.
| He made magnificent effort to
speak on the ground of personal priv
lilege. Out of mass of maddened
6pnnanitV, he struggled to the plat
- hooting mob and the chair
\ Goeluded his retort,
HI n Sst, appearance was
when he M vice presidential
nomination and made his "yaledic-
tory" There was silence when he
began. But soon the convention was
standing on chairs and crying abound
under the spell of his marvellous ora
tory.
When he declared that no office was
so small that he would decline to
serve in case that service would result
in good to his country, the delegates,
believing, made the rafters ring and
the huge structure tremble on it's
pillars.
He was again the Bryan of old, the
peerless" leader, the orator of "the
crown of thorns and cross of gold"
General Grant feared democracy not
at all. He declared that in the mo-
ment of its strength, it's advocates
would accomplish something so fool
ish that no other result than defeat
could obtain. In the rejection by the
convention of Underwood and Harmon
and Clark, it remains to be seen if
the statement of the federal COM
mander retains it's force in 1912.
For in 1912, democracy has made
a certain departure. 1t did not non1in-
ate William Jennings Bryan, thrice
defeated candidate, although it did
not deny him the marked courtesy ~
naming in his stead man of his a.
proval. ~
Bryan may never again be the
nominated standard bearer. But he will
/ not live long enough to behold a cam
| didate in the making of whom he did
not play the most conspicuous part.