Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-07-05
THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION.

The committee on arrangements OF the
democratic national committee in St.
Louis on Saturday agreed unanimously
to recommend the selection of John
Sharp Williams, of Mississippi, for
temporary chairman of the convention.
The committee also decided upon NJ.
w. Bumenburg, one OF the official
reporters of the United States Senate,
for the Office of reporter Of the pro-
ceedings of the convention, and upon
Frank Brust, Of Chicago, for chief door
keeper.
Mr.. Bryan is on the scene working
hard against Parker. He told a CORE
spondent that he was mot unfavorable"
TO the candidacy of Gray or German.
The only man be says he would not sup
port is Mr. Cleveland.
A dispatch from st. Louis to the New
York Herald says: Three important
features of the democratic national plat
form are practically agreed on by the
forces that will control the convention.
The financial plank will take middle
ground and follow John Sharp Williams
Mississippi platform. The tariff plank
will call for revision and contain the
idea and much of the phraseology of Sem
ator Germans Maryland platform. To
offset what leading democrats call the
'bloody-shirf plank of the republican
platform adopted at Chicago, it has been
decided to insert declaration in favor Of
leaving the race question and the problem
of representation in Congress and the
electoral college to the various States.
On finance this plank will be reported
to the committee on resolutions to be
adopted, or, at least, to form basis of
consideration it is the Mississippi plat
form with the phraseology slightly chang
ed: The tariff plank to be presented to
the committee has Senator German for
its father and was brought to st. Louis
by his personal representatives in the
Maryland delegation yesterday. This is
its outline as it now stands:
By vote of 63 to 5 the Pennsylvania
delegation in caucus yesterday decided
10 support Parker for President.
Movements in behalf of Ex-Governor
Pattison, of Pennsylvania, and Judge
Gray, of Delaware, for President de-
veloped vigor at st. Louis yesterday.
Some of Mr.. Bryan's closest friends were
advocating the turning over of the Bryan
influence to Pattison. The Delaware
delegation began systematic canvass in
behalf of Gray and won considerable
support, including that of Senator B. R.
TilIman, of South Carolina, who said
GRAY would be 500, 900 votes stronger
than any other man who conld be
named. Nevertheless, the prevailing
opinion continued to be that Judge Par
ker will be nominated though Tammany
is still against him. A result Of the eff
fort to defeat Parker is the probable
choice of candidate thoroughly accept
able to the conservative element.
Senator German is apparently still de-
termined to remain quiet until after the
presidential nomination has been made,
and, notwithstanding the stir caused
among the political leaders and Presi-
dent makers all over the country by the
announcement of his determination to
remain away from the convention, he
still preserves silence as to the meaning
of his present attitude. The question rs
to where ne stands and what his position
is toward the nomination OF Parker or Of
any OF the candidates in the race is still
unsolved and bids fair to remain a mys-
terry until the action Of the Maryland
delegation in the convention shows what
instructions have been given.
The Southern delegates, it is said, are
making rush for the Parker band wagon.
The Virginia delegation, which had been
delayed for a number OF hours, reached
st. Louis late last night Col. J. Taylor
Ellyson national committeeman, and
State chairman Of the party, has been
sounding sentiment and says he finds it
all for Parker. In order to test the senti-
ment of the Virginia delegation he wired
yesterday morning and had poll of the
delegation taken last night. He received
telegram from Senator Martin stating
that every delegate would vote for Park
err. Virginia headquarters was opened
this morning in the st. Nicholas Hotel,
the parlor being decorated with the Vir-
ginia flag and an abundance of bunting.
Today the delegation will hold its caucus.
Senator Martin will be chairman of the
delegation, and Senator Daniel men,
Der OF the committee on resolutions.