Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-06-27
Arch of Great Beauty.

Arch of Great Beauty.
Probably the first object to greet the
incoming conventionite will be the
beautiful "Welcome'' arch which Den
yer has erected. At wight this arch
will blaze with many electric lights.
1t is Denver's open sesame to hospitali-
ty. Under it will pass the delegates
from every section of the land, includ-
ing the automobile train in which
some of the Illinois delegates and their
friends will go overland to the conven-
ton city. Four big touring cars and
an auto commercial wagon for baggage
will depart from Chicago June 81 for
Denver, stopping en- route to visit VIII
liam J. Bryan at his farm home near
Lincoln, Neb. The auto train expects
to reach Denver on the Fourth of July
in time for the fireworks.
Mr. Bryan, of course. is leading
candidate for the nomination for presi-
dent There are others. Governor
Johnson of Minnesota, whose boom
was started too late. according to Ed
itor Watterson of Kentucky. who saw
him first as a presidential possibility.
has gained a very considerable follow
ing. Judge George Gray of Delaware
has friends who will urge his nomina-
ton Former Governor David r.
Francis of Missouri is said to be
candidate
For the vice presidential nomination
the Democrats do not seem to have so
foil rin1 no
ans could produce prior to their con
vention. But the woods are full of
| Democrats available for the honor.
One of the latest possibilities mention
ed is Governor George sE. Chamber
lain of Oregon, just nominated for the
| United States senate under the novel
primary law of his state. which Will
require Republican legislature to
elect him. Lieutenant Governor Lewis
s. Chanler of New York is among the
mentioned. Former Governor William
| l.. Douglas of Massachusetts is Il posi-
| bility. John Mitchell of Illinois, for
mer president of the United Mine
| Workers of America and the best
! known of present day labor leaders,
has been strongly recommended by in
| fiuential Democrats.
In the event of Mr.. Bryan's nominal
! ton for the presidency there are the
left overs" and some Democrats have
| suggested Bryan and Johnson ticket.
/ The Democratic convention requires Il
| two-thirds vote to nominate. This year
G72 delegates make up the necessary
| two-thlrds.
Should Mr. Bryan he nominated this
| will be the fourth Democratic conven-
ton which he has dominated. He went
to the Chicago convention of 1896 as a
| Nebraska delegate. 1t is not probable
that q single delegate expected Bry-
ans nomination prior TO that conven-
ton, not even the delegate from Lin
| coin. But when that. delegate made
his ''cross Of gold metaphor speech it
was all off with the leading candidates.
Prior to the convention at Kansas
City IN 1900 the situation was re-
versed. There was nobody in sight
but Bryan His nomination was as
sured long before the delegates met.
At St Louis in 1904 the convention
named Alton +. Parker of New York
for the presidency, but it was by and
with the consent of William J. Bryan.
! Mr.. Bryan did not want the nomina-
ton that year. Having borne the party
banner twice. each time going Gown TO
defeat and being held personally re-
sponsible for failure by considerable
section of the party, he was willing 10
appease the demands of that section
by permitting it to name the candidate.
But he was not willing to let the con-
vention put forth n platform upon
which he and his friends could not
stand consistently. In the committee
rooms of that convention he made one
of the most remarkable fights of his
whole career. a fight for platform
that would not estrange the majority
of Democrats. and he won.
In Denver, of course, Mr.. Bryan will
not be represented in person. He will
remain at his home. as he did during
the Kansas City convention. 1t is only
when man doesn't expect nomina
ton or when he doesn't want it. as III
the case of Bryan at Chicago and st
Louis respectively, that the etiquette OF
American politics permits MIN 10 take
hand in the proceedings.
The man selected to deliver the
: speech placing Mr.. Bryan's name be
fore the Denver convention is Ignatius
: j. Dunn, city attorney of Omaha. Mr.
Dunn is hailed as a polished and force
full orator. He is one of Nebraska'S
delegates at large.
e An Antic!imax.
: In this connection an amusing Incl
: dent of the Kansas City convention i:
recalled. Webster Davis, formerly may
$ or of Kansas City, who had been al
= assistant secretary of the interior un
D der a Republican administration, re
nounced Republicanis:n and embraced
. Democracy during that convention. II
his renoIncing and embracing speech
l. he nm most 20 =,