Editing Cross of Gold speech (section)

=== Convention events ===
Bryan later described the silence as "really painful" and momentarily thought he had failed.{{sfn|Williams|p=86}} As he moved towards his seat, the Coliseum burst into pandemonium. Delegates threw hats, coats, and handkerchiefs into the air.{{sfn|Williams|p=86}} Others took up the standards with the state names on them with each delegation, and planted them by Nebraska's.{{sfn|Jones|p=229}} Two alert police officers had joined Bryan as he left the podium, anticipating the crush. The policemen were swept away by the flood of delegates, who raised Bryan to their shoulders and carried him around the floor. ''[[The Washington Post]]'' newspaper recorded, "bedlam broke loose, delirium reigned supreme."{{sfn|Bensel|pp=232–234}}

It took about 25&nbsp;minutes to restore order, and according to Bensel, "somewhere in the mass demonstration that was convulsing the convention hall, the transfer of sentiment from silver as a policy to Bryan as a presidential candidate took place".{{sfn|Bensel|p=236}} Newspaper accounts of the convention leave little doubt but that, had a vote been taken at that moment (as many were shouting to do), Bryan would have been nominated.{{sfn|Bensel|p=236}} Bryan was urged by Senator Jones to allow it, but refused, stating that if his boom would not last overnight, it would never last until November.{{sfn|Williams|p=86}} He soon retired from the convention, returning to his hotel to await the outcome.{{sfn|Bensel|p=237}} The convention passed the platform in Bryan's absence and recessed.{{sfn|Bensel|pp=241–242}}

The balloting began the following morning, July 10, with a two-thirds vote necessary to nominate. Bryan, who remained at his hotel, sent word to the Nebraska delegation to make no deals on his behalf. He stood second out of fourteen candidates in the first ballot, behind Bland.{{sfn|Kazin|p=62}}{{sfn|Williams|p=87}} On the second ballot, Bryan still stood second, but had gained as other candidates had fallen away. The third ballot saw Bland still in the lead, but Bryan took the lead on the fourth ballot. According to Jones, it was clear that Bland could not win, and that Bryan could not be stopped. On the fifth ballot, the Illinois delegation, led by Governor Altgeld, switched its votes from Bland to Bryan. Other delegations, seeing that Bryan would be nominated, also switched, securing the victory. Nevertheless, he won the nomination without the votes of the gold delegates, most of whom either left the convention or refused to vote.{{sfn|Jones|pp=234–236}}