Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1900-07-10
Democrats National Convention.


The Democratic National Convention,
in session at Kansas City last week,
adopted its platform and nominated Hon
William Jennings Bryan, of Nebraska.
for President of the United States and
Hon. Adlai E. Stevenson. of Illinois, for
Vice President.
The nomination of Mr.. Bryan was
unanimous. Every vote in the conven-
ton was cast for him as the roll of States
was called.
Ex-senator David B. Hill, of New
York, could have had the nomination for
second place. but he checked great
stampede which was started in his behalf.
The New York delegation led this stam-
pede and presented Hill as its candidate.
The vast crowd shouted wildly for Hill,
but he made speech saying firmly that
he could not accept the nomination and
this headed off the movement
Those who were put in nomination be-
fore the convention, besides Stevenson
and Hill, were Charles A. Towne. of
Minnesota Gov. John Waters Smith, of
Maryland Col. Julian S. Carr. of North
Carolina; ]. Hamilton Lewis. of the
State of Washington, and A. w. Patrick,
of Ohio. Lewis withdrew his name be-
fore the balloting began. JamesS. Hogg,
of Texas, and Elliott Danforth, of New
York, received one vote each, though
they were not formally nominated. West
Virginia cast her twelve votes solid for
Stevenson. The totals in the result of
the ballot were as follows:
Stevenson. .........-.............5 5915
'Hill.-..... ................... $500. .2OO
IOwne ...... ...............-.......
Patrick. 4t
Carr. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. %
smith ...--..-....-:.-.. 1880. 10
Danforth. Observation-Disclosures.
HogS ..................-..... ..............l
The number of votes necessary to a
choice-two thirds of the convention-was
GA. When the end of the ballot had
been reached Tennessee changed its vote
to Stevenson and others followed, until
every vote was recorded in his favor.
The platform, as reported by the COM
mittee on resolutions, was adopted by the
convention without debate and without a
dissenting voice, 1t begins with declara-
tions on thequestion of imperialism, which
it declares to be the paramount issue of
the campaign" A large part of the text
is taken up with this topic. The next
problems dealt with in the order named.
are theMonroe doctrine, militarisrl, trusts,
the tariff and the interstate commerce law.
Then comes the silver plank, which con-
tains declaration for the free coinage
of silver at 10 to 1. The new Currency
bill is denounced Continuing. the plat
form advocates the election of United
States Senators by the the people, opposes
government by injunction" and the
blacklist. favors arbitration IN settling
labor disputes aud the establishment of a
department oflabor, with Cabinet officer
in charge; declares for liberal pensions
to ex-soldiers and for the construction
of the Nicaragua canal under the control
of this country, condemns the Hay
Pauncefote treaty, opposes foreign al
llances, expresses sympathy for the Beers
and deals with other important questions.
Inc plank reiatin& TO imperialism
promises independence to the Fllipinos
and Cubans and denounces the Porto
Ricolaw. The anti-trusts plank proposes
Legislative remedies.
The final vote in the resolutions com
mittee was 40 to "a in favor of the 16-to-1
plank. The opponents of 10 to were be-
lieved to be in majority at first, but it
was reported that a telephone message
from Mr.. Bryan stated that he would not
accept the nomination for President un-
less the convention stood by 10 to I. This
report was later proved to be false, but it
is believed to have had the effect of
swinging the committee, The votes of
Hawaii and Oklahoma, ex-senator Hill
pointed out, decided the question.