The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-02
Parkefs Friends Depending on
 the Early Ballots
.GORMAN IS STRONG FACTOR.
Now Seems Apparent That Control of
 Party's Affairs Will Pass to the l East, No Matter Who ss the Candidate.

I St Louis, July 1.-Two distinct lines of I operation developed today in the prelim- mary skirmishing of the democratic na-
 tional convention. One is a scheme to
 rush the nomination of Judge Parker
 on the first or second ballot. and the oth-
 CT is to scatter the vote prevent an early l nomination with view of naming Cleve- I land or German
 I The friends of German and Cleveland
 are working to hold the convention for
 several ballots in the hope that their can
 didate would be named. The German men
 are not parties to the Cleveland move-
 ment, nor are the Cleveland advocates combining with Germans friends. There is no alliance but it Is to the
 interest of both that the Parker strength
 be disintegrated as soon as possible. There are few men here-members of the old Cleveland guard-who are
 watching every point, and who are in close communication with Cleveland s supporters. and in subtle and subter- ranean manner they have been feeling
 the pulse of men as they arrive They are using the race issue on the southern men, and with all delegates they use the argument that Cleveland is the only man that the democrats can elect. With some effect they are pointing out to the southern delegates that they need no better excuse for supporting Cleveland
 than they did so for the purpose of pre- venting negro domination by the repub- lieans The man who is credited with be- ing the head and front and manager of
 the Cleveland movement, Thomas F. Ryan, will arrive tomorrow.
 Ryan Is cIeveIand's Leader. Ryan is delegate from Virginia, and has been identified with the Atlantic | Coast Line railroad. He also has been as- sociated with Charles F Murphy leader | of Tammany hall. Ryan is credited with | having some southern states delegations
 up his sleeve ready to throw to cleve- I land
 Germans position Is stated to be that Il he will not enter Into any combination to Il prevent the nomination of Parker unless
 1t means his own selection. He will not
 be used to pull out the chestnuts for Cleveland. Around German are gathered
 the Maryland. West Virginia, District of l Columbia delegations. and some from l other states. with q bare possibility of se- | curing New Jersey and Pennsylvania, But l like German, former Senator Smith of New Jersey and James A. Guffey of Penn | sylvania want to see success in sight | before they jump.
 There is a story going the rounds of the politicians who are here that the recent conference between German, Smith, Cuff | fey and Mclean had for their main object | q proposition to control the party organiz-
 ation; that in selection of a national com | nlttee chairman some one should be
 chosen who would name men for the cam | paign committee under the control of
 these men. This control is to prevent 1t | falling into the hands of David B. Fill. | and also that the machinery majority of the party organization should not be used
 for Par lser in 1908 if he should be nomi- rated and make good showing this year.
 Gorman's Friends Confident.
 No one appears authorized to speak with authority for any man who participated in the conference but whatever occurred
 the friends of German here are still talk
 ing about the possibility of his nom ination, and seem to think he will be
 presented to the convention. This may be
 a part of the plan to secure concessions | from the Parker men.
 | It Is somewhat surprising that although
 264 delegates are instructed for Parker, about 26O more were selected under 1 spices favorable to him, that there should | be so much talk about scattering his strength after one or two ballots be- cause delegates are not under instruc-
 tions. The inference seems to be that they will go to another candidate in any early stage fin the balotipg Psrkers
 friends do not admit this weakness of
 their candidate although the opponents of the New Workers are making the sup posed lack of faith in his adherents one of their strongest cards.
 It seems apparent now that control of the party's affairs will pass to the east. no matter who may be the candidate or what may be the platform. Arkansas. Missouri, Kansas. Iowa and Nebraska will give way under the changed condi- 1 tions to New York, Pennsylvania, Mary | land, New Jersey and New England.