Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1904-07-09
CONVENTION OPENS.
Alton B. Parker's Position
Remains mistaken.
WILLIAMS REPLIES TO ELIHU ROOT
Cohesion of the Anti-Parker Men APP
pareptIy gmpossibie-New Yorker
May BE Nominated ON First
e or second Ballot.

OF SHcohu
ST. LOUIS, July g. With the open
ing of the Democratic national conven.
ton here Judge Alton b. Parker's
strong position as a presidential can
didate remains mistaken.
The day has been marked by series
Of events of stirring and interesting
character First and foremost came the
complete elimination of Mr.. Cleveland
The Cleveland boom was sham after
ALL James Smith. Jr.. the leader OF
New Jersey, who had been masquerad
ing behind the Cleveland boom, naiveiy
confessed that he had been playing a
confidence game on the delegates. Mr..
Cleveland, ten days ago, positively for
bade the We Of BIS name
William J. Bryan continues to stand
like combination of Ajax and Casa
blanca dreaming Of yet being able to
effect a winning combination. Mr.
Bryan and Charles A. Towne both
make the statement that 400 votes will
stand out against Parker and beat him
On the contrary, ii is known that more
than 200 votes that will be east for
other candidates on the first ballot will
go TO Parker on the second
Developments of the day tend to con-
firm the statement that the great fight
in the convention will come over the
platform. A strong sentiment is de-
veloping in favor of a declaration for
the gold standard. The phrase that is
desired is:
'The Democratic party pledges itself
to the maintenance OF the existing mon
ey standard"
Mr. Bryan will fight harder than ever
for the reafiirmation of the Kansas
City platform. Former Bryan men
who are now supporting Parker such
as John Sharp Williams and Senator
Bailey of Texas, want a middle
ground money plank.
Former senator George Turner of
Washington continues to be in the lead
for the vice presidential nomination.
The opposition to the New Workers.
candidature has made many assaults.
but has apparently made no impress
sion. The solid and substantial phalanx
OF the New York iurist has withstood
all efforts OF the friends of other can
didates and is apparently stronger than
ever. Assurances of accessions from
Instructed delegations after the first
ballot have been received from men
who are now tied 10 other candidates. |
which the Parker adherents say in
sures nomination on the second bal |
lot
All day long the anti-Parker men |
have fried TO offer candidate who |
would unite a third Of the delegates SO
as to have a rallying point when com
plimentary ballots have been east for
favorite sons The impossbility of
uniting has been manifest and the
most jealous opponents Of Parker con-
cede his probable nomination not later |
than the second ballot.
The Parker opposition was disturbed. |
but not routed, by the action of Penn |
sylvania. The sixty eight votes of that |
state aaye been for weeks placed in the |
Parker column and are a part of the |
200 odd votes that have been claimed |
for him. They were not instructed, how
ever. and il they could have been Sc
cured for any other candidate ii would |
have been a serious blow to the Parker |
interests. Criticism of the action of |
PENNSYLVANIA has been free and harsh |
among some OF the anti-Parker men. |
but others say that proposition made |
by one of the Pennsylvania leaders is |
quite fair. 1t is stated that after the |
action of the Pennsylvania delegation |
a member OF the delegation held a con |
ference with some of the anti-Parker |
leaders and said that Pennsylvania, |
Notwithstanding the Endorsement of |
Parker. would give sixty eight votes TO |
any eastern candidate-with the excep- |
ton of Hearst-upon whom the opposi |
tion could concentrate with enough |
pledged votes. which. together with the |
sixty eight votes of Pennsylvania, |
would make two votes more than one
third of the convention. Among the |
candidates named who would be salts |
factory were Pattison of Pennsylvania, |
German OF Maryland, Gray of Della |
ware, Harmon Of Ohio. 0lney of Mas
sachusetts and Coler of New York
Tammany furnished sensational in |
cident by swiftly back tracking on a |
semiofficial announcement that il had |
dropped its opposition to Parker. The |
organization had allowed it to become |
known through some of its most prom
inent representatives that it had decid |
ed to join the Parker ranks After |
period of silence and apparent po |
ltical idleness they have renewed their |
warfare against his candidacy, and |
Senator Victor Bowling, Charles A.
Towne. Bird s. Coler and Bourke Cock |
ran started to poll delegations and ask |
for votes against Judge Parker. BIT |
Senator Bowling said that Tammany |
was simply against Parker and added:
you'll see very hard fight on the !
platform"
Senator Hin, Edward Murphy, Jr.. |
and William f. Sheehan were extreme
Iy confident at the Parker headquai |
tiers. Senator Hill said