The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-07-06
Failure of Opposition to Parker
to Get Together
Makes 1t Easy Sailing for the
New York Jurist.
WHAT GUFFEY OFFERS.
Willing to Swing Pennsylvania
to Another Eastern Man
If Shown Enough Votes to De-
feat Parker's Nomination.

position remains mistaken. The opposi-
ton has made many assaults. but has
apparently made no impression The
solid and substantial phalanx of the
New York jurist has withstood all eff
forts of the friends of other candidates.
and is apparently stronger than ever.
Assurances of accessions from instruct
ed delegations after the first ballot
have been received from men who are
now tied to other candidates which the
Parker adherents say insures a nomi-
nation by the second ballot.
The anti-Parker men have tried to Of
fer a candidate who would unite a
third of the delegates, so as to have a
rallytng point when complimentary
ballots have been cast for favorite
sons The impoSSibility of uniting has
been made manifest and the most zeal
Gus opponents OF Parker concede his
probable nomination not later than the
second ballot
The Parker opposition was disturbed,
but not routed, by the action of PENN
sylva(nia. The 68 votes of that state
has been for weeks placed in the Par
ker column, and are part of the 500 odd
votes that have been claimed for him.
They were not instructed, however, and
If they could have been secured for any
other candidate it would have been
serious blow to the Parker interests.
Criticism of the action of PennSylva-
MIA has been free and harsh among
some OF the anti-Parker men, but 9TH
ers say that a proposition made by one
Pennsylvania leader is quite fair. 1t is
stated that after the action of the
Pennsylvania delegation a member of
the delegation held a conference with
some anti-Parker leaders and said that
Pennsylvania, Notwithstanding the en-
dorsement of Parker, would give 6S
votes to any eastern candidate-with
the exception of Hearst-upon whom
the opposition could concentrate with
enough pledged votes which together
with the IS votes of Pennsylvania
would make two votes more than one
third of the convention. Among the
candidates named who would be salts
factory were PattiSon, Pennsylvania,
German of Maryland, Gray of Della
ware, Harmon of Ohio, Olney of<hassa-
chusettS, and Coler of New York. Upon
this proposition some of the anti-Par-
ker men have been working but they
have not been meeting with much sue
cess. Cohesion of the anti-Parker men
is apparently impossible. Hearst can
not transfer his delegates and his sun
porters can not promise the instructed
and pledged Hearst men for any man
after Hearst is out of the running.
Massachusetts will give no indication
or pledge of her delegates beyond
Olney. The same is true of Wall of
Wisconsin, Harmon in Ohio and Cock
rell in Missouri although it is supposed
that Missouri would go to German
should there be an opportunity. The
German men in West Virginia, Mary
anu anu DlSALlc& OI OOluIllDld prefer
Parker to uncertainty and are chatting
under the restraint imposed upon them
by the venerable Henry G.. Davis, who
clings to the hope that something may
turn up favorable to German.
Upon slender threads of various
kinds the Parker opposition has hung
its hopes. while the Parker men have |
been moving forward. with calm as
surance, to other matters connected !
with the convention. Former Senator |
Smith of New Jersey who has been l
holding his delegation in the leash |
while it was anxious to go to Parker 1
unless the disag reement over the plat |
form should drive some state delega- /
lions from the New York candidate. |
A story was current that David 3. Hill. !
flushed with fruits of victory, would 1
undertake to force upon the opposition |
platform so radical that some of the |
delegations would break away from the |
New York candidate but the illusion |
was dispelled. 1t has been learned that !
Hill would not be chairman of the /
resolution committee but that John a. |
Mcmahon of Ohio or Senator Bailey of /
Texas would be chairman of the resolu-
ton committee and that Bailey had |
been selected to cross swords with |
William ]. Bryan in the debate over the |
platform on the floor of the convention. |
Not the least of the efforts of the anti
Parker men has been directed toward |
preventing a stampede by delegations,
whether bound by instructions or 9TH /
pressing for band wagon seats, and |
while the anti-Parker leaders speak
of the men who are so
anxious to be on the winning side. they
are aware that these delegates can not
be held together very long in the face
of compact Parker forces, with an al
most solid south lined up for him. with
New York and Pennsylvania for him
as well as votes in many other sections.
1t is very difficult to convince the aver
age delegate how Parker can be defeat
ed and he is anxious to participate in
the nomination of successful candi-
date.
An interesting feature of the proceed
ings has been the development of the
waning influence of Mr.. Bryan. The
national committee selected four years
ago by a convention following his un-
questioned leadership turned away from
him in settling the Illinois contest.
Mr.. Bryan had made the fight against Hop
kins his own and the unanimous vote of the
committee indicated clearly that he no
troll Many times during the last few
days the suggestion has been made that
this or that candidate and the Democrats
who were anxious to organize a winning
side of the Nebraska delegation the for
mer candidate had no following save a
bv the unit rule and instructions Many
visitors called at the Nebraska headquaf-
Mr. Bryan on the mantel. but these
were not the men who in
troll OF TINS convention II Is eNlRCNSC
there will be a clash with Mr.. Bryan over
the platform but that document is now
DR. edicted to be a conservative utterance
Mr. Bryan is to be accorded a respectful
hearing. but the dominant element in the
it is frequently asserted will
not temporarize or attempt to placate
and concfliate him The forces which win
adopt the platform and name the cansii-
date for president will also name the vice
president and this element has allowed it
to become known that no concessiou to
the minority. no vote catching express
sion Is to be adopted i'm choosing the NOM
lnee for the second place.
So much attention zas been given to
The presidential nomination that no con-