The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-07-25
JOHN SHARP WILLIAMS
WRITES A FULL STORY ABOUT THE
PARKER TELEGRAM.
An Admirable Pen Picture of the nra-
matte Scenes in the National
Democratic Con-
ventiOn.

Il
was on the ground. and he was not !
knew what people were thinking and
| intending. and what knowledge was
guiding their action, and he did not.
! from his standpoint 1t was candid,
manly, brave and even necessary, thing
20 DO. From our standpoint 1t was
useless. and showed either supersensi-
| tiveness to newspaper criticism, or
laudable and chivalric. but somewhat
oyerstrained, sense of propriety about
| the possibility of being placed in Il
raise position before the delegates and
| before the country. We saw, at once,
however. that with the notion in his
mind. he ought to have done just what
ne did and ought to have done it when
ne did, instead of waiting for his letter
OF acceptance. 1t was the simplest re-
quirement of candor and honesty, if he
thought 1t possible even that he had
peen nominated under a misapprehen-
| direct that the convention be made ac-
quainted with them before the dele
gates left St. Louis. so that they might
undo anything that the supposed mis-
apprehension had induced them to dc,
Conventions Reply to Parker.
The convention being under no mis-
apprehension by vote of IA to 1871,
directed that he be wired to that effect,
The platform adopted by this con-
vention is silent on the question of the
monetary standard. 1t was not re-
garded by us as possible issue in the
were mentioned. Therefore there is
nothing in the views expressed in the
telegram received, which would pre-
clude a man entertaining them from
accepting the nomination on the said
platform.
OF the minority voting against send
ing this reply. the major part of. them
err candidates, who had never had any
doubt. because they could not have
had, about Judge Parker's position, but
who hoped out of the suddenness and
alton of the vote nominating Judge
Parker, and nomination of their can
didate. All of them were so far as 1
sNnow men who opposed Judge Parker
those who voted against the nomina-
ton voted for the reply to be sent
me telegram from Judge Parker as
f risnda a brought great relief to his
cd telegram, which had been printed in
what seems to be a somewhat irrespon-
sible st. Louis paper. had caused great
manded" that a gold standard plank
pc put In the PLATFORM" They know
iittle or the freedom of action which
nominated that convention, it's exemp-
ton from boss or machine control of
any sort, who can not appreciate the
erect OF the pretended telegram. I'VE
Will stop Rooseveltism in the Demo-
cry; I'VE will receive no dictation: a
democratic candidate must learn that
ne receives his instructions from the
lem ,. and not the Democracy
tneir instructions from him." Judge
Parker had been nominated by South
ern initiative; If the pretended tele-
gram had been genuine, he would have
i neeh taken on the ticket by Southern
10 DO it.. When it was found. howev-
er, tnat ne was merely expressing his
own opinion, and the opinion by which
he would be guided if elected President
ana supplying the hiatus in the plat
form. as he had a right to do. the re-
Vulsion was sudden and enthusias site
Men said: He Is demanding nothing
ing manlv and honest"
Was Dramatic Scene.
Ferhaps no more dramatic scene was
ever presented in a convention than
when Judge Parker's telegram was
read,together with The proposed re-
ply to it. After the author of this ar
tee had completed reading them, and
rev remarks in explanation and in
advocacy of them, and while Senator
Tfllman of South Carolina was on his
feet, Mr.. Bryan came into the hall lips
compressed. gait not too steady, be-
cause he had been both sick and over
worked. The excitement was so in
tense that even in that immense hall
whisper might have almost have
been heard. 1t was rumored abot that
he had come for the purpose of OPP
posing the reply suggested to the con-
vel ton, He was applauded as he
passed through the delegates but 1t
vas noted that the applause was Meth
er so deep, nor so long, nor so loud
As pre- vious outbursts in his honor had
feen. Some resentment was created
by his conduct and by his speeches in
g. 49,
The absolute truth OF all the state
ments cor tained on the telgraphic re-
uly cou'd not be questioned When
olt OF tho speakers from the platform
made the statement that before the re-
ceipt of Judge Parkes telegram the
convention had already known how
H. stood snC that therefore no one had
a right I, affect surprise-that utter
n,t'a was cteered. and when later on
h turr d to the audience and asked:
Il 1. re- true that gold standard Is
established. and that it neither is nor
cr1 now be made an issue. and that
nothing but issues are contained In the
rld: orm. and challenged any man who
d"ilef that statement If there was even
che to rise to his feet. and then when
h turned from the body of the conven-
tion to the gentlement sitting on the
Ia torn, and looking directly at Mr..
else il they did MT agree absolutely
With the assertion to arise. and then
auneG Nobody arises; no. not one
ti!n feeling became irtense and the APP
pia ls1 hearty.
The whole thins locked like an I'M
toward circumstance al the time, but
licking back over II, II seems now for
Il nate. because IL there really had been
airy body in the United States fool
eroue', to have said or the stump, in
a newspaper, or othe, wise. that the ac-
ZION Of the party In convention assem-
bl4I hal been tantemount, directly or
by inference to the reimbursement of
free silver as an icsre. then the lips of
[, Al man are now sealed, and nobody,
NOT even a fool or an INSCRIPTIONS
enemy can preterJ &c misunderstood
in the slightest degree the position of
the party.
Papers MiSinfOrmed.
The papers were filled with misin-
formation, generally in the shape of
headlines: hill Surrendered to Bry
an" Hill Overawed by Bryan" Hill
and Bryan Compromise" Bryan and
Hin Agree. the First to Withdraw the
Income Tax Proposition, and the Sec
ond the Gold Standard Plank Hill,
Williams and Bryan Appointed Com
mittee of Three to Agree on Money
Plank" all these ad nauseam. There
was no compromise-Bryan was voted
down. Hill was voted down. Neither
ever surrendered or compromised, IN
less by surrender or compromise 1t is
meant that both agreed wnen beaten
not to make minority report to that
unable to hear convention.
1t was l who offered the income 'cN
provision. and who, on ful! cons1dera-
ton of the improbability Of consti
ttuional amendment and he incqu''T
IrNsr AV1tc Of