The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-10
SENSATION EXPECTED
 BY COMING DELEGATES
Rumor Had Been Circulated That Judge ParerS Telegram h. sisted on Insertion of Gold Plank the Platform and Great
 lide of Expectancy Had Swept Over the Convention.

nouneement was whispered around in different circles that a sensation was to be sprung upon the convention at the eleventh hour,
 It developed that Judge Parker had telegraphed his views on finance in which he declared for the gold standard and suggested that the convention should know this fact that it might be given an opportunity to select some one else for the party nominee, should his view not be in accordance with those of the dele gates.
 When this surprising information circu- lated around the convention hall, Will liam J. Bryan was absent, being at his hotel sick.
 Several senators importuned MT. Shee- han not to read the telegram before the convention. MT. Sheehan kept the des- patch in custody but declined to reveal it's text before having read it to the conven- tion but in substance it is that Judge Parker wants the convention to be fully | acquainted with his position that he is a gold standard man and believes that the law irrevocably, fixes the gold standard. and that he woul1 enforce the law as he | construes 1t.
 Reference to Declinaton.
 There Is a reference m the despatch to declination of the nomination if the judges position should not be satisfac- tory. Senator -Inl has now in his posses sion the gold plank of the platform which 1 was reported 1y the subcommittee to the full committee and rejected by the l a no of q r,f the despatch soon became general throughout the hall, and naturally cre- ated a commotlon.
 It was appreciated that should an at I tempt be made to inject a gold plank in the platform a bitter fight on the floor would be precipitated and prolong the session. hose opposed to a gold plank were greatly disturbed by the ab- sence of Mir. Bryan whose vigorous fight before the committee on resolutions ruled | in the elimination of the plank obnox- ious co them. Hurried conferences were held in different quarters of the hall. and | the Parker despatch overshadowed in i interest the nomination o1 a Vice Presi- I dent.
 It was believed that the financial ques- tion had been fought to a conclusion in the committed on resolutions, and that a | satisfactory comptomise had been effect ed. The delegates were wholly unprepared for the Parker dispatch, and the appre- henson that Senator Hill might at this late hour make an attempt to seek the adoption of the gold plank increased. Eos an hour the subject of Judge Parker 8 telegram, the original of which had been | privately shown to few of the leaders, was the topic of excited conversation in l small groups throughout the building. In a conference between Senator Hill and Senator Daniel the latter said:
 
 mittee on resolutions cannot meet again. We have finished our work"
 Several Echoed Sentiment.
 Several other members of the convention joined in echoing this sentiment. The ac- tion of Judge Parker was taken to mean dictation to the convention, and this aroused the greatest anger.
 Governor Vardaman. speaking for Mis- sissippi, said the delegation of his state | would not consent that any gentleman shall dictate to the convention to what should be it's platform, and they would join in an effort to reconsider the nomina- tion of such dictation, should this be attempted. Senator Tillman, in talking with other delegates, asked if the commit tee on resolutions was to be knocked and | cuffed about as though it was nothing. He sent word to Senator Daniel chairman of the committee on resolutions, that any attempt to reconsider the action on the platform and insert the gold standard plank would raise storm in the conven- tion.
 Many delegates expressed the opinion that Judge Parker would have to back down, or that another candidate would be named
 There was a rumor that William J. Bryan would come to the convention. al- though i'll, and make a fight against a 1.,rf h 1trrvar r Smythe of the Nebraska delegallon said this was not true
 Finally, shortly after o'clock, when the convention had ordered a ballot for the nominee for vice president, and it was proceeding, Senator Culberson of Texas arose and in an excited manner said that before a vice president was nominated, i've had better find out who Is to be the candidate for President first" He moved a recess until half past eight this evening. The motion was put and unani- mo lsly carried. MT. Sheehan called Judge Parker on the long distance telephone and had a prolonged conversation with him. the result of which has not been | disclosed.
 The Late Afternoon Session. | Convention Hall St. Louis-Chairman Clark was in the coliseum ten minutes before the hour fixed for the conven- 
 nailed to the band to play while the dele gates and visitors were coming in. Not only were there many vacant seats in the galleries, but a number of absentees were noticed among the delegates and alternates Outgoing trains carried the first batch of the departing convention crowd and many delegates plan to leave for their homes tonight.
 It was a close, muggy atmosphere into which the crowd walked this afternoon. The setting sun poured in the west side of the hall and mingled unwiliingly with the white glare of the electric arc lights. The majority of the delegates diye-ted themselves of their coats, folded them across their laps and seized palmetto fans. Tapped them vigorously, listening to the music and wondering how soon the party leaders would reach an agreement on the vice presidential nominee.
 A report that an attempt might be made to reopen the platform and insert a financial plank spread rapidly in the hall. It created consternation among most of the delegates who saw an end to their hope of leaving St. Louis tonight, or early tomorrow.
 Should such a coup be attempted MT. Bryan's collapse and consequent absence was looked upon in some quarters as lending color to the rumor and the ses- sion opened with evident air of expec- tancy.
 Rumor About Senator Davis.
 Shortly before the session convened the rumor that Senator Davis of West Vir- ginia had been agreed upon by the lead CTS for the vice presidency went the rounds, and delegates gathered in groups | IA diac,,ss the situation It was 5:30 when