Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1904-10-21

William Jennings Bryan for the Presi-
dercy. Yet they were willing to see
the gold Democrats restored to good fell
owship in the party, and they carried
their generosity to such an extent that
they were willing these former voters
should actually hold places of trust in
the party management. 1t was well
understood that Judge Parker, like Dave
I'LL, and Belmont, and German. and
Sheehan, and practically all Of the Lead
ing eastern Democrats, were gold men.
The majority Of them, however, liked
Parker; had maintained some kind OF
regularity and had voted for Bryan. al
though they did not believe in him or in
the silver standard. The delegates at
81. Louis, and most particularly those
from Indiana, were unwilling that the
platform should contain slap in the
face for William Jennings Bryan. 1t
WAS for this very purpose that they omit
ted all mention OF the gold STANDARD, and
Alton Il. Parker was nominated with
the unanimous support Of the Indiana
delegation. simply and solely because he
bad voted for Bryan in 1896 and 1900.
and because it was felt that he could
appeal to the country and to the loyal
Bryan Democrats. not on the financial
issue, but on the basis of recognized
and rejuvenated Democracy.
An Understood Move.
When Parker yielded to the advice
OF Sheehan and his other associates in
Albany and in New York, and sent his
famous telegram to the convention re-
buking it for not passing a financial
plank, and reiterating his own latter-day
devotion to the gold standard, it sent a
chill down the backs of the loyal old
time Bryan Democrats of Indiana. Park
er never would have been nominated il
that telegram had been sent in the early
hours OF the convention. The Bryan
Democrats naturally looked upon it as an
intentional insult, not only to William
Jennings Bryan, but to themselves. They
knew that Parker had voted for free
silver just as much as they did, and
they did not see why he should feel called
npon to assume the functions of com.
nittee on resolutions. and amend the
platform as he did through the unfair
medium of telegram which was sprung
upon the convention just as it was about
to adjourn and when it's action in nomi.
mating Parker could not have been re-
called without inviting defeat at the
very opening OF the campaign.
These good Bryan Democrats were
furious over the Parker telegram. Every
thing which has happened since in the
party management has only tended to
make them more angry. sudge Parker
mas surrounded himself with no one ex-
cept New York men. He has abso.
lutely ignored the rest Of the country,
and the rank and file have become con
WINGED at last that he and the men about
him are playing for the control of New
York State, and care little or nothing
about the result in the rest of the eoun.
try. Instead of the gold Democrat.
acting as grateful prodigals, humbly ap,
preciative of the generosity OF the Bryan
Democrats, they have assumed to act as
masters, and none OF the old Bryan lead.
ers has been able to get anywhere nea,
the sage of Esopus. These eastern
Democrats denounee Bryan as fiercely as
ever they did. and the men who bore the
brunt of battle in 1896 and in 1900
although they voted the same as did
Alton b. Parker himself, are given no
hand in the management of the cam.
paign, are denounced as ignorant and in
sane, and are used by the gold Democra.
TIC party to further its own plans with.
out regard at all for the best interests
OF the Democratic party as a whole.
Cieveiaud's AfTront.
Grover Cleveland, who is cordially
hated and despised by Indiana Demo,
Gratis generally. has become the chief ad
wiser OF the Parker crowd. He has for
gotten and forgiven nothing. He still
talks of Bryan and the Bryan Demo.
Gratis as II they were political and so
cial outcasts. Within a few DAYS. in
discussing the gold telegram. and the
action OF the conventi,a. Mr.. Cleveland
said;
The party's action speaks for itself. II
has returned 70 sanity. and future progress
on the right lines Is now assared Yes n
speaks for itself. The flare Of the Demo
cratic party Is close 10 my heart. and 1t is
once more upon the right road.
1t is no wonder, therefore, that thous
ands and tens Of thousands OF Bryan
Democrats in Indiana have become dis
gusted at being treated like yellow dogs
by the men they forsave aud invited
back into the party Hundreds and
thousands OF them are preparing to-day
to give the gold Democratic wing OF
the party q taste OF The very medicine
it administered 10 1896 Many thousand.
NJ the Bryan Democrats are hocking Ia
Watson the Populist candidate for the
Presidency. aad they are particularly
delighted at his letter OF acceptance
which hews close to the line letting the
chips fall where they will Candidate
Watson has voiced the views of a great
many Of the old line Democrats through
out the State, when he says:
Roosevelt is stralghtout Republe,n
who declares boldly FOR Republican prin'
ciples, dehsntly defending existing c6ndi
lions. He is not In ambush; he is behind
no blind. l can understand Republican
like that, and while l would love TO make
my battle ak ring on bis helmet. until ons
OF us went down. In political defeat and
death, yet. ! could respect him an thf
while as a foeman worthy Of any mans
steel He Is not seeking the support Of
Bryan Democrats upon false pretenses. M
is not playing confidence game on tbs