Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-07-06
CONVENTION OPENS.
Alton B. Parker's Position
Remains Upshaken.
WILLIAMS REPLIES TO ELIHU ROOT
cohesion OF the Anti-ParIker Men Ap-
paRently ImpossibIe--New Yorker
May BE Nominated on FirGt
or second Ballot.

paRently ImpOssible--New Yorker
May BE Nominated ON First
or Second Ballot.
ST. LOUIS, July 6.-With the open
ing of the Democratic national conven-
ton here Judge Alton B. Parker's
strong position as a presidential can
didate remains mistaken.
The convention was called to order
In the Coliseum at noon by former
United States Senator James *. Jones
of Arkansas, chairman of the national
committee Bryans disastrous cam
paigns were managed by Senator
Jones, and the Hill element, it is said,
will get rid of him as soon as the pres
emit convention is over.
Chairman Jones announced that he
had been instructed by the national
committee to invite Representative
John Sharp Williams of Mississippi to
serve as chairman Of the temporary
organization Of the convention. Mr..
Williams delivered speech in reply to
the address OF Elihu Root in the Re
publican convention In Chicago and
outlined the campaign as the .ssafe and
sane Democrats purpose to run it.
The day has been marked by series
of events Of stirring and interesting
character. First and foremost came the
complete elimination of Mr.. Cleveland.
THE Cleveland boom was sham after
all. James Smith, Jr., the leader of
New Jersey, who had been masquerad-
Ing behind the Cleveland boom, naively
confessed chat he had been playing a
confidence game on the delegates. Mr..
Cleveland, ten days ago, positively for
babe the use Of his name.
William =. Bryan continues to stand
dixie a combination of Ajax and Casa
blanca dreaming of yet being able to
effect winning combination. Mr..
Bryan and Charles A. ToWne both
make the statement that 400 votes will
stand out against Parker and beat him.
On the contrary, it is known that more
than 200 votes that will be cast for
other candidates on the first ballot will
go to Parker on the second.
Developments of the day tend to con-
firm the statement that the great fight
IN the convention will come over the
platform A strong sentiment is de-
veloping in favor Of a declaration for
the gold standard. The phrase that is
desired is:
1.-The Democratic party pledges itself
to the maintenance of the existing mon
ey standard
Mr.. Bryan will fight harder than ever
for the reaffirmation of the. Kansas
. City platform. Former Bryan men
who are now supporting Parker, such
as John Sharp Williams and Senator
Bailey of Texas, want a middle
ground" money plank.
Former Senator George Turner of
Washington continues to be in the lead
for the vice presidential nomination.
The opposition to the New Workers.
candidature has made many assaults,
but has apparently mao 3 no impress
sion. The solid and substantial phalanx
of the New York jurist has withstood
all efforts of the friends of other can
didates and is apparently stronger than
ever. Assurances of accessions from
instructed delegations after the first
ballot have been received from men
who are now tied to other candidates,
which the Parker adherents say in
sures q nomination on the second bal
lot.
All day long the anti-Parker men
have tried to offer candidate who
would unite a third Of the delegates SC
as to have railyiRg point when com
plimentary ballots have been cast fol
faYorite sons, The impossibility OF
uniting has been manifest, and the
most jealous opponents of Parker con.
cede his probable nomination not later
than the second ballot.
The Parker opposition was disturbed
but not routed, by the action of Penn
syiyania. The sixty-eight votes of tha
state have been for weeks placed in thu
Parker column and are part Of thu
300 odd votes that have been claimed
for him. They were not instructed, how
ever, and if they could have been Sc
cured for any other candidate 1t would
have been a serious blow to the Parker
interests Criticism Of the action o.
Pennsylvania has been free and harsf
among some of the anti-Parker men
but others say that proposition made
by one Of the Pennsylvania leaders i
quite fair. It is stated that after tn
action of the Pennsylvania delegation
a member of the delegation held q con
ference with some Of the anti Parlxa