Evening journal., 1908-04-15

Of the convention and certain Is It that
there would have been a row on the con-
vention floor had an attempt been made
TO force through iron clad instructions.
AS it was on the vote on the platform
there was a lively chorus Of noes" prln-
cipally from Kent county, but no one
called for the division and there was no
lineup. The action Of the convention was
far from unanimous.
The fight in the open convention, how
ever. was avoided by the Committee on
Resolutions before the convention rSst,
agreeing to the original draft Of the plat
form which draft was adopted By the
convention and the delegates are in
structed to support advocate and vote
for George Gray for the Presidential
nomination" That is as far as the in
structions go.
There was a debate in the Resolutions
Committee similar to that in the New
Castle caucus yesterday morning over
the form Of the Instructions some New
Castle delegates insisting on FIRST. last
and all the time"
Convention in Session.
The convention, presided over by 7.
Bayard Heisel who did well. after be-
ing called to order by State Chairman
Bayard, Rev Joseph Brown Turner offer
ing prayer consumed its time while wait
ing for the various committees, in hear
ing speeches from different Democrats.
Among the speakers who were called for
by the delegates We're State Chairman
Bayard. Emory b. Riggin, who presided
for while; John +. Nalloy, looked upon
as rising orator among the Wilmington
Democrats; Peter ]. Ford. who is inn
proving as an orator right along, and then
John p. Holland, the silver tongued OF
/ Sussex in response to Sussex voices
mounted the platform.
The Gray men were on pins and needles
for fear that Holland would mention the
name Of Colonel Bryan, but he skillfuliy
sidestepped it and contented himself with
saying that If the platform rang true
and the greatest Of all Democrats" we're
nominated the party would win
The name Of Thomas jefferson invoked
] by State Chairman Bayard during one
Of his several addresses. did not cause a
hand clap. The other speakers cracked
the Republicans for 'hard times"
Gray Letter Read.
The addresses were called of and everv-
thing was preparing to move when state.
Chairman Bayard solemnly announced
that he had duty to perform and he
read the letter from Judge Gray asking
that the delegates be not instructed for
him.
After the letter had been read there
was a painful silence. The majority
of the Kent and Sussex men were
motionless as they were throughout the
convention. Several Of them smiled.
Handy looked as if Fitzsimmons had
hit him in the solar plexus. Peter j.
Ford. who had only moment ago
predicted that with harmony and Judge
Gray everyone would be happy. looked
1 unhappy
The insiders of the Gray forces
quietly smiled. They knew. Mr.. Bay
ard. addressing the convention, having
just previously given out statement
] regarding the letter. said that the
Judge had merely told them in the
convention what he had already known.
and that the convention would pro-
ceed with its original intention.
By this time. figuratively speaking,
and in the language of the prize ring.
the seconds had worked their fans and
towels over Handy and he was ready
for action. No one seemed to know
what to do. when Handy, who had
been about to read -he resolutions
when the letter was sprung. proceeded
to read the platform. After that no
launched into an outburst Of furious
oratory. lauding Judge Gray on the
spur of the moment and made a rat
tling speech.
By way of announcement, one dele
gate shouted "Whoop her up" and
one Kent county man quietly called
out I'VE want Bryan"
Handy's Tribute to Gray.
Handy said: Judge Gray's letter
emphasizes the modesty of his char
actsr. It proves indeed that we are
not inspired by any ambition of his.
You may say that Judge Gray IS not
ambitious for the nomination. reply
that his fellow citizens desire him to
be President. 1t is not to serve him
or to please him, but TO serve our
country that we make him our candi-
date. You may say that Judge Gray
declares that he cannot be candidate.
I reply that one greater than he has
II / cDOhCH LHt 0NNCAtiAh PttHiC
have declared that he shall be their
candidate.
Nothing short of a declaration Of
Judge GRAY that he win desert the
flag OF duty will deter us from max
ing him our candidate for President,
ana that declaration he win never
make. for George Gray never deserted
or shirked a duty. No duty was ever
deserted or neglected as a founding
on his door. Leave duty at George
Gray's door and he viii take it ana
care for It as fondly and faithfully as
YOU care for the best loved in your
home. Delaware thinks that it is her
duty to call on her sister States TO call
Judge Gray to the great responsibility
OF the presidency, and we know that If
he is nominated by the Denver con-
vention he viii come to the standard
of the party he loves and will carry
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