Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-07-11


on resolutions cannot meet again. We
have fnishen our work." Several other
members of the committee joined in
echoing this sentiment The action of
Judge Parker was taken to mean dicta-
ton to the convention, and this reused
the anger of some. Many delegates ex-
pressed the opinion that Judge Parker
would have to back down or that another
candidate would be named. There was
rumor that Mr.. Bryan would come to
the convention, although i'll, and make
fight against a gold-standard plank.
Messrs. Hill, Daniel, Tillman, Sheehan
and Poe retired to corner in the hall
for a conference.
The sensational incident broke up all
the plans for the proceedings looking to
the nomination of a vice president.
There were ,many hurried and anxious
consultations among the leaders, and the
long distance telephone to Esopus was
worked hard. The recess was accord
ingly decided upon. The object was to
prevent the indignation of delegates from
going to unseemly ends. Strong resent
ment was expressed Of Parker's apparent
dictation. The leaders summoned all
their energies to hold the angry forces
in check. A conference was called on
the floor of the convention, and after
ward in more secrecy to adopt plan to
prevent a threatened split in the ranks.
In the conference were Messrs. Hill,
Daniel, Martin, Tillman, .tSheehan and
others. z
The conference of leaders resulted in
an agreement that Judge Parker's tele-
gram should be read in full to the con-
vention, on the condition that at its
conclusion John Sharp Williams should
move that it is the sense that Judge Par
ker's attitude on the money question
was fully understood by the delegates be-
fore he was placed in nomination, and
the telegram does not disclose any fea-
ture concerning the matter.
1t was past o'clock when the con-
ference at the Southern Hotel had end
ed. Ex-senator Hill led the conference
in the march out through the corridors,
and it was said that the Parker telegram
would be read to the convention. The
delegates we're in calmer mood when
Hill and his associates entered the hall.
Williams prepared the audience Tor
the first announcement OF Parker's
views, which had so startled the country.
He said there was not word in the
telegram which demanded or requested
that gold standard should be placed in
the platform. He apologized for the
silent judge. If there was any fault in
the telegram, it came from too sensi-
tive nature-too conscientious about
being placed in false light before the
voters.
At $50 o. clock Chairman Clark called
the convention to order. Governor
Vardaman, of Mississippi, addressed
the convention on the subject of the
mysterious telegram. He said that
rumors were abroad that telegram had
been received from Judge Parker, and
these reports had caused such excite
ment and apprehension that he would
move that the, gentleman OF the New
York delegation, reported as recipient OF
the message, should send it to the clerks
desk to be read.
II was nearly 10 o'clock when John
Sharp Williams look the stage and read
the telegram that he had received from
Judge Parker. He explained that moth
ing had been embodied ia the platform
that was not considered to bea campaign
issue and said "Mr. Chairman,
think you will bear me out in what
say. This is the first time in the
history of the United States that man
already nominated for the greatest Office
on the surface of this earth has been so
supersensitive about a matter of personal
rectitude and honor as to send a telegram
to a friend telling him to decline the
nomination for him, if, as he seems to
have been informed, there is something
in the platform which is not in accord
with his own opinion.
'My friends, we purposely made this
platform silent on the question of the
monetary standard. We made 1t silent
because we all agreed that that was not
an issue in this campaign, and we agreed,
furthermore, that nothing should be
placed in the platform which was not a
campaign issue. and the consequence
was that in the resolutions committee
motions were made to table and with
those motions were carried every resolu-
ton on both sides which tended to bring
up as an issue in this campaign the
question of monetary standard. Now,
my friends, Judge Parker expresses his
opinion for fear somebody might think
that you did not know it. There was
not in all this vast assembly one single,
solitary, man who did not already
know that Judge Parker was a gold
standard man. / have been one of
the most consistent and perhaps radi-
cal free silver men in the United States,
and | knew that he was gold standard
man, and he never made any attempt 10
conceal it from anybody. He had sup |
ported our candidates, and bad said that,
although he did not agreed with us
upon this plank, he was still a democrat.
Now. my friends, so far as the
question of the monetary standard was
concerned in campaign which was so
fraught against imperialism, against
executive usurpation,, I'VE purposely made
that platform, so far as the monetary
standard is concerned, upon which w.
]. Bryan could have stood or Grover
Cleveland could have stood, or anybody