Los Angeles herald., 1908-06-29
LIMELIGHT OF
POLITICS TURNS
ON DEMOCRATS
NATIONAL CONVENTION TO BE
HELD NEXT WEEK
VICE PRESIDENTIAL QUESTION
INTERESTING
Many Possible Candidates Are Sug-
qested and Five New York Men
Are Considered for
Place
By Associated Press.

By Associated Press.
DENVER, Colo, June 2s.-This city
today took its last political slumoer fer
at least fortnight to come.
The Democratic politicians OF prom
inence who have already arrived Tor
the national convention of next week
left this morning for pleasure Trip
into the mountains.
They will straggle back, some OF
them tonight, others tomorrow. BY the
time they are all on the ground once
mora the advance guard of the state
delegations will be here, or OH their
way, and there will be ali ever-increas-
ing activity until the red fire has flick
cred out and the curtain has been rung
down on the final scene OF the Demo-
cratic national convention.
There we're more departures or poll
ticians today than there were arrivals.
and consequently there was dearth OF
happenings In the political sense.
The out-and-out Bryan men today
were highly pleased over the manner
in which Theodore A. Bell OF California
was yesterday named for temporary
chairman. There were reports peIore
Mr.. Bell had been selected that a fight
was to be made on him by Thomas
Taggart, chairman of the national COM
mittee, and Roger c. Sullivan, the ma
tional committeeman from Illinois, but
the promised struggle did not material
ize and the wishes of Mr.. Bryan re-
garding Mr.. Bell were carried out with
out a sign or sound of dissent.
This fact was taken by the Bryan
men to mean that all opposition to the
wishes OF their leader had disappeared.
or at least will be only of comparatively
slight influence throughout the conven-
ton. They are now counting con-
fidently on the selection of Henry d.
CLAYTON Of Alabama for permanent
chairman, claiming that 1t Will be
brought about as easily and with no
more opposition than that Of Mr.. Bell
at tine meeting of yesterday.
No Opposition to Clayton
No particular opposition has been
made to Mr.. Clayton and there are no
present signs of any fight against him.
Other names have been mentioned
but none from the south save that or
Senator Joseph W. Bailey OF Texas,
and 1t seems ato be practically CERTAIN
because Of i'll health. 1t Is
known that Mr.. Bryan desires q per,
manent chairman from the south ana
the BRYAN men believe that with Sena-
tor Bailey eliminated no man other
than Clayton will be considered.
Little talk has so far been heard con-
cerning the platform, but 1t is generally
believed among the recognized leaders
now here that the fight over the in5unc-
tion plank in the Republican resolu-
tions committee may find parallel
when the Democratic platform builders
are fairly at work.
It is generally understood that In the
event of the Bryan people securing con-
troll of the resolutions committee the
of principles VIII follow
closely the planks of the Lincoln plat
form"
Arrivals of political importance have
SO far been few and no delegations are
expected for some days. Not single
Headquarters has been opened as yet
and it will probably be Thursday OF
this week before events are In fun
swing.
The vice presidential situation. from
the present outlook, offers the greatest
encouragement to that class of dele
gates which is always looking for ex-
element at a political convention. I'm
less the nominee for the first place on
the ticket should demand Of his friends
the election of a running mate on
whom he may have set his heart. the
would seem to point TO
numerous ballots in the completion OF
a ticket. That frequent balloting and
spirited contests are wonderful factors
In creating enthusiasm Is asserted by
Democratic leaders now here and they
are looking forward to a scramble over
the vice presidency, particularly If a
for the presidency Is made
on the first ballot.
Want Many Candidates
A well fought battle to a finish over
any question which interests the dele
gates 1t is asserted engenders good feel
Ing and harmony The disposition of
the party leaders therefore is to invite,
rather than discourage. prominent
to enter the race for second
place on the national ticket.
The present prospects are that there
will not be a dearth of candidates for
he vice presidential nomination. Some
Of the names now heard are those of
men who have said they do not desire
DR. would not take second place.
rhey will have warm friends In the
nevertheless who are likely
10 make campaigns for them If Mr..
Bryan should be nominated and fail to
voice his preference for e running mate.
Among these are Governor johnson
IF Minnesota and Judge George Gray
If Delaware. both Of whom will figure
n the ballot for the presidential nom
nation. That both OF these men would
DT6IeT not 10 pt lHUuSut VI III COiICS-
ion with the vice presidency and in
TACT might go so far as to positively de-
cline in advance to qualify IL nomi-
nated, apparently has failed to elimi-
aate them from. the list of possibilities.
The argument In favor Of both john
son and Gray is their unquestioned
in the communities where
hey live, and the fact that they could
30 expected to appeal to conservative
business interests. Governor johnson |
s serving second term as chief execu-
i've Of his state. He was the editor
md publisher of a newspaper In his
state when he entered public life, and Is
lot lawyer.
II is well known that Judge Gray
would much rather not enter upon a |
campaign for the vice presidency.
Consider New York Men
The names of five New r7rgn'r men are
coming up conspicuously y " pre-
gossip over the second
place. These are Morgan ]. O'Brien, |
'ormer chief justice of the supreme
,ourt of New York; Herman L. Metz, |
,ity comptroller of Brooklyn; former
Charles a. Towne, |
lewis S. Chanler, lieutenant governor.
Continued on Page Twc.)