The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1904-07-12
EDITORIAL
CURRENT EVENTS: THE DRIFT OF THINGS AS
WE SEE IT.

The quadrennial Presidential campaign may
now be said to be formally opened. The four
political parties of the country have named their
candidates and the American voter can select his
favorite from the four standard bearers: Repub-
lican, Theodore Roosevelt, of New York; Demo
cratic, Alton B. Parker, of New York; Populist,
Thomas E. Watson, of Georgia; Prohibitionist,
Silas c.. Swallow, of Pennsylvania.
Judge Alton B. Parker, the Democratic Leader.
Nominating speeches following the adoption of
the platform and lasting through the night, the
Democratic National Convention in St. Louis
took it's first ballot just as the sun was rising
across the Mississippi River Saturday morning,
July 9th, and Alton Brooks Parker, Chief Judge
of the New York Court of Appeals, won the NOM
ination for President of the United States. 1t
the end of the first ballot he received a total of
65S votes, but before the vote was announced
Idaho changed her six votes, giving him 664 votes,
and West Virginia three votes, giving the 667
votes, or two-thirds necessary. A motion to make
the nomination unanimous was then carried.
Such is the story of the end of the contest, but
there's many another story back of it. A week
ago Parker's nomination seemed doubtful, and it
was with real hope of success that the Bryan and
Hearst factions at the begira1ng of the Conven-
ton sought to pledge at least one-third of the del
egates never to vote foEfhe New York iurist. But
it soon became evident that the Parker forces had
been magnifce2dy organized, and every effort to
divide themfailed. The first ballot (before the
change oftnine votes to Parker) was as follows
Parker 95s, Heart 1873, Cockrell of Missouri
Ollie of Massachusetts SO, German of Mary
land IS, Wall of Wisconsin 81, John Sharp Will
liams 8, Gray of Delaware 8, Pattison 4,McClel-
Ian 8, Coler 3, Towne 1, Miles 2.
The Factions of the Party United.
The Convention, as we indicated last week, was
a meeting of strongly hostile elements of the par
ty. but each side showed itself willing to "give and
take" and the factions are now more closely united
than at any other time for ten years past. Ii one
element of the convention went wild at the men
ton of Cleveland's name on Wednesday. it is
equally true that on Thursday the Bryan element
stormed the convention and gave their leader an
ovation the like of which is seldom seen. And If
the Bryan faction was defeated in the choice of
a candidate, it is equally true that it forced the
abortion of a platform much more plain spoken
and progressive than it was thought possible to
get a week ago-a platform in striking contrast
to HIPS nambypamby New York deliverance-
and the candidate is a man who is likely to be
guided by the political chart of his party.
John Sharp Williams, of Mississippi, was tenn
porary chairman of the Convention and Champ
Clark, of Missouri, permanent chairman. Both
delivered strong addresses.
No Money Plank In the Platform.
Bryan made a great speech Thursday in favor
of seating the excluded Hearst delegates from
certain Illinois districts and the convention gave
him a splendid reception, but it was seen from the