New-York tribune., 1920-07-22
Prohibition Delegates | g g.
more the Message of the
COmmOner to Friends
That He Won't Accent
w oman Chairman
Makes Nomination
Selection Is Acclaimed;
Old Parties Assailed:
'Cowardice' Is CHARGED

LINCOLN, Neb, July 81. - William
Jennings Bryan was nominated to-day
by acclamation by the Prohibition
party in national convention here. The
nomination came after resolution
tendering' him the position of stand
ard bearer had brought out the fact
IN debate that he had telegraphed d
friends here that he "coud not accept"
In naming Mr.. Bryan, the conven-
tlon upset precedent as we'll as its
program by selecting the candidate
on the first day. Nominations were
not scheduled until Friday.
The nomination came after a STAN
pede of the delegates which was
started by the resolution of w. G.
Calderwood of Minnesota "tendering'
MIR. Bryan the leadership and asking
him to reply promptly to the conven-
tion whether he would accept.
Attempts to table this resolution
only resulted in an hours recess, dur
ing which its opponents, led by Gin
ton N. Howard, of New York, urged
Charles w. Bryan, brother of the
nominee, to make public communca-
tions he was known to have concern
ing Mr.. Bryan's altitude
Howard Is Criticized
This brought out the fact that a
proposed stampede, plans for which be
came known yesterday, had resulted in
Mr.. Howard sending a telegram to
Mr.. Bryan asking if he would accept
the nomination, and that the Nebraskan
had replied saying he would decline
Speakers criticized Mr.. Howard for
what they termed his "recalcitrant at
titude' in not making public the cor
respondencc sooner. when it was gen
orally known this morning that he had
heard from Mr.. Bryan
The telegram follows:
III appreciate your confidence in me.
Please see my brother, G.. w. Bryan.
He will fully explain why acceptance
is impossible"
Charles Bryan sent letter to the
convention after it had reconvened urg-
ing that it reject the resolution and
saying that Mr.. Bryan's friends would
oppose his acceptance. The gist of it
follows:
Kindly request members of the con-
vention to omit Mr.. Bryan's name from
consideration in connection with the
nomination or in the adoption of such
resolution.
"Friends of Mr.. Bryan and the cause
of prohibition will discourage such ac-
ton"
Secret Conferences Charged
Speakers then charged that secret
conferences between delegates and
Charles Bryan had been held in the last
twenty-four hours with the apparent
object Of preventing Mr. Bryan's nomi-
nation on the ground that he did not
want to be named.
The fact that these conferences had
not been made public seemed to anger
many. delegates, and speech after
speech favorng the Calderwood reso-
Fulton followed until it was adopted
with only six dissenting votes out of
the more than 200 delegates present.
This apparently was only the spark
OF the fire, however, for delegates
clamored for the floor, each urging that
bryan actually be nominated.
Miss Marie c. Brehm, of Long Beach
Callf.. the first woman in the history OF
American politics to be chosen perma-
nent chairman Of a national party con
vention, relinquished her chair 10 mt
Mf. bryan IN nomination. She insisted
that the nomination must not merely
re rendered to him, but actually given
- him.
Missouri Delegates Parade
parade of the Missouri delegation
started Immediately. South Dakota
Joined, and then all delegations fell in
line. Some one started playing "The
Star-Spangled Banner" on piano and
the delegates whooped and yelled. The
piano continued with "My Country ,Tis
of Thee and then swung into "A Hot
Time in the Old Town Tonight" Some
one grabbed C. n. Howard. a New York
delegate, and forced him into the
parade.
After fifteen minutes the delegates
firally realized that they had not vet
actually nominated Mr.. Bryan anc
proceeded to make him their nominee
by acclamation. Tired and worn from
the hot allday session and the previ-
Gus demonstration. they gave only s
few seconds applause when the noml.
nation actually was made The nomi
nation was seconded by Nebraska
Florida, Missouri, Illinois. California
Wisconsin and Ohio
Efforts were made Immediately tt
get in touch with Mr.. Bryan and learl
Continued on page 81