The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-07-09
DEATH BLOW TO
SILVER THEORY
Conservatives in the Saddle, and
Party Apparently United
on Parker.
HILL PRIMAI'E IN
PARTY COUNCILS
Bryan's Triumph a Personal One,
a Tribute ito the Orator, Not
the Leader.
From a STAFF Correspondent.

3Gom SIaI correspondent.
st. Louis, Mo-, July 9.-What the
republican national convention at
Chicago lacked i'm the picturesque
and in intensity the democratic ma
tlonal convention at st. Louis, at it's
all-night session, closing at o'clock
this morning with the nomination Of
Judge Alton B. Parker for the presi-
dency, supplied, and supplied in
abundance.
interesting sessions Of any national
convention within the memory of men
now living, and the best proof of this
is the fact that the immense hall,
seating 1850 persons, was filed
when the moment Of adjournment was
reached. Women as well as men,
and there were many Of them In the
audience, sat thru the long hours of
the night, and were as fully alive as
the contest they were witnessing.
The earlier hours of the night and
morning were occupied with speeches,
nominating presidential candidates
and saconding nominations. At times
these speeches were tiresome, espe-
cially when some one with a poor
voice came forward. On these oc-
good-natured Impotence. and indi-
Gated its desire to have the business
proceed as swiftly as possible for a.
ballot.
The chairman made liberal use Of
the gavel to preserve order, and he
was fairly. successful. What disorder
there was, and it was much in evil
the policy now followed by both great
parties Of making their national con-
veations as large as possible and not
from any premeditated proceedings.
Smaller Conventions.
The experience at both Chicago
and St. Louis this year suggests the
wisdom Of smaller conventions.
In spite Of the long flow of oratory
lasting from pm. until 8 am, the
general interest was we'll sustained.
The dramatic climax was reached
when, at o'clock, the speeches being
nearly finished, Bryan came to the
half Of Nebraska, the nomination Of
Cockrell He did this, but he did
much more. The gray dawn was
breaking when the speaker began, and
before he had finished, forty minutes
later, daylight was at hand in full
splendor.
On the day before, Bryan had APP
peared before the convention as the
attorney for the contesting delegates
for Illinois. This was his first appear
ance In a national convention since
he made himself famous in a single
speech in Chicago in 1896. His speech
Of Thursday, however, was speech Of
an attorney. He argued the Illinois
case, and he argued 1t we'll. He had the
right. on his side, too, and in Justice
the convention should have decided
with him, but it didn't. It deliberately
made the vote, which should have
been on the merits Of the Illinois con-
test, test Of relative strength of the
Bryan and anti-Parker forces in the
convention.
This morning, however, Bryan APP
peared before the convention in the
role Of Its leader in two great national
campaigns, to render an account Of
his Stewardship, 60 analyze these CAM
paigns. to tell Of their weak points,
and to give advice as to the future.
He was never in better form, Altho
he talked for forty minutes. 1t did
not seem one-quarter Of that time, SO
completely did he have the attention.
Of his hearers.