The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-15
COUNTRY HAPPYt
 ST. LOUIS WAS NOT. Peculiar Differences of Opinion Over Parker'S Telegram WAS TEMPEST IN A TEAPOT Tired Delegates, Who Had Just Estab- lished Harmony, Were Too Tired to Appreciate Value of Parker's
 Famous Message.
WAS TEMPEST IN A TEAPOT
BY BOHEMIAN c. euLeER.

'srhe most remarkable feature of the St. Louis convention was the unnecessary panic caused among the delegates on the receipt of Judge Parker's now famous telegram in regard to the gold standard" said a man last night who staid in Bir- mingham during the trying times at St. Louis and watched the proceedings at long range. And that correctly expresses the peculiar situation which threw hum dreds of delegates into excitement and momentary dlsmay on the night of satur- day. July 9.
 In exclamation of his remarks the Bir- mingham man called attention to the fact that when the news of the telegram reached the outside world everybody was delighted and felt that the apathy or disappointment caused by the omission of the gold plank had been overcome. He in- sisted that it meant democratic victory and that it was approved by a majority of party men throughout the United States.
 Hard to Explain.
 The only plausible explanation as to the difference of opinion among the delegates on the ground in St Louis and the gem eral public, watching the proceedings through the press, is that ancient idea that conventions as a rule do not repre- sent the exact sentiment of the country at large. This seems to have been quite true as to the platform and the Parker telegram. When the country was happy the delegates were glum. When the dele gates were happy the country was glum.
 The feelings of joy among the delegates over the platform, with the gold. plank omitted, was brought about by the long fight in the committee resolutions which finally resulted in the framing of a party document on which all factions might agree The convention was tired and worn out waiting for the platform which had been delayed for twenty-four hours. During the interim the delegates were expecting fierce fight on the floor between the majority and minority lead CTS, and when it was announced that a platform would be submitted that had the unanimous endorsement of every member of the committee the tired and sleepy delegates were arousd to an enthusiasm which beggars descriptions. Men of oppo- site views, who had fought each other in the campaign of 1896 and 1900. were delirious with joy and were hugging each other over what was then regarded as the greatest achievement in party history. Bryans wonderful speech just before the nomination of Parker in which he showed how harmony had been secured at the sacrifice of his personal opinions and those of his opponents, cemented the new bond of friendship and there was general rejoicing. Everybody talked of the re- united party and wanted to tell his form CT enemy the extent of his delight
 St. Louis Was Delighted.
 St. Louis was delighted. The country at large was not This had never dawned on the delegates. In their joy they had forgotten the desire of their constituents for gold plank. Bryans power was greater in the convention than in the country
 The convention adjourned at 6 o'clock a. m. and during that day the delegates slept As the partially rested politicians began crawling out of bed to be present at the o'clock session, which began about 2:SO they began to taste of a rumor that Parker had declined the nom ination. Further runor was to the eff feet that the nominee wanted a gold plank inserted in the platform and to add fuel to the flame the St. Louis Star came out in an extra edition with tel- egram purporting to be from Judge Par ker to Senator Carmack saying that un- less the gold plank was inserted he ha taa cd tion of this paper came like the explo- sion of bombshell In the convention hall and though the alleged message was q fake pure and simple. it threw the delegates into an incipient panic. Ru- mors then flew rapidly around the hall and the routine nominations of candidates for the presidency were unnoticed and unheeded Seeing the difficulty, Sen ator Culberson moved an adjournment, and the delegates were given until o'clock to talk 1t over.
 The one time happy delegates were now disgusted. Their hopes of harmony had been shattered. At the same time the country at large was delighted.
 Tempest in Teapot.
 In other words, the little panic at St. Louis was tempest in a teapot The lines about the convention hall had been so tightly drawn that the delegates had forgotten the feelings of the country at large John Sharp Williams and Senator Daniels finally recovered and by.- mas terly work saved the day.
 When the convention adjourned and the representatives sent to St. Louis had felt the pulse of their own people their views were changed They found that a major fly of the people at home believed the Parker telegram the salvation and final victory of the party. In their efforts for harmony they had overlooked politics and Judge Parker came to the rescue. Every day since the convention has increased his popularity, and one by one the great newspapers of the country. which had held aloof upon promulgation of the plat form. minus the gold plank. are falling into line in support of the democratic ticket.
 MT. Well Gives Figures.
 Marcus Veil, local business man. who has always been interested in national po- litical affairs, and who very accurately l figured the result in the campaign be- tween Bryan and Mckinley. has given some interesting figures as his judgment on the race between Parker and Roose- l welt.
 "I think Parker certain winner,"' said Mir. Well, flor the business people of the country are with him.
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