Omaha daily bee., 1916-05-21
OAuo ,Res,-a~~
oncd 9N45n,>,a..s

| from which he emerged TO wage his first battle,
destined, however. not 10 be his last. When four
| years had rolled around / witnessed his second
nomination this time by acclamation, in the 1900
convention in Kansas City
II happened that the allotment OF press tickets
for that occasion had been particularly liberal and
having one to spare / took F. J Cornish with
me. He had just returned from helping to re-
nominate Mckinley at Philadelphia, where he
was delegate, and had come back with an inocu-
aton of convention virus that led him to snap
up my suggestion that he go along and take in the
gathering OF the democratic clans Although
Kansas City had worked wonders in rebuilding It's
convention hall, after seeing il burned down Just
few weeks before, II was at that time miserably
lacking in hotel and restaurant facilities and gem
eral accommodations for big crowd. The old
Midland and the Coates House were the only two
pretentious hostelries, and Cornish and had to
bunk together in rooming house not far from
the Coates and pick up bite to cat wherever we
could get it.
remember that at Kansas City, because of
its near proximity to Nebraska the demand for
tickets was the burning question OF the hour,
but there were ways found and tricks played that
took nearly every visitor inside the charmed cir
Gle, Notwithstanding the fact that the approaches
were roped In for blocks and guarded by eordons
OF police and successive sets OF ticket inspectors
at every turn. / was 10 be joined there by Louis
Bostwick, whom we put into business as staff
photographer for The Bee. Bostwick had gone
ahead with Colonel Roosevelt on Rough Rider
expedition into Oklahoma and was due in Kansas
City on his return by the opening day OF the con-
vention. When he did not show up loaned his
ticket out and passed him up for the day, but, 10
and behold, just before the noon recess here was
Bostwiek coming up to report to me at the press
table
How did you get In without ticket" !
asked
Just walked right in," said he.
We'll" said /, Il don't believe / can get your
ticket back for the afternoon session, and don't
know just what to do about It."
Never mind" returned Bostwick, "I'll get in
again the same way did this time"
And, being in Missouri, he proceeded to
SHOW me" by performing the stunt second time
before my very eyes-just walking along with his
camera In his hand, shaking off policemen and
doorkeepers and ticket-takers merely by putting
on front as II he belonged there and were just
going about his own business.
Although the Kansas City convention made
the customary noise, it was really comparatively
tame because the pyrotechnics and demonstrations
were so palpaby artificial and also by reason OF
the absence Of most OF the big men OF the party
Congressman w. A. Richardson Of Tennessee was
the chairman and Senator Tillman of South
Carolina "eiocuted" the platform, but the most
sought-after notables were Boss" Croker and
David B. Hill.
All the arts OF the stage carpenter and calcium
light man were here brought into play. At the
proper point In the chairman's apostrophe to our
peerless leader plaster bust of Bryan swathed
In the Stars and Stripes, was ostentatiousy borne
to the platform and set upon pedestal and un-
Id kaaA 1t
gates yelled and the spectators shrieked. When
the ant-imperialism plank of the platform was
reached the scenery -shfters pulled a rope that
released huge flag tightly rolled up on the cell
ing rafter above the platform and let ii drop On
the white stripes was painted in large letters the
campaign slogan, "The constitution and the flag
-one and inseparable-now and forever" And
noticed all the ushefs and attendants at the
same instant rushing on signal TO the space be-
hind the seats, where barrels filled with small
oambric flags imprinted with the same inscription
had been stored. These flags they seized pell
nell and carried out to the arena and to the gal
leries, distributing them to everyone within reach
and In the twinkng OF an eye the great hall was
transformed into one great sea of these waving
motto-bearing banners This was the big demon
stration, and II was speeded UP from time to time
as enthusiasm waned until II finally wore itself
out.
Occasion for another spectacular outburst was
found after the reading OF the section expressing
sympathy for the Beers, then waging their war
against the British In South Africa Webster
Davis Kansas City lawyer with reputation for
fervid oratory, who had resigned as assistant sec
retary OF the interior under Mckinley TO cham
pion the cause of the Beers was raised to the
rostrum and proclaimed his conversion to the
democratic faith, with a promise OF his support for
the ticket. But he was so excited and confused
that he completely destroyed the effect OF his
climax by mixing up his names. Il stand upon
this platform" he shouted, "nnd shall support
William ], Brenninga" Az which the laughter
overwhelmed the applause.
Let me recall here that the speech putting
Mr., Bryan in nomination at Kansas City was de-
livsred BY Willis D. Oldham, who is again one oi
the delegAtes-at.large. recently elected but this
time on the ant.nryan ticket Odham's speech
a. | recall a. was hardly recognizable having
been "denasuFed' BY cutting out an his character.
iatie vocabulary and eyelonic expressions a. re.
sult OF the censnfeshlp oi the Rryans. who had
blue peneilsd it Yes, and whils Oldham was
spelihindlna the democrats, sde4show eonven.
ton vas hsiug simultaneously held n another
Kansas City hall in which Frank 4 Ransom a.
day another apu-hryau delegate, Nas exercising
bic hypHalie paweu 70 hrtus ths iivef fenab.
LEANS 10 the hslp Of hBan hy nominating Slim
alfe % tutiaa ticket