Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1920-07-09
Bryan's Issues Defeated In Ma
tiona1 Convention.

Bryan's Issues Defeated In Ma
tional Convention.
White with fatigue. wet-eyed with emo
ton. deafened by the roaring tribute Of
thousands William Jennings Bryan stood
before the convention at new crossing in
his quarter-century Of public life.
Silent. with sober eyes. his heavy figufe
in wrinkled black alpaca under the merci-
less glare Of the spotliehts. he heard
sonorous chorus of Noes r. one by one
strike down the issues he had raised.
But there was no gainsaylng the genu-
ineness of the tribute he received even in
defeat. It was given to the man with an
utter abandon. without aid Of band or
pipe organ or other trappings Of organized
political demonstrations. 1t sprang from
the galleries, the voteless multitude that
made the moment Its own and swept into
tumult in its admiration for the man.
But there were others who sat unmoved.
They formed solid block in the center Of
the floor. about which the sea Of sound
and feeling ragged unheeded. and even as
Bryan grasped the Nebraskan standard,
thrust up to him from below. and lifted II
high on the speakers stand, It must have
been given to a wisdom born Of his long
political career for the man who was the
center Of the great scene to know that it
was admiration, not agreement. that moved
the people; that defeat, not victory, await
ed him.
From the moment when the reading Of
the platfrom was finished and he took the
stand amid cries Of Bryan, Bryan, Bryan"
to present the planks for which he pro-
posed to fight, the old leader was keyed
| up for the effort of his life. Against him,
he knew were giants Of debate. For that
reason he divided his time. swiftly pre-
senting the outlines Of his case. then yield
ing to others who would pave the way for
the climax he had planned for himself.
1t was plain that 1t was the bone-dry
issue on which Mr. Bryan would center his
effort to sweep the convention of its feet.
He had something to say for the league Of
nations program of ratification with reser-
vations which he proposed.
On this point he fatty differed with the
President at the Jackson Day dinner in
Washington to set going the struggle that
ended in sweeping victory for the Presi-
dent. He paid lavish tribute to Mr.. VIII
sons place In history and to his leader
ship; he talked forcefuly of three lesser
issues he had brought to the convention
for decision. but 1t was the dry plank on
| which he had staked every vestiee Of mag
netic power over mems hearts he possessed.
In the twenty minutes Of dramatic ap-
peal which closed his crusade, he reached
new heights Of fervor. His audience was
swayed until 1t seemed that he played
upon its emotions at will. When he hurled
his last defiance at the liquor traffic. with
/! a prediction that when the veil was torn
aside. when the women Of the nation were
given full political liberty through the rati-
fication Of the suffrage amendment by an
other State, they and the children would
be found battling for cause he cham
pioned, a great shout went sursine up into
the vaulted dome of the roof in an endless
sea OF sound.
1t urged into action Texas delegate.
who pulled the standard from the floor and
drove through the aisle to the platform.
| A score Of State standards Joined to form
a hedge along the platform front. A bat
tie was fought around the California stand
ard and 1t was smashed to fragments. isH |
A woman delegate from California A
naly was carried up to the speakers stand
waving frantically tattered remnant Of
the State emblem. 10 80.
Another woman. dressed in white and
with drum slune to her side. was lifted
to the speakers table. and this was the
only sign Of prearaneed effort at
demonstration. A}A
Mr.. Bryan came again and again to the
edge Of the stand to wave to the crowd
below. His face was shining and the spot
LIGHTS made the tears that rolled slowly
over the deep burrows Of his face sparkle
like Jewels. He was moved deeply and
showed it. but his eyes went always tow
ard that silent, sitting group Of delegates
which yielded no jot to the tide Of feeling
that swept down fr ON the galleries.
| II took desperate pounding Of the gavel
to quiet the storm. It died slowly, only
to swell up again. Finally. after threat
that the galleries would be cleared. Balm
bridge Colby. Secretary Of State, rose to
answer for the administration on the league
issue.
Cool. unhurried in speech. President VIII
sons spokesman struck at once at the emo
tional qualities in the appeal Mr.. Bryan
had made. He dismissed the great effort
Of the Nebraskan on prohibition almost
without notice, approached his own topic
with liehtness Of touch that brought laugh
ter at times and with consummate skill
sought to turn aside the rush Of feeling
Mr.. Bryan had counted upon. He also
, was accorded reception and a demon
: sration, this time with the noise and
: cheering supported by band and organ
but the crisis was over.
I II hardly needed the effort Of Senator
( Glass as platform committee chairman e
8 assure the full and CONG r,
s-Sinistratf