Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-06
Conservatism Rules Among
st. Louis Delegates.
LEAD RS LISTENED TO
RANK AND FILE ACQUIESCE IN
COUNsELs OF CALMNEsS.
Bryan to Fight for His Financial Doc
trines-Hill Now Counts on Clear
Margin for Parker on First Ballot.

Special Dispatch From a STAFF Correspondent.
ST. LOUIS, Mo-, July Ga sound candi-
date, on sane and conservative platform
casting off of the bizarre rags of populism
and rehabilitating the party In the sober
garb of other days; unification and harmon
izing of all save the ultra radical and IRE
concilable element of the party in a deter
mined effort for victory. This now seems
likely to be the democratic program to be
formulated as the result of this conven-
ton. There Is no mstaking the deadly
earnestnesS of the representatives of the
democracy of the nation in their intention
to redeem the party and bring it back to a
more conservative basis. If present plans
are carried out, the democracy will reach
that condition described by Senator Platt as
sane and dangerous"
Conservatives in Control.
There has not been a minute when the
conservative wing of the party has not been
in control. The radicals have simply
stormed and chafed on the outside of a
hollow square of determined men, standing
guard over platform and candidates. The
outsiders have not even known of the plans
of the real leaders of the situation until
they got them second hand.
masterfulness of few bold spirits, such as
HILL Guffey and Taggart, but comes
through the acquiescence of the rank and
file of the delegates, who aid and abet the
freezing out of the radicals.
From every section of the country comes
evidence of the determination of the deElo-
Gratis to displace their old 3eaders and in
stall new ones, with new IDEALS and plans.
fe
sonnel and behavior of thisgathering, from
that of the convention of -four years ago
at Kansas City. We all sremember then
that 1t was a hoop la "hooray boys
outfit, full of shouting ana froth: cheering
and enthusiasm. There has been very lit
tie demonstration thus far at this meet
ing, the delegates soberN discussing at
fairs in corridors and lohbies, but giving
vent to very few ebullitioas they shuttle
through the hotel corridsrs, silently. al
most ominousiy In their abstraction. eddy
ing off into little groups Sapart from the
main stream, there to talk seriously over
the platform and candidate They mean
business and they show 1t in many little
ways.
Influence Of the Leaders.
The big leaders of the party seem to be
having more influence with their followers
than they did four years ago True, at
that time. it was a one-man convention,
dominated and ruled with rod of iron by
Mr. Bryan through the lingering infatua-
ton of the masses of the party with his
personality. Today we find the old fac
tional and state leaders in the saddle
again; John w. Daniel of Virginia, Sena-
tors Martin. Catchings, Williams and
Hooker of Mississippi, McEnery of Louis
lana, Bailey of Texas, Carmack of Tennessee
and the quartet of giants In the north
Guffey, German. Hill and Taggart. SEN
ator Gormans influence is felt, although
he is absent in person.
Dominated by Williams.
One OF the dominating figures of this con-
vention is John Sharp Williams, the minor
ity leader of the House. He has mingled
but little with the crowds, keeping in the
seclusion of the conference room and visit
ed there and consulted by the big dem
ocrats from every section. Possessing their
confidence through his skillful and brilliant
leadership in the House. they listen to his
arguments and heed his advice His every
word Is for conservatism and harmony.
There is a group Of n7alcontents, headed
by Bryan, BSss Murphy of Tammaay Hall,
the Hearst managers and aided and abetted
by Charles A. Towne, Frank Cannon of
Utah and Bourke Cochran Of New York.
ELmity to Parker is their whole stock in