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The Commoner.
ISSUED WEEKLY
Entered at tho Pontofllco at Lincoln, Nebraska,
as Bccond-eluBH matter.
William .T. Diiyan
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THE COMMONER, Lincoln, Neb.
dividod into two parties, this on tho one side,
and on tho other tho nomination of a ticket that
would so appeal to tho progressive element of
tho nation as to make a third party improbable.
"I am satisfied that with Mr. Wilson running
for prosidont on tho platform which has been
prepared, there will bo comparatively few pro
gressive republicans who will not feel justified
in supporting tho democratic ticket.
"If I wore to make an estimate I would say
that we ought to have not less than 2,000,000
majority of tho popular vote and enough of tho
electoral voto to glvo us an overwhelming ma
jority in tho electoral college.
"Tho action of the convention in adopting the
anti-Morgan-Ryan-Belmont resolution has dem
onstrated that the democratic party is not only
progressive, but is bold enough to throw down
the gauntlet to tho predatory interests. It is
fortunate that Mr. Wilson's nomination was
made without tho aid of Mr. Murphy. It is no
reflection on the many good men in tho New
York delegation to say this.
"From every standpoint tho outlook is hope
ful. Tho only unpleasant thing about a political
fight is that success to one aspirant brings dis
appointment to others.
, "Those who fall ought to find some consola
tion -in tho fact that failure is not always a re
flection on tho individual, because circumstances
exort a larger influence than is sometimes sup
posed in tho determining of a convention choice.
Men are only available when they fit into con
ditions. I decided somo two years ago that I
did not fit into the conditions as wo then saw
them, and I was not willing to assume tho re
sponsibility of advocating any particular pro
gressive, partly because I preferred to trust the
wisdom of tho multitude and partly because I
felt that a great deal would depend on tho action
of tho republican convention. When the re
publican convention adjourned it was oven more
apparent than before that circumstances re
quired somo emphatic action on the part of our
convention to insure a consolidation of tho pro
gressive vote under our banner.
"Tho incidents of the convention have, in a
strange way, emphasized tho progressivencss of
our party far more than I had expected that pro
gressivonoss could be exercised, and tho conven
tion has docidod, with raro unanimity, that
Governor Wilson fits into the conditions that tho
republican convention and our convention havo
joined in creating.
"I fool that the platform will help him in his
fight. It is needless to say that I am gratified
to boo our party raising tho banner of progres
sive democracy aloft and calling to tho pro
gressive forces of tho nation to join in restoring
the government to tho hands of tho people, that
It may bo, in truth, a government of the people,
by tho peoplo and for tho poople.
"It has been, a long convention, but tho results
aro worth the time. The dawn is here and pro
gressive democracy will bo tho people's pillar of
cloud by day."
Colonel Bryan held an informal levee in his
room this afternoon. and many delegates dropped
In to congratulate him, on hife fight. Telegrams
pourod in praising -Mnufor the. campaign ho had
made in tho intorestofprogressivism,
Lato this afternoon a party of Princeton
The Commoner.
students marched to Mr. Bryan's rooms and
there gave free outlet to their enthusiasm ovor
the nomination of tho former head of Princeton
university. Mrs. Bryan was given a song and
cheer. There wcro cheors for Wilson and for
Bryan and when tho students wore not cheer
ing thoy sang songs, to the delight of tho Ne
braskan. The students demanded a speech.
"You say you aro very happy," said Colonel
Bryan. "Well, if you get happier and happier
every day until tho election you will be as happy
as I am now."
When somo member of tho crowd cried that
ho had been for Underwood, Mr. Bryan ad
dressed him personally, saying:
"I had no special pleasure in opposing your
man. Ho is a splendid fellow personally, but
ho simply did not fit tho. occasion."
Colonel Bryan said in the afternoon that be
yond the submission of a proposal that the presi
dential nominee be permitted to appoint a cam
paign committee his work was done.. Ho talked
like a man who was quite satisfied with what
ho had accomplished.
"In my own campaign," said tho Nobraskan,
"I was continually embarrassed by having men
behind me who wore more interested in what
was going on in the republican party than they
were in the democratic party. To save embar
rassment to tho nominee of this convention in
taking the matter in his own hands, I am think
ing of making the proposition that he be em
powered to name his own campaign committee.
"I havo said things in this convention that
may havo hurt, but I havo felt that no matter
what a man's personal and political friendships
are, principles and honor come first.
"Three things appealed to me as being of
prime importance here: First, the making of a
party platform and that may not be so im
portant if tho candidate is not right; second, tho
naming of a progressive candidate, and, third,
tho selection of a campaign committee in entire
sympathy with the candidate and named by him.
"In my own campaigns there havo been men
on my committees who would not act as chair
men of meetings in their own states."
MB. BRYAN'S VALEDICTORY
The Pittsburg Press thus describes what it
calls, "Tho Passing of Bryan:"
"THE PASSING OF BRYAN"
"Tho voluntary passing of Bryan was tho one
great dramatic incident of the night. The con
vention had stopped in the middle of its roll call
on the nominations to spend a couple of hours
disposing of tho platform, and tho usual resolu
tions. It was long past midnight When it re
sumed its labors. Tho roll was proceeding
slowly. Tho vast auditorium was still jammed
with peoplo. The galleries had been listening
in amusement to the efforts of orators to pay
eloquent tributes to tho man they wero placing
in nomination for tho vice presidency.
"Tho heat and tho lateness of the hour had
had its effect and 50 per cent of tho crowd was
lazily lolling back in chairs, hoping for some
thing to enliven tho monotony. The reading
clerk finally reached the District of Columbia
next to tho last on tho, list. Ho had to call
twice. Finally the figure of a fat man climbed
on a chair. He was wet with perspiration. His
collar was a rag and his general appearance one
of complete physical exhaustion. There was a
general laugh from .the gallery and then the
representative of the District in a voice that
penetrated to every part of the big armorv
began:
" 'Mr. Chairman,' he shouted, 'we have nomi
nated for tho head of this ticket a man whom
every one admits is progressive. Wo believe
that his success is assured. But to make assur
ance doubly sure I now nominate as our candi
date for the vice presidency of the United States
the most progressive of all Americans, the man
wno personally has created these policies which
mean the placing of this nation of ours on
record as insisting on the absolute right of the
pooplo to rule, the greatest of all living Ameri
cans tho Hon. William Jennings Bryan, of
Nebraska. '
"There was a pause that seemed to last 10
minutes. It actually lasted 10 seconds, and
then camo the wildest, most hysterical outburst
of cheering that had marked tho convention
From tho delegates themselves, from the gal
lories, and from the dim recesses of the great
dust-filled building there went up a roar that
seemed like the whistle of a thousand locomo
tives merged into one.
"Down in tho yory front in the seat set apart
for him by. the -Nebraska delegation -Bryan1 was
sitting. Motionless ho remained, the palm-leaf
VOLUME 12,'NUMBER 27
fan clenched in his hand; his hair dishevelled;
his face ashen white. But as tho cheering con
tinued and increased in volume a red blush
mantled tho commoner's face and head.
" 'Bryan! We want Bryan!' the refrain
echoed and re-echoed from one section 'of the
hall to tho other which reverberated back from
the ceilings until it was deafening.
"At last Bryan climbed on his chair. 'Plat
form! Platform!' tho refrain went up, and in
obedience to the cry, Bryan slowly mounted to
tho same spot, where a few days ago he had de
nounced to their faces Murphy, Ryan and Bel
mont "Bryan did not speak long, but every word
ho uttered will ever be remembered by those
who heard it. He spoke, in a voice that at
times trembled with emotion, of regret that
tho personal enmities ho had engendered dur
ing the sixteen years he had been leading democ
racy, made it necessary for him to relinquish the
leadership into their hands.'
The presentation of Mr. Bryan's name was
made by a District of Columbia delegate whose
identity Mr. Bryan has not yet learned. Thus
brought beforo the convention during its closing
hours Mr. Bryan delivered, extemporaneously,
tho following valedictory :
Mr. Chairman and members of the conven
tion: You have been so generous with me in
the allowance of time that I had not expected to
trespass upon your patience again, but the com
pliment that has been paid me by the gentle
man from the District of Columbia justifies, I
hope, a word in the form of a valedictory.
(Applause.)
For sixteen years I have been a fighting man.
Performing what I regarded as a public duty
I have not feared to speak out on every public
question that was before the people of the na
tion for settlement, and I have not hesitated
to arouse the hostility and tho enmity of indi
viduals where I felt it my duty to do so in be
half of my country. (Applause.)
I have never advocated a man except with
gladness and I have never opposed a man ex
cept in sadness. (Cheers and applause.) If I
have any enemies in- this country those who are
my enemies have a monopoly of hatred. There
is not one single human being for whom I feel
ill-will. (Applause:) Nor is there one Ameri
can citizen In my own party or in any other
whom I would oppose for anything except I
believed that in not opposing him I was sur
rendering the interests of my country, which I
hold above any person.
I recognize that a man who fights must carry
scars (applause) and I decided long before this
campaign commenced that I had been in so many
battles and had alienated so many persons that
my party ought to havo the leadership of Bome
one who had not thus offended and who might
therefore lead with greater hope of victory.
(Applause.)
Tonight I come with joy to surrender into the
hands of tho one chosen by this convention a
standard which I carried in three campaigns,
and I challenge my enemies to declare that it
has ever been lowered in the face of the enemy.
(Great applause and cheering.) The same be
lief that led me to prefer another for the presi
dency rather than to be a candidate myself, leads
me i to prefer another for the vice presidency.
it is not because the vice presidency is lower
in importance than the presidency that I decline.
SSE w ,offl,ce in ma naticn so low that I
would not take it if I could serve my country by
accepting it. (Great applause and cheering.)
Jiut I believe that I can render more service
wnen i nave not the embarrassment of a nomi
nation and have not the suspicion of a selfish in-
SS1 ?oro Service tnan could as a candi
date, and your candidate will not be more active
!L,iPigVHn sna11 be- (eat ap
?o?deriug') My services are at the
?h?Efid ,e Party and feel relieved that
shoulSe?sen leader8hIp lB transferred to other
form1 ?hfta8L!?f-that' ha7ing given "s a Plat'
!m J? f.moat Preressive that any party of
KJhfifrt?118 GVer adoptGd In m naon, and,
having given us a candidate, who, I believe will
appeal not only to the democratic vote but to
some three or four million of republicans who
havo been alienated by the policies of Spt?
nomination ifnfn6' ln conclusin, second the
2w Burko nf inXm but of two: Gvor
nS ?i?' 0f North Dakota, and. Senator
& )r f 0reg0n- MLng " -ntinuoS a