Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1904-07-07
PARKER IN III; LEAD
NEW YORKER CONTROLS MAJOR.
ITY OF DELEGATES TO DEM
ocRATIc CONVENTION.
OPPOSITION CONTINUES ACTIVE
BUT is UNABLE TO CON-
cENTRATE ITS VOTE.
FIGHT OVER PARTY PLATFORM
PROMISES TO EE AN INTER
ESTiNG CONTEST.

st. Louis. July 6.-Judge Alton p.
Parker's strong position remains I'M
shaken. The opposition has made
many assaults during the day 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 the other candi-
dates and now is apparently stronger
than ever.
On the eve of the Democratic nation
al convention, in which the struggle
for the nomination for president has
been a free contest, the prospect is
that Judge Alton B. Parker of New
York. candidate of the conservative
forces, will win handily, the radical
field coming in a poor second.
Not only does it appear that the
control of the nomination for first
place on the ticket will be in the
hands of those Democrats who were
In the minority in 1896 and in 1900, but
that they will select the nominees
running mate and dominate the plat
form on which the race will be made.
In defiance of such handicaps as
were created by the ambitious friends
of German, Cleveland, Gray, Olney,
Mcclellan and favorite sons who had
followings that divided the conserva-
tive columns, this element which adj
vanced the claims of Democratic re-
Mobilization struggled against the COM
bined opposition of Bryan, represent
ing the ruling Democratic force in the
last two presidential contests, and the
personal campaign conducted by Will
lam Randolph Hearst.
Throughout the week the Parker
forces received material accessions.
one candidate after another who
threatened to sap the strength of the
conservatives being eliminated. until
the opposition is nov confessedly in
the minority and seemingly too unor-
ganized to present a fighting front.
Making Of the Platform.
The making of the party platform
will be m of the most interesting OF
the contests. 1t Is certain that many
persons disappointed in their inability
to exercise their share of authority in
matchmaking will take up the plat
form discussion and advance ideas as
widely diverging as those presented in
the dozens Of state convention plat
forms offered for the consideration of
the national convention. The New
York delegation is active in the plat
form question and the Bryan forces
are equally alert. While 1t is unlikely
any effort will be made to reaffirm the
Kansas and Chicago money planks 1t
is deemed improbable that an attempt
will be made to declare for the gold
standard. Therefore both factions
have their ideas as to what the har-
monizing plank should be.
Around the hotel Hobbies there is lit
tie platform talk, yet the leaders have
never ceased to give II their attention.
But 1t is the spectacular that the
masses like. The making Of presiden-
tial candidates is their role, while plat
forms are left to the men OF letters.
Likewise the nomination for vice presi-
dent has not been taken up seriously.
A story was current that David B.
Hill, flushed with the fruits Of victory,
would undertake to force upon the op-
position . platform so radical that
some of the Southern delegations
would break away from New York's
candidate. But the illusion was dis
PEELED when 1t was learned that Hill
would not be chairman OF the resolu-
lions committee, but that John A. Me-
Mahon OF Ohio or Senator Bailey of
Texas would be chairman of the reso-
buttons committee and that Bailey had
been selected to cross swords with W..
]. Bryan in the debate ever the plat
form on the floor OF the convention.