Omaha daily bee., 1908-07-09
ANTS IN The LAST DITCH
Only Hope from Fight on Report Of
Credentials Committee.
CoLER Is CERTAIN OF TREACHERY
BROOKLYN Man Calls McCarren, sulli-
van and GuHey Tools In h
Hands OF Republican


80
10 o'clock today. after having been in con-
tinuous session since 8 o'clock yesterday
afternoon. No attempt was made to restrict
the time for the presentation Of evidence in
the various contests, the proceedings IN
which were all conducted with open doors.
The Idaho. Ohio and Pennsylvania cases
provoked much bitterness from the oppos-
ing sides
Colonel James Guffey Of Pittsburg went
down to defeat before the committee in all
his contested cases, the contestants all
being seated by a vote of q to 10.
In the Idaho case. the Mormon faction
was put to rout, the committed deciding
in favor 81 the Dubois faction. who were
seated as delegates by a vote of 96 to %.
The Nineteenth Ohio district again was
given to Tom Johnson OF Cleveland. VINO
appeared in the committee room early this
morning and made a strong plea that the
action Of the national committee be sus-
tanned.
The Ninth district anti-Johnson delegates
were allowed to retain their seats.
sullivan Sustained.
The committee made short work OF the
New York, Illinois and District Of Columbia
contests, unanimously sustaining the action
Of the national committee in each case,
which in the case of Illinois seats the Sui
Ivan delegates.
The fight Of Oklahoma for eighteen dele
gates instead Of fourteen resulted in a
victory for the new state. The claim of
Oklahoma was based on the allegation that
there had been an incorrect apportionment
Of the districts and the committee &C
cepted that view.
The Importance Of the result of the
nights work lies in the effect which the
decision Of the committee might have upon
doubtful delegates or upon those whose
action is controlled simply by specific in
structions of the conventions which elected
them and who might welcome a pretext
for evading those instructions. 1t was an
open secret, late last night and this morn
ing that the elements opposed to the nomi-
nation of William ]. Bryan for the presi-
dency based practically their last hope of
success upon the rather remote possibility
that drastic action of the credentials COM
mittee, more especially in the Pennsylvania
cases, might provoke a revolt among dele
gates none too cordial In their acceptance
Of pro-Bryan instructions and sweep into
the anti-Bryan camp a number sufficient
to give them the one more than one-third
Of the convention necessary to prevent
Bryan's nomination. Failing that, It was
all but conceded that Bryan's nomination
has become what many have never ques-
toned, a certainty.
Fight over Credentials.
There were other aspects OF this matter
which were freely discussed last night
and this morning. One was the effect,
either way Of the decision of the credentials
committee, and OF the convention in the
Idaho cases. There, politically speaking,
lay a very serious dilemma, as both sides
Of the controversy admitted. The con-
testants represented in considerable meas
ure. 1t was said, the Mormon interests In
idaho and the vote of that large element
was in a measure at stake. The sitting
delegation repudiated all proposals in the
, direction OF compromise and It was clear
that whichever was the and aftel
the committee. the convention, might throw
? its decision, the political effect would b,
important.
D In similar vein was couched the appeal OF
! State Senator Patrick II. McCaren Of
! Brooklyn for the seating Of his delegates
s which were unsested by the spring stat,
e convention held in New York City, not
withstanding, according to the claim o.
4 McCarren, the fact that they had beer
] the undoubted choice of the voters OF tn,
e party at the primary election.
= In a vehement argument before the com
e mittee, Senator McCarren pointed out tina
even with all elements in the party unite,
. 1t would be exceedingly difficult for tn
. democrats to carry New York state thi
fall; that the state was essential to tn
. election of democratic candidate for tn
Il presidency and that the constituency O
f Brooklyn, famously Jealous OF its rights
r would retaliate for an injustice to ther
= in a fashion which no leader, howeve
n powerful, would be able to forestall.
f Golfer Cries Treachery.
a on the other hand, former Cumptrolle
Bird S. Coler, scathingly attacked Nc
CaIten, alleging that he and ex-Lieutenan
O Governor William f. Sheehan and Nationa
n Committeeman Guffey of Pennsylvani
+ were now in Denver engaged in a cor
n spiracy to accomplish the defeat of tn
a democratic party; that McCarren we
tied hand and feet" TO the republica
bosses in Brooklyn, under personal obliga
: tion to them and had himself brougt
about the defeat Of William r. Hearst tw
years ago. when the latter was the res
ID ular democratic candidate for governor {
New York state. He further attribute
c "baneful effects upon the party to tn
y Cleveland memorial resolutions offered
the convention yesterday by ex-Judg
Alton b. Parker. and he alleged that Nj
Carren was behind that, too.
A similar allegation was brought in cor
n%ection with the Chicago cases against II
~ newly reelected national committeema
40 Roger c.. Sullivan Of Illinois, who wa
charged by the opposition with being Il
Z political ally of the republican state leade
Senator Albert ]. Hopkins.
~ The Pennsylvania cases, involving Il
a membership OF Colonel James M. CUFF
"A of Pittsburg in the national committee a
forded a sensational episode in the opel
os ing session of the convention yesterda
IN when the case was referred by Temporal
IL Chairman Bell by sheer power Of Il
"a gavel. to the credentials committee,
10 spite OF vociferous demands OF Colon
he Guffey and his associates for a vote
., the subject then and there. The deni
81 Of a roll call by the chairman was Il
;. subject OF much discussion among the del
a. gates after the adjournment OF the CO
=. v~ention. and it was made plain that VIII,
the matter comes before the convention
the report of the credentials committee, Z
outcome will be anything but a foregoI
80, conclusion.
"A Bryan On Resolution.
No. Meanwhile the conaaIittee on resolution
and later the subcommittee to which 4
ha platform was finally referred, was haviI
a protracted meeting. The full commit