Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1908-07-09
DEMOCRATIC
CONVENTION
BEGINS WORK
Brief Opening Session Is In
spring Spectacle Marked by
Great Enthusiasm.
BELL SOUNDS THE KEYNOTE
Grafton of Temporary Chairman
Punctuated With Uproar=
iOus Applause.
HONOR MEMORY OF CLEVELAND
Resolutions of Respect Are Presented
and Convention Adjourns as
Mark of Esteem.
HONOR MEMORY OF CLEVELAND


ten thousand throats, with the swell of
political oratory and the inspiring
spectacle of vast multitude of people,
the Democratic national convention
began it's deliberations yesterday. The
session, lasting little over two hours,
was more notable for it's impressive
magnitude and spectacular effects than
for the business accomplished. 1t gave,
however, the opportunity for the
awakening echoes of convention en-
thusiasm, the keynote speech of the
temporary presiding officer, Theodore
A. Bell of California, heated Skin
mish incidental to the contest in the
Pennsylvania delegation, and finally a
unanimous tribute of homage and re-
spect to the memory of the late Gro
yer Cleveland.
Day of Formaities.
But the enthusiasm of the opening
session was comparatively brief in
termittent and tempestuous, without
that long-sustained and frenzied clam
or which is still reserved for the fu-
ture.
The day was devoted chiefly to the
primary formalities, and the commit
tees appointed are now at work per-
fecting the permanent organization to
be presented to-day. Meantime the
convention hosts chafe over the two
days delay which must intervene be-
fore their great purpose is accomplish
ed-the nomination of presidential
candidate.
Last night the opponents of Bryan
were still seeking to unite their
strength against him, with the hope of
ultimately accomplishing his defeat.
Stirring Scene.
It was a stirring scene which spread
before Chairman Taggart at noon yes
terday, when with uplifted gavel he
sought to bring order out of the con-
fused babel of sound and motion. The
splendid amphitheater, decorated with
flags and bunting, was packed to its
uttermost limits with a dense and
seething mass of humanity. Below, in
the central arena, sat the delegates,
just two more than an even thousand,
and back of them the one thousand al
ternates-these two thousand the real
convention, with the destinies of the
party in their hands Thanking them
and sweeping around the hall were
the long lines of eager, expectant on
lockers, rising tier on tier and gallery
on gallery solid masses, the bright
ness of the women in their gay cos
tunes vying with the splendors of Old
Glory, which hung at every hand.
Notable Leaders.
Here and there amid this bewilder-
ing throng stood out the notable
groups of leaders. Immediately in
front and under the presiding officers
eye were ranged the Nebraska delega-
ton, bronzed sons of the West, head
ed by the cowboy mayor, Dahlman, the
personal spokesman Of Bryan. Well in
front we're the New York cohorts,
with Chief Murphy, cold and impene
trable, and Judge Parker, rather seri-
Gus faced. Further back, Col. Guffey
was the smiling center of his PennsyI-
vania adherents, and near him James
Kerr, who is struggling to displace
Guffey and take up the leadership.
Illinois was to the left center, with
the rotund Roger Sullivan to the fore
Further back Tom Johnson, the fight
ing mayor of Cleveland, moved among
his adherents until the gavel sent him
to his place among the distinguished
guests upon the platform.
Minnesota Poorly Placed.
Near him there sat a notable group
the venerable Senator Daniel of Vir-
ginia, type of the old-time Southern
er, with Towne, the vice presidential
candidate and orator, and the tall,
blonde, waspy congressman, Sulzer of
New York With the Virginians could
be seen Gov. Swanson, with Nevada
Gov. Dickerson and Senator Newlands,
with Kentucky Senator McCra1cy,
with Missouri Senator Stone, and &C.
casionally ex-Gov. Dockery and the re-
doubtable Champ Clark, with Idaho
Former Senators Dubois and Heitfeld.
Minnesota, with the Johnson lienten-