Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1920-07-04
BRYAN CHEERED,
THEN ROLLED In
PLATFORM FIGHT
Beaten 6 to /, Although
Given Great
Ovation
BY II. N. RICKEY

FSN reNAINS1OOO, July o-lne
gleat battle over the Democratic plat
| form ragged all day Friday and result
ed in complete victory for Presi-
dent Wilson and the complete rout
of Bryan.
Shortly after 10 a. M Chairman
Glass, of the resolutions committee,
began the report. 1t took him two
hours for every thine on the earth
and under the earth and above the
earth was discussed in the plat
form. There may be a great differ
ence of opinion as to the futility of
the platform. AS to the quantity there
is no doubt that it would take the
first prize in any platform contest.
Finally Glass, who frequently dur
ing the reading of had been on the
pont of breaking, finished. A great
shout went up from delegates and
gallery for Bryan, who it was known
would make minority report on the
subject of prohibition and the
League of Nations.
Bryan Gets Ovation
The Commoner got great ova-
tion when he made his way to the
speakers rostrum. He cot a great
er one when he had completed the
reading of his minority report; a
still greater one when a few hours
he concluded perhaps the greatest
oratorical effort of his life. The
way the Nebraskan abused the rum
demon was shameful or glori-
Gus according to ones point
of view. It was a wonderful
emotional appeal into which
Bryan put everything he had in the
days of his prime when he was at
the zenith of his powers. He was
never more eloquent since TIE open
ing day of the convention. Dele
gates and visitors alike had been
looking forward to this hour, for
after all, orator makes a more III
iversal appeal than almost anything
else and Bryan is admittedly one
of the few living masters of the art.
And then a short while after the
Coliseum had fairly rocked with
shouts of the multitude acclai4ning
The Commoner, the vote was taken.
on his proposition to insert dry
plank in the platform. The way those
delegates rolled Bryan was amazing,
considering the way they d >
ceived him. He was beaten six to
one.
Cochran Well received
In the meantime Bourke Cochran
of New York had made an impas-
stoned appeal for the inserting of
light wine and beer plank in the
platform. The crowd had friendly
feeling for Cochran, remembering
his clever speech nominating Cover
nor Smith of New York. He was
given an enthusiastic reception and
responded with a splendid oratorical
effort. Cochran had them upon their
feet yelling like Indians, but short
time later he, too, was being rolled
not quite as flat as Bryan but
flat enough to satisfy.
Between the oratory of Bryan and
Cochran and their rolling something
happen d, more properly speaking,
two something's happened. They were
speeches by Secretary of State Col
by and Senator Glass.
Neither Colby nor Glass is an ora
tor They made no attempt to arouse
the sentiments of the delegates by
appealing to their passion. If they
had tried TO do this they would have
failed, because theirs would have
been poor efforts in comparison with
what had gone before. But both Col
by and Glass, as representatives and
friends of the President, told the
delegates what most of them wanted