The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-06-14
Silver Tongued Orator Was at
His Best in 1896, 1904,
1912 and 1924
BY RODNEY BUTCHER
C0nyrirht. 1922. NEA Service. In

BY RODNEY BUTCHER
Copyright, 1882, NEA Service, Inc.)
Washington, June 14.-William Jen-
nings Bryan guided the Democratic
party in five national conventions. In
two others he played important, dra-
matte roles.
Never elected to high office, never
able to hand out even fourth class
post office to a follower, he held enor-
nous political power over longer pc
Rod than any other private citizen be-
fore or since his time.
Bryan was a sincere but practical
politician Of neither great mental
depth nor political wisdom. He had
a large and devoted personal follow
ing which was often majority in the
Democratic party. But he never could
attract a majority of American voters.
He held his followers by sincerity,
simplicity, courage and a powerful,
magnetic personality which was
coupled with marvellous voice o.
rare, inspirational quality.
No man ever rose to such thrilling,
effective heights in national political
conventions. Anyone who saw or heard
him in 1896 or 1904 or 1912 or 1924
could never forget him.
Often, at conventions, he rose to de-
feat or halt the most powerful ma
chine politicians of his day. Sometimes
he even made his enemies weep, al
though they sometimes howled with
rage from the floor in attempts tC
shout him down.
X 4 X
Bryan's nomination in 1896 was not
stampede for an unknown. A young
congressman from Nebraska, he had
become one of the free silver heroes
of Congress and for a couple of years
had been working toward that nonin-
alton. His memorable cross of gold
and crown of thorns" speech went over
as a WOW, but 1t had been carefully
planned.
The convention boss who apparent.
! " had more to do with the Bryan
nomination than anyone else wa:
Governor John Peter Altgeld OF Hin
OILS, who had pardoned the surviving
Chicago anarchists and opposed Cleve
lands dispatch of troops to the Pull
man strike.
In concert with other leaders, Alt
geld plotted for Bryan. The foremos
candidate had been Senator Richare
P. Bland of Missouri, but he was no
thought to be big enough for the job
Bryan thereafter had the Demo
cratic party in his hand. He made
second remarkable, indefatigable cleo
ton campaign in 1900 and lost again
In 1904 the machine bosses united
on the conservative Alton B. Parker
Bryan's personal following was undi
minished. He had not sought nomi
nation. He had opposed Parker, bu
the only other sizeable candidate wa
William Randolph Hearst and Parke
won.
But the hopes of the conservative
eastern Democrats-led by Ryan, Bel
mont and Tammany-to get RID o
Bryan were blasted.
Parker was beaten so badly tina
Bryan's nomination was inevitable II
1908. It appears that after his defea
that year by Taft he virtually aband
loned his presidential ambitions. Blu
lin 1912 he gave the country Woodro,
Wilson in the last great high spot. Q
an amazing career.
Champ Clark stands in history a
the candidate who was kept from
nomination after receiving a conven
vention majority. Bryan was the ma
who did the job.
Never was. a more brilliant, re
sourceful fighter than Clark. HI
sheer audacity. his personality, nj
popular strength, his extraordinar
generalship combined to max
monkeys Of the machine bosse
Among the latter were Charlie Mur
ply of Tammany Hall, with whol
Clark had an advance agreement
Tom Taggart of Indiana and Roge
Sullivan of Illinois, who eventual
turned to Wilson in one of the i'm
portant breaks.
Bryan favored Wilson, who had az
manded convention of progres
sives," although he was part OF Nc
braska delegation instructed Tor Car
He considered Harmon OF Ohio an
Underwood of Alabama to be reaction
aries and was especially anxious to se
them defeated.
With Bryan as central figure, tr
convention quickly took on the aspe'
of a contest between the machine an
anti-machine forces-between real
tionaries and progressives, the Peep
versus the Bosses" The Bryan-Wilso
group was demanding direct electio
of senators, antitrust laws, incon
tax, child labor law and tariff redu
! ton.
With Wilson supporting him Brys
rose dramatically to oppose Alton
Parker as temporary chairman al
keynoter. The hall became bedla
Of cheers, boots and curses. Brys
stood silently before the tumult, ga
1t die, then flayed the interests" al
nominated Kern of Indiana. Park
was nominated to the chair BY sms
majority.
Bryan was triumphant, howev'
from then on. An unprecedented flo
of protesting kilograms poured IN ire
IA