Bryan had little opposition after Spanish-American War hero Admiral George Dewey dropped out in May after being quoted in newspapers that he thought the President job would be easy because the president merely followed the orders of Congress to enforce laws.
The strongest opposition at the convention came from Richard Croker of New York's Tammany Hall who opposed Bryan.
The convention also marked the first time that a member of royalty attended a Presidential convention as a delegate. David Kawananakoa, heir to the throne of the Kingdom of Hawaii, represented the newest United States territory. Prince David was to break a tie about inserting a free silver plank into the convention platform.
The Democrats included planks in the platform denouncing Republican imperialism and expansion as was demonstrated in the Spanish-American War.
Convention Hall
Kansas City got the convention on the strength of its new Convention Hall, which opened on February 22, 1899. The hall was destroyed in a fire on April 4, 1900, but was rebuilt in 90 days in time for the convention. Harry S. Truman served as a page at the convention.
