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The Commoner.
ISSUED WEEKLY
, Entered at tho Postofllco at Lincoln, Nebraska,
as second-class matter.
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WlI.UA M J. UllYAN GirATU.KS XV. BllYAM
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THE COMMONER, Lincoln. Neb.'
Ono of tlio standard-bearers gained tho press
stand, trampling over tho telegraph instru
ments and heads of tho writers, but was seized
by a newspaper man and thrown back into the
crowd.
A struggle followed and for a timo a serious
disturbance was threatened. Tho delegates
again attacked the stand and were again re
pulsed. Tho uproar on tho floor and in tho
gallories grow to pandemonium. A crowd
jammed tho space before the Btand as the first
banner-bearor, thrown from the press , stand,
Lf It. Russell, tried, to return to the attack.-f ..i
The police and tho sergeant-at-arras, . wer,e
powerless against the crowd. .
A squad in tho galleries began the mo
notonous chant of ''Wo want Wilson," but it
was lost in the goneral uproar. In vain Chair
man Parker pounded his desk in an effort to
quiet tho crowd. The demonstration had been
under way moro than twenty-five minutes be
fore semblance of order was restored. It re
quired much pounding of gavels after this be
fore proceedings could bo resumed.
Oflloially the demonstration was recorded as
having lasted thirty-throe minutes.
Mayor Newton Baker of Cleveland, O., oppos
ing tho unit rule, said ho owed nothing to tho
state convention, that ho waB elected a district
dplogato in tho primary and accredited as a
delegate in tho national convention. Ho saw
"no roason why ho should bo bound by a reso
lution in tho convention. Baker said tho unit
rulo had outlived its usefulness end no longer'
was needed.
Senator Williams of Mississippi took-tho plat
form to speak for tho minority report. Williams
had scarcoly begun his speech when Governor
Brewer of Mississippi strode down the alslo and
shouted:
"Will tho gentleman yield for a question?"
A chorus of "sit-down" came from tho floor,
but Williams shoutod: "Lot him be heard.
Ho can't hurt me."
Governor Brower wanted to know whether
Senator Williams, who had declared that a dele
gate should abide by instructions given him in
a primary, did not believe the vote of the en
tiro state should bind tho entire delegation.
Williams replied that tho stato at largo
should control only tho delegates-at-large.
Senator Williams insisted that if a delegate-at-largo
from a primary state should bo bound
by tho majority in tho stato a district dolegato
should be bound by tho district majority vote.
A stato convention could not claim control over
district delegates elected by tho people.
"If you adopt tho majority report hero to
night," concluded Senator Williams, "you will
do the most dangerous and tho most damnable
thing that it is in your power to do on this day
of our Lord. And when you get through doing
it, you might as well quit your talk about popu-
lar government and referring matters back to
I tho people."
The result of tho roll call as announced
showed that tho Wilson-Bryan forces had won
tho tost. Tho figures secured by tho tally
clerks varied widely on tho final result, how
ever. Tho vote was announced as, ayes, 555;
The Commoner.
nays, 495. This was later amended to 565
ayes. ,
A careful unofficial count gavo ayes 565;
491 nays.
VOTE ON THE UNIT RULE
Following is a detailed vote on unit rule:
Alabama, yeas 9, nays 14; Arkansas, yeas
0, nays 18; California, yeas 5, nays 21; Colo
rado, yeas 7, nays 5; Connecticut, yeas 3, nnys
10; Delaware, yeas 6, nays 0; Florida, yeas 6,
nays G; Georgia, yeas 0, nays 28; Idaho, yeas
8, nays 0; Illinois, yeas 8, nays 58; Indiana,
yeas 15, nays 13; Iowa, yeas 12, nays 3; Kansas,
yeas 20, nays 0; Kentucky, yeas 3, nays
21 5-G; Louisiana, yeas 14, nays 6; Maine, yeas
7, nays 2; Maryland, yeas 3, nays 12;
Massachusetts, yeas 25, nays G; Michigan, yeas
8, nays 20; Minnesota, yeas 24, nays 0; Mis
sissippi, yeas 20, nays 0; Missouri, yeas 7, nays
29; Montana, yeas 8, nays 0; Nevada, yeas 6,
nays 0; New Hampshire, yeas 8, nays 0; New
Jersey, yeas 24, nays 4; New Mexico, yeas 4,
nays 4; .New York, yeas 90, nays 0; North
Carolina, yeas 20, nays 4; North Dakota, yeas
10, nays 0; Ohio, yeas 20, nays 25; Okla
homa, yeas 10, nays 10; Oregon, yoas 2, nays 8;
Pennsylvania, yeas G5, nays 11; Rhode Island,
yeas 2, nays 8; South. Carolina, yeas 18, nays'
0; South Dakota, yeas 10, nays 0; Tennessee,
yeas 7, nays 17; Texas, yeas 40, nays 0; Utah,
yeas 8, nays 0; Vermont, yeas 4, nays 3; Vir
ginia, yeas 3, nays 2; Washington, yeas 7,
nays 7; West Virginia, yeas 3, nays 10,
Wisconsin, yeas 26, nays 0; Wyoming", yeas 6,
nays 0; Alaska, yeas 0, nays 6; Porto Rico, yeas
6, nays 0; Hawaii, yeas 3, nays 2; Philippines,
yeas 6, nays 0.
The Wilson delegates began a demonstra
tion. It was shortlived, and Chairman Parker
seizing a megaphone, put the question of adopt
ing tho amended report. It was adopted by a
viva voce vote.
A tired delegate tried to adjourn until to
morrdw, but was not recognized. A partial re
port on the credentials committee was pre
sented1 by Joseph. E. Bell, chairman of that
committee. ,
Tho report embraced the Illinois, South Da
kota and several minor Contests.
Immediately on the presentation, Senator
Luko Lea of Tennessee, announcing .that a
minority report would entail considerable dis
cussion, moved to adjourn until 2 o'clock to
morrows A roar of dissent went up from tho
floor and when Chairman Parker put the mo
tion it was drowned in a chorus of "noes."
A motion to adjourn until noon tomorrow
was then put through under the gavel although
delegates on the floor shouted "Make it 10
o'clock; mako it id o'clock!" ' '
The convention adjourned at 11:59 p. m.
THIRD DAY'S PROCEEDINGS '
The convention met for the third day, Thurs
day, June 27th, at 12:00 noon. Temporary
Chairman Parker presiding. Tho credentials
committee had rejected 10 Wilson delegates
from South Dakota and .seated Clark delegates.
A fight against this report was made in., tho
convention and the convention rejected the com-r
mitteo's report thereby seating the Wilson dele
gates. There were many demonstrations during
tho day.
Senator John Sharp Williams of Mississippi
made a point of order against counting the vote
of the Philippine -Islands on tho ground that tho
supremo court had held that it was not a part
of tho United States. Tho point of order was
sustained and tho convention excluded the
Philippines. Addresses were delivered by For
mer Governor Folk of Missouri and others. Ollio
James, the permanent chairman, was escorted
to tho platform.
After Mr. James had delivered his speech tho
convention took a recess until eight o'clock in
tho evening.
As soon as tho convention met at eight o'clock
in tho evening, Mr. Bryan introduced his famous
"Wall street resolution." Following is a report
from the Now York World:
Mr. Bryan appeared upon tho platform. Tho
horns, rattles, tin cappers, whiBtles, helped
things along wonderfully, and with tho voices
thoy mado a very thrilling row that brought a
smile to the faco of Mr. Bryan. In threo
minutes tho tumult died away, and tho "Star
Spangled Banner" brought tho audience to its
feet and kept it there for a minute or so. Then
Mr. Bryan sat down, and seemed to be cogitating
a profound problem. Then Murphy-Wall street
leaders didn't like this, and began to speculate
on tho character of it. A. friend who talked
with Mr. Bryan at dinner said the Nebraska
VOLUME 12, NUMBER 2f
leader' had brought some "dynamite" with him.
"Look out for an explosion," ho advised.
For ten minutes, ominous order prevailed; a
buzz of voices filled the hall. On tho "bridge,"
Mr. James, tho Herculean chairman, Secretary
Newman, and the rattled assistants prepared
tho program for action. Three feet away Mr.
Bryan kept an eye on them. He turned an in
quiring eye on the clump of vacant seats under
the New York standard. Murphy and his ninety
New York delegates were in caucus.
They hal not appeared when Chairman James
at 8:12 o'clock banged his gavel and things be
gan to happen. Prayer was offered by the Rev.
Dr. Stephens of the Brown Memorial church of
Baltimore. Everybody stood up during the
four minutes of it.
Then from the North Dakota delegation to tho
left of the platform bellowed a voice: "Mr.
Chairman, I move the aisles be closed. Some
of this gang have stolen the tickets of dele
gates, and they can not get in."
Chairman James thundered an order to the
police to clear the aisles. They partly succeeded.
As they were doing so Mr. Bryan was shaking
hands with Mrs. Taft, the wife of the president,
who sat on the platform. He cut his visit .short
and hurried to the side of Chairman James. As
quiet was restored Mr. Bryan put on his spec
tacles and dug into his outside coat pocket for
his "dynamite." The audience sat up and took
notice as he did so.
"Mr. President," said Mr. Bryan, "I have here
a. resolution which I think should be acted upon
before a candidate for president is named." Tho
"Rebel yell" came out strong while. Mr. Bryan,
Avho really commanded the "bridge," stood
fumbling his paper.
"Is there objection?" asked Mr. James,
There was none that could be heard in the
tumult, and Mr. Bryan exploded his bomb. It
was ,as follows:
"Resolved, That in this crisis in our party s
career and in our country's history this conven
tion sends- greetings to the people and assures
them ha the party of Jefferson and of Jack
son is still the champion of popular government
and equality before the law. As" proof of our
fidelity to, the people we hereby declare our
selves opposed to the nomination of any .candir
date representative of or under any obligation
to J. Pierpont Morgan, Thomas F. Ryan, August
Belmont or any other member of the privilege
and favor seeking class.
"Be it further resolved, That we demand the
withdrawal from this convention u. any delegate
or delegates constituting or representing the
above named interests."
A roar of cheers broke out again and con
tinued for three minutes. A thousand eyes were
turned on Delegate Thomas F. Ryan ( vote)
in the Virginia delegation, and Delegates August
and Perry Belmont (one each)' in the New York
delegation as Mr. Bryan finished reading his
resolution. Tho New Yorkers came to their
seats as he did so. They did Hot cheer.
GOVERNOR GILCHRIST'S OBJECTION
"When the uproar ceased Governor Gilchrist, a
delegate in the Florida delegation, objected
that the resolution invaded the rights of
sovereign states. His ppint was overruled.
Mr. Bryan moved that the rules be suspended
that the resolution might be considered.
Disorder at this point brought threats from
Chairman James to clear the galleries. ;
Chairman James explained that a two-third
vote was necessary to suspend the rules. . '',
Delegates James B. Coleman of California
objected to the resolution on the ground ttiat
the state of Virginia had sent a delegate (Mr.
Ryan) to the convention, and that the conven
tion had no right to override the wishes of that
state.
Chairman James ruled that Mr. Bryan's reso
lution was In order. The galleries thought so
and cheered, and demanded the reading of the
resolution again. Mr. Bryan, who was trembling
and excited, did so.
Coleman, standing a few feet away from "the
platform, objected again. He is a rugged little
man, with a bristling mustache. A storm of
hisses and "boos" broko out, and for two
-minutes tho din was deafening. Then, with no
regard for parliamentary proceedure, Mr. Bryan
began to speak in defense of his resolution. He
named Mr. Ryan and August Belmont without
loss of time. A great cheer, met by a storm
of hisses and "boos," continued for three
minutes. New York and Virginia delegatds
joined in the hissing. .
Mr. Bryan's speech was aa follows: "This Is
an extraordinary resolution, but extraordinary
conditions require extraordinary remedies. We
are now engaged in the conduct of a conventiom
