The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-06-25
BRYAN STANDS DIRECTLY |NFRONT Of
STEAM ROLLER AND SHOUTS, ''BACKUP'

wagon sentiment among delegates dis
interested In the direction to be taken
and frankly admitting that their only
concern was as to getting aboard the
proper vehicle.
These delegates came In large parts
from states In which democratic vic,
tory Is a remote possibility.
Heretofore when there was no par
ticular reward or penalty to go with
the loyalty to a faction these dele
gates were swayed only by their con-
ception of the principles involved.
Now, with the possibility that many
postoffices and the like may fall into
democratic hands next spring. the
prospect developed new state Of
mind among delegates.
Despite its humorous side, the stu
alton means that an actual band
wagon stampede Is an early possibility
of the big battle, seat on which the
Bryan followers are counting heavily
and which the conservatives admitted
ly fear.
At eleven o'clock band in the gal
lery started lively tune.
There were less than 100 Of the del
egates in their seats and the galleries
were almost vacant.
A peculiar arrangement Of the seats
for the delegates brought New York.
Indiana and Illinois in the very middle
of the hall and on opposite sides OF
the big hall. This ensured Tom Tag.
gart, the Indiana boss, Murphy OF
Tammany and Roger, Sullivan Of ILL
nois being close enough for speech
when necessary.
Nebraska. where the interest cen
tered on w. j. Bryan, was on the. side
Of the hall near the speakers plat
form.
The front rows were occupied by
Nebraska, New Jersey, Missouri and
Texas.
Wives and members of the families
OF the national committeeman with
'distinguised guests had private boxes
|.5nth out behind the. speaiker's stand.
The Underwood boomers got busy
and distributed hundreds OF small fans
bearing a lithograph of the Alabama
Congressman. There was also a good
trade being done among the delegates
|'and spectators with Clark and Wilson
hat bands and buttons.
Votes For Women.
Two women on the sidewalk braved
the rain to distribute literature on
Votes for Women"
AS the delegates gathered, repre-
sentatives of the Bryan forces We're
proselyting among the doubtful mem
bers for votes for the Bryan program,
which was to be put through later
if possible. The Bryan men insisted
that they had, the fight won, despite
tie reports from Murphy, Taggart and
Sullivan that there were in excess of
$50 for the New York lawyer for tenn
porary Craftsmanship.
Many of the delegates professed to
believe that Bryans candidate for
temporary chairman would be John w.
Kern. Of Indiana. They said that if
Bryan would name the Indiana sena-
tor, he would be able to make the
speech OF his career.
According to men close to the
Bryan party, the Nebraskan spent a
great part of the night reading the evi-
dence taken in the Payne legislative
investigation of Albany by the New
York state legislature last summer.
This report was filed with facts which
lit was claimed showed Tammany halls
connection with the bipartisan po-
litical machines in Ney York state
and also showed the connection be-
tween the financial forces in New YORK
and the political machines there.
Bryan had told his intimate friends
that he would make the effort of his
I life today. He announced flatly that
he planned to show exactly how big
business dominated politics in the
states where the support Of Parker
originated.
ne uISl Itttl ipUidti's5 HUN SlttlSt
galleries or floor followed the hing
ing in to the hall os the banner of
Texas on which was embla2oncd.
Texas has eighteen solid votes
for Woodrow Wilson.
| At 11:40 the seats on the main floor
OF the armory were comfortably filed,
but the top galleries were still unoc-
cupied excepting in spots.
Cardinal Gets Applause.
Cardinal Gibbons who was 70 make
the opening invocation, arrived at
f11:42 escorted by detachment of
local police. AS his frai,. scarlet-garb-
ed figure was seen passing down the
aisle, storm of applause followed
which lasted until he ha / taken his
, seat in the private box directly behind
the speakers chair, which had been
assigned for his use.
At 11:49 the Connecticut delega-
tion marched down the aisle to their
seats.