110 LIFE AND WORK OF DR. A. A. MURPHREE

fronts the Democratic party, there is a growing chance for
such a man as Dr. Murphree.
 "In representing the name of Dr. Murphree, I am going
to make a plea for the south and will endeavor to show that
the ban which has rested upon the southern states for sixty
years ought to be lifted so that the Democratic party can
choose its candidate from any state in the union on his merits
regardless of the state in which he resides. I am in a position
to do this because twenty-eight years ago I announced my
willingness to have a southern man for my running mate, and
twenty years ago I seconded the nomination of an ex-Con-
federate soldier, Senator Cockerell of Missouri. A southern
Democrat who is both progressive and dry will receive more
votes in the north than any candidate who is wet and reac-
tionary.
 'Thanking you again for your interest in Dr. Murphree
and your kind words in regard to myself, I am
 "Very truly yours,
 (Signed) W. J. BRYAN."

 Between this time and the New York convention which
assembled early in July of 1924, interest in the proposed can-
didacy of Dr. Murphree grew. Of course, this interest cen-
tered chiefly in Florida, but papers all over the country, par-
ticularly in the south, were anxious to support Dr. Murphree
if there was a chance of his nomination being taken seriously
by the convention. As one Florida editor said:

 "When Mr. Bryan announced that if elected as a delegate
from Florida to the Democratic convention he would place the
name of Dr. A. A. Murphree in nomination, the politicians
gasped; the newspapers were shocked; but the people started
to think. After all that has been said, it is evident that this
was a master stroke on the part of Mr. Bryan. It will mean
his certain election as delegate and will make the whole world
recognize the worth of Florida's great educator at Gaines-
ville."