The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-07-08
Menzies Answers Bryan
Mr.. Menzies. of indiana. said.

1t would be vain, indeed on my part, to
attempt to cope with the oratory of the
gentleman from Nebraska, but in the facts
OF this case think have a peculiar adj
vantage over, him. I heard the facts last
night as a member of the committee on
CREDENTIALS He was conspicuous by his
sure he would bear cheerful witness that
that committee exercised patience in
dustry and fairness in attempting to ar
rive at a just conclusion in the ease of
the contest from the state of Illinois, The
delegates now seated from Illinois came
into this convention with credentials duly
authorized by the constituted authorities
of the party in Illinois. =
After the certificates of the sitting dele
cation from Illinois were filed with the
national committee. contests were filed
These contests were referred to sub
committee of the national committee, who
gave them long and a patient hearing.
committee its action was Endorsed by the
full committee and the case was passed
to the final court of appeals of the Demo-
cratic party to this convention, which,
sent 1t TO Its committee on credentials
Not Court of Appeals
The gentleman from Nebraska dealt in
strong language and positive assertion,
think, unsupported by facts or evidence.
l would like TO know, however, great as
he is. what has constituted him a court
OF appeals to pass. on contest in Illinois,
and wherein his wisdom is superior to
that OF the committee on credentials of
II.
SO wise that he can know case without
ever having heard it.
Now. let us get right down to the heart
controversy, and it is primarily whether
the action of the constituted authorities
of the Democratic party of Illinois is to be
fraud, unsupported by evidence, and
whether the regular action of the duly
chosen and elected convention of the
party. acting under The forms of law es-
tablished by the party. is to be ignored for
matters of pique, chagrin and disappoint-
ment. s,afsses
Discusses GaveI Rule
Something has been said about gavel
rule, anew figure of speech in political
nomenclature The objection has been
made to the action and conduct of the
temporary chairman of the state conven-
ton of Illinois. 1 want to tell you right
tleman was elected as temporary chair
man at 10 o'clock and the convention
assembled at high noon. -,
He was unanimously reelected chair
man at $50 p. m. and during all this in
terval of time he was guilty of all the
political sins known to the calendar.
Hopkins and Mr.. Cable delegates at
large. who are challenged here, nominated
state ticket. without a protest as to it's
regularity or it's right to do SO. That
tors. which the contestants here recognize
as the valid bona fide electoral ticket of
Illinois.
Now, something has been said here
about Sill think that was the number
of protests but nobody, if I understood
the gentleman from Nebraska, gainsaid
the 81 protests. If he had been present
as your committee was last night he
would have heard letters read from those
o-called protestants; he would have
anybody to put their names on the pro-
tests. 1t is a remarkable fact that this
pronounced specimen of ex parte evidence
was never submitted to the contestants
or their attorneys in this case. Not one
of them ever had the privilege of looking
into or examining any of those protests.
No Protests Heard
/ am authoritatively told-by the chair
man of your communicating were never
heard of, before any organized tribunal
until at half past II o'clock last night
when we took up the contests from nli-