The National tribune., 1904-07-14
THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION.

democratic Convention WITHOUT sur
prises would be SO strange as not to be
recognized as a Democratic Convention.
The one held in st. Louis had It's full
share of surprises. This was not in the
unanimous nomination Of Judge Alton b.
Parker, because The National Tribune an
| ticipated that from the first, and as early
as last Winter felt confident that it was
almost assured. 1t was a return of the
Democratic Party to the old time domi-
nation of New York and the South, which
domination had been temporarily thrown
off by Bryan's tumultuOus revolution. On
the first ballot Judge Parker received 65S
votes. or about 20 votes less than had
been calculated for him. This was
speedily made good, however, by the swift
rush to get on the band wagon. Hearst
received 200 votes, precisely the number
which his agents had contracted for. The
other candidates received votes as fol-
lows:
Cockrell-Kansas. 1; Minnesota, L;
Missouri, sG; Nebraska; a. Total, AZ 90
Nebraska. I; Oklahoma. /. Total, SO.
Wall-o-Nebraska. 1; Wisconsin, &C.
Total, q.
Gray-Delaware, 6: Minnesota, l.;
Nebraska, 1; Porto Rico, f. Total IL.
Williams-North Dakota, 8.
| Pattison-Nebraska. 4.
Northumberland. 1: Oregon, l.:
Oklahoma. /. Total, 3.
Miles-Kansas. 2; Nebraska. 1. Total. 3.
Towne-Minnesota, 2.
Coer-Oregon, /.
Gorman-West Virginia, 2.
The surprises came in the smaIness Of
the votes received by the other candidates,
the extinction of Bryan. and finally the act
of Judge Parker. Those opposed to Parker
cherished the strong hope that the de-
ments antagonistie to him could be gotten
| together. defeat his nomination, and bring
the Convention to such a state that a
stampede would be made for one of the
minor candidates. Senator German felt
it so likely that the lightning might strike
him that he remained at home in digniied
expectancy of the event.
From the very first the Parker combina-
ton had the situation SO well in hand that
they had no doubt Of the result Bryan
made the fight of his life, but found that
his was no longer a name to conjure by.
The utmost that he could do was to pre-
vent the distinct reputation of the Kansas
City and Chicago Platforms, and the
adoption of the gold standard. The
adopted platform had no financial plank,
and the nomination of Judge Parker fol-
lowed. Then came the startling telegram
from the nominee as follows:
| 81 regard the gold standard as firmly
and irrevocably established, and shall act
accordingly if the action of the Conven-
ton to-day shall be ratified by the people.
AS the platform is silent on the subject,
my view should be made known to the Con
vention, and. if it is proved to be unsatis-
factory to the majority, | request you to
decline the nomination for me at once so
that another may be nominated before ad-
jOurnment.
"a. B. PARKER"
The reception of this by the Convention
raised " wild turmoil, but it was finally
accepted.
This was the most spectacular thing
ever done in National Convention, and
it has raised Judge Parker enormously in
| the estimation of the people, 1t shows
him to be man of commanding frmness,
who will dominate his party as absolutely
as Cleveland did.
The platform adopted is mainly words.
1t was written and adopted under peculiar
and trying circumstances. Men Of the
most widely differing views had to Be
harmonized and satisfied, so that it had to
make q great show of saying something
on all public questions without making
any utterance or recommendation 30
specific as to antagonize any one.
The fact that Judge Parker sent his
message to Hon. w. r. Sheehan, instead
of D. B. Hill. is regarded as happily sig
nifcant in that he was dissatisfied with
Hills temporizing with the Bryanites and
regarded Mr.. Sheehan as more truly rep
resentative Of him than Hill, who has
heretofore been bis sole spokesman.
The nomination. of Henry G. Davis, of
West Virginia, for Vice-President was an
other surprise. since Davis's name had not
been previously mentioned. 1t was sup
posed that either. the extreme West or the
pivotal States Of Illinois, Indiana, or Wis
consin would be called upon to furnish
the candidate adnstead man 50 years
old. who has been out Of public life num-
Der Of years. who was Of no particular
prominence when he was in public life, and
comes from State which can have little
influence upon the campaign was selected
as nominee. :,
The platforms and tickets are now be-
fore the people. and the battle has begun.
KURoPATKIN says that he il retiring
from Manchuria because it 10 too wet to
fight. He should have had taste OF the
Mississippi weather during the Vicksburs
campaign to know what real wet weather