The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-07-06
And Even Talk of Nomination
ON First Ballot.
LITTLE CONSIDERATION
Will Be Shown to the Radical
Wing Of the Party.
Band Wagon VIII Roll Over OPP
position Without Mercy.

uncertainty, sparring for position,
parleying for time, factional schelning
and manipulation to overthrow the
favorite, it is now the foregone con-
clusion that the field will come in
poor second.
Not only does it appear that the
control of the nomination for first
place will be in the hands of those
Democrats who were in the minority
in 1896 and again in 1900, but that
they will select the nominees running
mate and dominate the platform on
which the race viii be made.
In defiance of such handicaps as
were created by the ambitious friends
of German, Cleveland, Gray, Olney,
Mcclellan. and favorite sons who had
followings that divided the conserva-
tive columns, this element which had
advanced the claims of Democrat re-
habilitation struggled against the COM
bined opposition of Bryan, represent
ing the ruling Democrat force in the
last two presidential contests and the
personal campaign conducted by Will
liam r. Hearst.
Throughout the week the Parker
forces have received material access
siOns, one candidate after another who
threatened to supply strength for the
opposition being eliminated until op-
position is now confeSsedly in the mi
norfty and seemingly too unorganized
to present a fighting front The band
wagon seats are in such demand that
the nomination is confidently predict
ed on the second ballot, and the sur
prise would be small if the first were
decisive.
Though the result of the contest
for the presidential nomination seems
to be as good as settled, that spirit
which moves factions to war against
each other has not been removed
invention w mr. fA To- III
ing in enthusiasm or interest The
changed positions of those who are in
power now and those who controlled
four and eight years ago is attracting
wide attention from delegates and
persons who are assembled as spec
tators.
William ]. Bryan is the most pic
turesque figure. Twice the Candidate
of his party for president, but run
ming on platform forced upon the
nominating convention by his COM
polling personality and which robbed
MN OF harmonious party fealty, he is
IN the position of fighting for recogni-
ton against the element which has re-
turned to power.
For several days Mr.. Bryan and hand
tied Tammany delegates opposed to
Parker have been working to one end
the defeat of Parker-but they have not
moved in unison. The Tammany dele
gates are listed as conservatives and
the Bryan forces as radicals and in
consequence their work has been moor
Bryan was believed to be with Hearst
before the contest opened here but A r.
ter Parker's strength was shown he
suggested that the PENNSYLVANIA dele
cation should put former Governor
Pattison in nomination, but, that fail
ing to find favor he proposed Judson
Harmon of Ohio. The Ohio delegation
though loyal to Harmon, looked upon
the plan with some suspicion and this
idea fell upon barren SOIL
Tammany pursued it's fight in at
tempting to foster the favorite son
campaign and is claiming 40 votes
pledged against Parker. This number
is more than the one-third which would
prevent nomination. The Parker
forces displayed no alarm at the report
that votes were uniting in opposition
to the New York candidate Mr. BRYAN
asserted that Mr.. Parker had made no
substantial gains, and that the opposi-
ton was becoming better crystalized.
There are many prominent politicians
in the convention who
were compelled to submit to the will of
Mr.. Bryan in the last two conventions
who are taking unaffected satisfaction
in the fact that they are able to die
tate terms.
David B. Hill of New York, Ben T.
Gable and John P. Hopkins of Illinois, |
former Senator Smith of New Jersey. |
Patrick a. Collins of Massa chusetts, |
Hoke Smith of Georgia and Bourke |
Cochran of New York are among these |
On the other hand, there are many per-
sons taking minor parts in the pro-
ceedings for no other reason than that |
they held too much power in 1896 and |
1900. Many of these who stood by Bry- |
an then are not with him now. Some |
have returned to the conservatives and
others are watching in silence the |
working of the party programme.
The making of the party platform will |
1t is certain that many persons, disap-
pointed in their ability to exercise their |
share of authority in the ticket making, |
fol IN no MIA Iica,
advance ideas as widely diverging as |
those presented in the. dozens of state |
ation Of the national convention l c0nsio
The New York delegation is active in |
forces are equally alert. While it is I'M
likely that any effort will be made to re- |
ey planks. it is deemed improbable that |
an attempt viii be made to declare for |
tions have their ideas as to what the har-
plank should be.
platform talk. yet the leaders have not |
ceased to give it their attention. But It |
is the spectacular that masses like. The |
their role, while platforms are left to the /
men of letters. likewise the nomination |
1t has been talked in the lob |
bies, but no expression has been re- |
some indication comes from from that '' Quarter after
the ticket will not center for long on any |
esence ~ the hPoPef iobbv fickt no dl
that many of the persons suggested nave |
eliminated themselves from discussion. |
It is certain that no convention in years |
will be more largely attended than this |
Several of the state delegations have ap-
pointed committees to visit the national |
committee in order to get increased sup
plies of admissions Most of the appIi- |
cations avail nothing.
Atwood Now for Parker
st. Louis, July 6.-John H Atwood of |
Kansas caught the band wagon the day /
he reached here. He had been trained |
with the Bryan-Hearst crowd, alSnougfl |
he has not worked at it very hard since |
1900. Last spring in Wichita he was in /
touch close enough to be elected national