The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-07
Party Leaders Getting Things
in Shape for National
Convention
NOT THOUGHT PARKER
is WRITING PLATFORM
Supposed Rather That a Closer
Friend Of Mr.. Bryan Would Be
Given This Work - Sc
lcctions for Offices, and
Some Of the
Speakers.
Times-Dispatch Bureau.
MuuaeY Building
NlUIIScy 0VIIV1HS1 ,
gton. D, c.. June

Munsey Building.
Washington. D. c.. June s.
" HE report which went out from
New York last week to the
effect that Judge Alton B.
Parker was engaged In writing
the platform which would be
| adopted by the Democratic national
convention at Denver, has not been
confirmed here. nor 1t may be added,
has the story received confirmation
lin New York. While 1t may be true
that the platform. as adopted. will be
virtually the handiwork OF Judge
| Parker, It Is difficult to see how the
| Judge could set to work on platform
at this time with anything like as
surance that 1t would be adopted by
| the convention.
President Roosevelt and Secretary
Taft. who have been conferring with
prominent Republicans In Washington
recently regarding the nature OF the
platform to be adopted at Chicago. can
feel approximately certain OF seeing
their ideas prevail in the committee
on resolutions and the convention. 1t
| is a case OF q candidate. assisted by
the head OF his party, deciding upon
what the convention shall do In the
matter of declaring party principles.
| Mr.. Bryan, as the probable candidate
Il
be regarded as his party's head and.
| therefore, 1t would be quito likely
that the man whom he selected to pre-
pare a platform would see his ideas
adopted by the convention. 1t will
not appeal to any one as being at all
| likely that Mr.. Bryan has asked Judge
Parker to write a platform for the
/ Denver convention.
Clayton for Temporary Chairman.
There is said to be strong proba-
/ bility that the Democratic National
i Henry D. Clayton, of Alabama, as tenn
1 porary chairman of the Denver con-
vention. Mr.. Clayton Is man with
4 wonderfully strong voice and could
come as near filling national con-
vention hall as most any other man.
But his voice is no stronger than
Champ Clark's. and had 1t not been for
the man with the megaphone. who
1 stood by Mr.. Clark's side while the
latter was presiding over the st. Louis
convention, half the people in tho hall
i could not have heard the chairman's
i announcements.
I Mr.. Clayton has been member OF
the National Committee for many
i years, and his associates would doubt
less take pleasure in honoring him.
\. James for Permanent Chairman.
Representative Ollie James. OF Ken
lucky, has been spoken of in connec-
tion with the permanent chairman
4 ship OF the convention, but-it Is not
known that he would accept the honor
i IL offered 1t. Mr.. James Is a rattllng
i speaker and warm friend and admirer
!. of Mr.. Bryan's OF many years stand
i ing, and would whoop up the conven-
ton to a high pitch of enthusiasm
with the speech he would make on
II taking the chair. But It Is believed he
4 would prefer less conspicuous place.
though 1T is safe to say he would not
decline and position. the acceptance OF
which would further the interests Of
the man from Nebraska
Some Convention Orntory.
1t is feared that owing to the con-
Will not be able to do much speaking
: at Denver. Senator Baileys trouble
Is not at all serious, resulting from
!. an elongation Of the palate for which
he underwent slight operation In
!, New York this, week, and which 1t is
expected will prove entirely successful.
But it is doubtful IL his throat will be
!. be In normal condition by the time
! the convention opens.
John Sharp Williams will make a
speech, and 1t is to be hoped it will
be better received than the one which
he tried to deliver at the st. Louis
, convention four years ago. The dele
gates were entirely willing to hear
what Mr.. Williams had to say there
but the galleries. would not listen to
any landation Of Mr.. Cleveland, or un.
friendly criticism Of Mr.. Bryan.
It has been stated that Representa-
tive Helflin, of Alabama. would make
one of the speeches seconding the
l tho of N1v>4s E2r1yo !, ic
is not entirely confirmed. and many
Democrats have expressed the hope
Il that it is erroneous Mr.. Heflin recent.
J ly shot negro In a street car In this
/, city. and is under indictment for the
), offense. He Is best known in Con-
\ gress through his championship of a
"Jim Grow" car law for the District OF
t Columbia, and his principal speech In
the House of Representatives this ses-
t sion was ono which he delivered In
/ advocacy Of a bill OF that character
II The negro vote In several border States
/ will decide whether the Democrats OF
4 Republicans will carry those States
!, this year. and incidentally whether a
!, Democrat or Republican will be elect
!. ed President OF the United States.
& That vote does not look to be at all
friendly to Secretary Taft or any nom
inee OF President Roosevelt's, owing
& Ito the Brownsville Incident. But 1t is
!. impossible for the negroes to dislike
b anybody more than they do Heflin. Mr.
! Heflin would make an eloquent speech
!, but not one which would gain Re-
/ publican vote In doubtful State OF
|, make dissatisfied negro stay at homo
! on election day. .l
What Will La Toilette Dor
Representative Hitchcock. Of Ne,
!, braska In q speech inserted in the
Z l ~ nr1 n ~.
i to Print" declares that Senator La
Toilette and his followers will not sup,
port the Republican national ticket
: this year 1t Is not to be presumed
I probably. that Mr.. Hitchcock speaks
i with authority on this subject, vel
that portion OF his speeoh In which ht
refers to Senator Ia Folletts's attitude