Durango semi-weekly herald. (Durango, Colo.) 1899-1907, 1906-09-24
THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION.

week will go down In history as one
,f the most remarkable political gath
brings since the organization OF the
party. The National convention at
that nominated Bryan with
the Crown Of Thorns" is still fresh
In the memory of the people. but for
dramatic effort and stage acting the
speech OF Hon. Chas. 8. Thomas easi-
ly leads ali other similar episodes.
The walking outsof the St Louis con-
vention by Senator Teller and follow
ers was not half as spectacular or pa
thetic as the appeal of Mr.. Thomas
for fair play and decency.
A. readers of the Herald already
know, four hours were allotted tho
-contending Denver Democrats to air
their grievances, the Speer OF regular
organization being represented by G..
J. Hughes, Jr., and Chas. s. Thomas,
the well known ex-governor, and Tom
ODonnell and Thomas M. Patterson
for the revolutionists. To start with
the convention reversed itself twice
Under all rules Thomas should have
had the closing speech. This was tho
rule with the other contestants. but
Patterson knew better than to trust a
Democratic audience to Thomas's ora
tory and the convention voted
against all precendsnt to allow Pat
terson to close And 1t is well for
Patterson's scalp that this policy was
followed as no fair dealing
Democrat would stand for It.
Hughes opened for the regular or
ganizntion and while his address was
occasionally bright and witty. 1t par
took, more OF that of trained lawyer
appealing to Jury to render a YER
dict for his client.
1t remained for Tom O'Donnell to
start the audience cheering. Tom Is
decidedly personal but good natured
His personal illusions were generally
followed with smile, showing he did
not mean 1t. ODonnelra main
theme was that Hughes was drawing
a salary from the utility companies
and that he (O'DonnelD was not. In
this connection let us state that Mr.
O'Donnell Is attorney for the Colo
RADIO Telephone Co. and he WAS asked
several times about this proposition
but he always lodged the Issue. 1t
was horse of another color.
When Mr.. Thomas stepped on the
platform there was wild enthusiasm
and 1t was several minutes before or
der was restored and the speaker per
mitted to tell his side of the case.
Space at this time will not permit a
resume of his masterful effort, but
later on extracts will be given. Mr..
Thomas was not at all backward In
calling a spade a spade. And the
way he skinned and then roasted T.
M. Patterson was worth = trip to
New York. There were many pre-.
ent who said they would not have
missed 1t for $50; that 1t took the cake
for anything that had ever been wit
messed on an American stage. The
audience went wild and Democrat.
from all over the house cried give
4! to him again." Any hide less hard
ened than Patterson's could not have
stood the roast. But Patterson 10
proof against everything but the al
mighty dollar and this he generally
gets and he is not particular where 1
comes from. The Herald honestly
believes that II the convention had
been voting on the virtues OF the two
men. Thomas and Patterson, tina
Thomas would have carried the con
vention three to one, but the dele
gates had been sent to Denver under
the impression that the Speer dele
gates wore horns and should be cas
out and the standing of the two glad.
iators was not taken into considera
ton.
In closing the argument Patterson
did not attempt to defend the regu.
larity OF his convention except on the
ground that revolution was the on
remedy under the circumstances. He
knew his audience-that the dele
gates. while not in sympathy with
him, were not willing to 60 hom
and face their constituents in the
matter of seating the Speer delega
ton owing to the corporation cry. As
many stated. the delegates had como
TO Denver with their minds poisone,
and made up and nothing coul,
change them. To vote In favor of
seating the Speer delegation mean
abuse from Patterson's papers and
delegates were not going to take any
chances. although hating Patterson
from the bottom of their hearts.
1t was pathetic scene when Char
ley Thomas babe good by to the Dem
ocratic party because of the leader
ship of Patterson.