The Washington herald., 1908-07-10
By WILLIAM ALLEN WHITE.


Denver. Colo. July s.-By sighting
across a post one can see that the Demo-
cratic convention has moved in twenty
four hours.
Yesterday the temporary organization
was only one day old; to-day it is two
days old. and what with the two
day session, and one long night ses-
sion, the temporary organization sue
ceeded in getting the report Of the COM
mittee on credentials adopted, and then.
with much speechmakiDg, it passed
gently into the permanent organization,
and, being weary Of its labors, the con-
vention listened to the speech of Perma-
nent Chairman Clayton. thought OF the
cool mountain breezes and the babbling
brooks OF the Rockies. few minutes out
of Denver. and adjourned to do it's chief
work at night session. Democracy al
ways seems TO do its most important
convention work at night sessions. 50
the session tonight had the best prece-
dent for its promise of Importance.
But to-day's session was unutterably
wearisome Il lacked fire; It lacked strik
ing episode, and as It was hot in the big
hall the galleries did not protest when the
convention adjourned. They had to get
into step with Chairman Claytons clarion
note. They listened 10 his arraignment OF
Roosevelt with scarcely a ripple Of ap-
plause during the reading Of the long
6.OOO-word speech. Raymond Robbins
livened them for a moment; so did Martin
Littleton. but after that the call Of the
mountains got into their hearts. and they
oozed gently outward and adjourned
without a protest.
Like n Guessing Contest.
The Vice Presidential guessing contest
has narrowed down TO Folk and Gray.
Folk will take IT, and they say Bryan is
anxious to have him. in order TO settle the
factional disputes for the Missouri Sena-
torship between Folk and Stone. Gray
on the other hand, is not even receptive.
/ But only one man ever refused a Vice
| Presidential nomination, with any chance
/ Of election, and the conservative element
Of the Democracr may persuade him TO
allow his name 70 90 before the conven-
/ tion. But the game is nstless. and II any
one cares 10 move strongly in II the entire
[ situation may change before morning.
| This evening the great hall futtered
with flags brought for the great event
which every one felt would come before
midnight while the favOrite sons OF the
various States held forth for an hour or
waiting for the committee on resolutions
10 cut out enough issues Of the commit
| tee TO make a printable platform Is 600
people waved the flags, and cheered the
] !
| then sank back again.
Long WrnnEIing Promised.
/ At last il seemed certain that the wran-
Cling of the resolutions committee would
/ last until past midnight. and II was de-
| cided 70 hear the nominating speeches.
Following a time-honored custom In ma
tionaI committees. Alabama yielded TO
Nebraska. and Dunn, of Omaha. took the
/ platform. and spoke for Mr.. Bryan. HIS
speech, in many respects, was model OF
/ nominating oratory.
/ II was short, il was we'll written II
was concise, stuck squarely TO the issue;
/ moreover, 1t was dramatic. When Dunn
raised his hands at the close Of his
/ speech and cried Bryan's name the
crowd let loose its enthusiasm, and for
a few moments the Joy Of the convention
was genuine. as genuine il was at ST
Louis four years ago, when Bryan. a
fallen leader. came back dominating the
convention with his ideas after he knew
| that he could not control its nomination.
But tonight. after that first few spon-
taneous moments Of sincere applause the
cheering lapsed into claQuing, which, In
a great measure, cheapened the fine
/ greeting given 10 Mr.. Bryan yesterday
after the incident of Cores mention OF
| his name, FOR the cold-blooded viii argue
if this made 10 order claque OF the nomi-
nation night can last so long. this other
doubtless is claque also. which is unfair
But campaign managers are not all
wise so this show was pulled of accord
ing TO pre-arranged agreement. and all
the machinery. all the accessories, all the
paraphernalia of acclaim which fell SO
naturally into place yesterday. to-day
seemed hackneyed. 1t was a pity 1t should
be so, but the politicians know no better,