Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-07-07
MEETING HELD
IN EFFORT TO
DEFEAT BRYAN
FRIENDS OF C0MM0NER NOT
ALARMED
NEW YORK REFUSES TO TAKE A
DECIDED STAND
Consensus of Opinion Is That Nebras-
kan VIII Be Nominated, Prob
ably on the First
Ballot

hum ANA0 Oo
loose a movement of genuine force
against the Nebraskan.
With New York taking the lead and
throwing its seventy eight votes
against him Guffy and his Pennsyl-
yania cohorts would have followed
suit; Georgia was wavering and likely
to turn a block of southern strength
awsv from Bryan, and this, with the
organized strength of Johnson ana
Gray, might have given vitality to the
allied opposition.
But ali these reckonings have come
to naught because of New Yorks per
sjstent silence. Mr.. Murphy is neither
for Bryan nor against him. and with
this leaderless, aimless situation the
allied opposition has slowly crumbled
to pieces.
II Murphy has waited for some one
else to take the lead, as Is generally
believed. he will have the satisfaction
of going back to New York with the
declaration that it would have been
lacking in political sagacity for New
York to act against Bryan until the
aggregate strength of the opposition
was demonstrated to be sufficient to
defeat him.
What Might Have Happened
For the first time tonight the allied
opposition disclosed figures showing
what might have happened had New
rs votes would be swung against
Bryan. According to this table a total
of 349 votes, or considerably more than
the necessary number to block
BRYAN nomination, would have swung
into line with New York, the claim IN
detail being as follows; Alabama l,
Florida Z, Georgia rs. Louisiana ~
West Virginia IA, North Carolina "a,
Connecticut IL, Delaware 6, Maine II,
Massachusetts -, New Hampshire 4,
New Jersey "a, New York IS, Pennsyl-
vania AS, Rhode Island 4. Vermont s,
Minnesota %, Ohio II, Wisconsin o.
Alaska g. Porto Rico s.
The total vote of the convention is
1902 the one-third necessary to pre-
vent nomination is 334, whereas the
allies claim Is in EXCESS of this re-
quirement had New York furnished the
rallying point.
Al meeting was held late this even
ing of the various anti-Bryan inter-
ests, during which the situation was
canvassed and a practical agreement
reached that it was futile to continue
the fight over New Yorks inaction.
The heated contest in the Pennsyl-
vania delegation ragged around Mr..
Guffy, but his victory, his enemies
claim, is less significant than might
appear. The hopes of the Bryan men
are centered on the nine cOnteStlnS
delegates from Pennsylvania. AS these
contestants are Bryan men they are
practically assured of being seated by
the Bryan committee on credentials,
and once seated Mr.. Guffy's victory OF
today may be succeeded by Mr.. Bry-
ans final triumph tomorrow, according
to the calculations of the Bryan men.
Guffy Secures Signature
Against this, however, GuffV secured
the signatures today of 40 delegates
whose seats are uncontested and who
have an undisputed majority of the IS
Pennsylvania votes, regardless of con-
test.
interest is turning tonight to the
opening session of the convention,
which begins at noon tomorrow. The
appointment of the committee on Gre
dentials, rules and permanent organi-
zation will be followed by the presen-
tation of resolutions Of resnect for the
memory of Grover Cleveland.
Judge Parker has prepared new
draft of these resolutions, completely
eliminating politics and dealing only
18th the eminent public services of
Mr.. Cleveland. If, however, there is
the slightest disposition on the part of
any of Mr.. Bryan's friends to object
to the Parker draft, owing to the feel
ing created by It's early provisions, 1t
will not be presented.
Tomorrow's proceedings will be
brief and after the preliminary organi-
cation is effected an adjournment will
be taken as mark of respect to Mr..
Cleveland