Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-06-25
A LIVELY CONVENTION
Meeting of the Iowa Democrats,
While Not Spectacular,
Was Interesting
REoRGANizERs TALKED LITTLE
Debate on the Reaffirmation Question
Lacked the BrlIiancy of the Conven-
ton Last Year-coI. Mackey the
Only obstreperous Delesate-silver
Sentiment Waning.
Special to Times-Repubiican.

Des Moines. June 25-The demo-
cratic state convention closed out
quickly after it got started yesterday
afternoon and it was lively little con-
yenton on the whole. There was much
about the convention that was interest
ing; and yet it must be confessed that
il was not as spectacular nor as eX-
citing as the one of year ago. The
convention Of this year was inclined to
moderation. The reotganlzers had
things pretty much their own way, and
realizing that they were in power and
had comfortable lead they were dis
posed to keep still and 90 no arguing;
While the reafflrmation.sts, realizing
their weakness and becoming some
what used to defeats in Iowa, did little
else than make u stand &c keep the rec
ord straight. There was only once when
the convention became unruly. Colonel
Mackey did not like to nave the debate
ON the reaffirmation plank shut OIL so
soon and ne insisted on talking after
the debate had been closed by agree
ment. He kept on talking and the con-
yentfon would not listen. His law part
ner was presiding and did all he could
TO shut the colonel off, nut the colonel
rather likes noise. He had prefaced
his remarks with the assertion that ali
the troubles of nation commence with
uneasy politicians and newspaper cor
respondents. There were several of
both classes present ana they did not
ny, ffirfhpr-ln1
they did not near it. The colonel was
finally quieted. but he made big dis
turbanee while he was on his feet. The
debate was not up to the standard OF
last year on the question Of silver or no
silver. Last year there were great
speakers-weaver. Roies. Van Wag-
enen, Butler and others. This year X
was Robh and Rinehart and Butler on
oi.t. side and L. NJ. Sharon OH the cther-
They did not argue. +, was merely a
few cursory remarks and plea, and
that was ALL Reaffirmation was de-
feated with more than double the ma
iority of last years Waterloo, the vote
standing 463 TO 354. This was settler
for silver and means that the sentiment
is growing stronger against 1t all the
time. The government ownership plank
was served even worse. Nearly every
strong democratic county was solid
against it. There We're but 1873 votes
for 1t in the convention and one-fourth
were in the Eleventh district largely as
u compliment to Van Wagenen. With
the defeat of the government ownership
idea the plans for the nomination or
Van Wagenen vanished. Many VINO
were favorable to Van Wagenen had
hoped he would give up his plank and
consent to run. and II IS possible ne
could have been nominated If he had
not insisted to the last on his plank.
But after it was over he was greatly
pleased and declared that he was glad
the other man had been nominated
since his plank had gone down.
Jerry Sullivan, the nominee. made
pleasing speech to the convention. He
promised he would accept and take up
the work. He would carry the princi-
pies of the democracy into every COR
ner of the state tie principles
of the party for hundred years.
He gave a side hit at the reorganlZers
by declaring he did not believe there
was any room for two republican par
ties. He would stand scuarely on both
the state and national pla'forms. Sulli-
van is prosperous lawyer of Creston
reputed to be a royal good fellow. one
worthy of the nomination. certainly a
ready talker and a man of good pres
ence. He will remove 10 Des Moines
at once, as he had already purchased a
house here.
John ID. Butler. of North English. the
nominee for lieutenant governor. was
put forward by Judge Wade and that
was sufficient for the convention. The
Judge declared that Butler was the
right kind of a man anG that he knew
he was all right. The rest of the ticket
vas named in an Indifferent manner
The Hearst boom did not win. The
democrats of Iowa were too serious for
such stuff and they felt that it was
not the time to take on something from
the outside. But there is no question
that the feeling for Hearst was excel
lent in the convention. There were two
Hearst men here from Chicago and two
from New York