Though he became less involved in Democratic politics after 1920 , Bryan attended the 1924 Democratic National Convention as a delegate from Florida . He helped defeat a resolution condemning the Ku Klux Klan because he expected that the organization would soon fold ; Bryan disliked the Klan but never publicly attacked it . He also strongly opposed the candidacy of Al Smith due to Smith 's hostility towards Prohibition . After over 100 ballots , the Democratic convention nominated John W. Davis , a conservative Wall Street lawyer . To balance the conservative Davis with a progressive , the convention nominated Bryan 's brother , Charles W. Bryan , for vice president . Bryan was disappointed by the nomination of Davis , but strongly approved of the nomination of his brother and he delivered numerous campaign speeches on behalf of the Democratic ticket . Davis suffered one of the worst losses in the Democratic Party 's history , taking just 29 percent of the vote against Republican President Calvin Coolidge and third party candidate Robert M. La Follette
1924 Democratic National Convention
1924 Democratic National Convention
William Jennings Bryan