Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1904-07-15
An Exciting Finale.

The sensational part OF the st. Louis
Convention came after it was thought
that the whole matter OF platform and
candidate had been settled by COM
promise, often adopted in conventions
where there seems to be an honest
difference OF opinion upon some prin-
ciple OF minor importance to secure
united support of those on which all
might agree. The sensation came in
the form OF a telegram from Judge
Parker, the nominee fer President,
which was as follows:
Hon. WILLIAM +. SHEEHAN:
| regard the gold standard as firmly
and irrevOcably established, and shall
act accordingly il the action of the con-
vention OF to-day shall be ratified by the
people. As the platform is silent on the
subject, my views should be made
known to the convention, and If II
proves to be unsatisfactory to the majOr
ity. | request you to decline the nom-
nation for me at once, so that another
may be nominated before adjournment.
A. b. PARKER.
The first information that the men,
bers had Of this dispatch was gar
bled version published in an evening
st. Louis paper, that Judge Parker
had sent message to Senator Car
mack, in which he had declared EN-
phatically for the gold standard, and
desired that the convention declare
for it in the platform. This version of
the telegram created the greatest ex-
element. When the time came for
the convention TO meet, Mr.. Bryan,
fearing that Hill was planning q
scheme to reopen the matter of plat
form, arose from bed, where he had
been Frustrated by illness, to interpose
a protest against any change Of the
platform. 1t will be seen from the
above dispatch 10 William F. Sheehan
that the published version was incor-
rect as to the person addressed as we'll
as to making a demand that the plat.
form be changed. 1t only expressed
his own decided opinion on the finan-
cial question, with the intimation that
if the party objected to him for having
opinions upon that Cor for that matter
any other question not expressed in
the platform) he was willing to decline
the nomination, if thought best.
However much we may deprecate the
fact that Judge Parker kept bis opin.
ions 80 closely to himself before the
convention met and had framed .
platform and selected him to stand
upon it, We cannot but commend his
action in making a specific declaration
on a matter held in much considera-
ton by large proportion of the con.
vention as we'll as millions of people
who will be called upon to cast a bal.
lot for President at the November
election. Nor will we seek any other
motive than fairness, though had it
emanated from his chief opponent in
the present contest before the people,
we might have thought it prompted
by a desire to solidify himself with
the power expected TO furnish the
"sinews of war;" from his Eastern
standpoint. where their workings can
be more clearly seen, than with the
woolly West, where it requires q whole
State to furnish tie votes that may be
polled off a single acre Of the large
Eastern cities.
Mr.. Bryan, in splendid address be-
fore the convention, expressed his sp-
probation of the candor of Judge Par
ker. but regretted that this heart.to-
heart impulse had not controlled the
gentleman before the convention had
met. The New York delegation had
declared they did not know where he
stood on finance and Mr.. Hill, under
Mr.. Bryan's questioning laid his hand
upon his heart and declared he did
not know whether the Judge was q
gold.bug or q tilver.moth. This pa.
thetic incident satisfied Mr.. Bryan
that minus quantity existed followed
by the mystical sign Of q, which, when
worked out. might develop eithe,
white or yellow as the unknown color
and it is probable he did not hear the
chuckle OF one of the New York dele
CATION when he declared that the prob.
blem would be solved and demonstrat.
ed in Mr.. Parker's letter of acceptance
Had he not been so depressed in en-.
ergy and alertness from overwork, it
ominous import might not have
. escaped him.
Mr.. Bryan favored and voted for 9
pacific message that was sent by the
Convention to Mr.. Parker, which read
JUDGE PARKER:
The platform adopted by this conven'
ton is silent on the question of the mon.
etary standard because it is not regarded
by us as a possible issue in this cam
paign, and only campaign issues were
mentioned in the platform. Therefore
there is nothing in the views expressed
by you in the telegram just received
which would preclude man entertain
ing them from accepting nomination
. on said platform.
This self-arparent truism seemed to
satisfy the Judge, and his protest had
: likewise served the purpose of sitting
the clash of the golden letters on Wal
street, and peace reigned as the con
vention proceeded to select . Yves,
Virginian for the second place ON the
ticket, evidently imbued with the ides
that the Far West had expressed toe
sanguine . love for the white metal il
, the two former contests to be trusted
under present circumstances. Thu