Daily Kennebec journal., 1908-07-08

pie, the Democrats convention began
it's deliberations today. The session,
lasting 4 little over two hours, was
notable for it's impressive magnitude
and spectacular effects rather than
for the business accomplished. 1t
gave, however, the keynote speech of
the temporary presiding officer, The
odore A. Bell Of California;, a heated
skirmish incidental to the contest in
the Pennsylvania delegation. and final
ly a unanimous tribute of homage and
respect to the memory of the late
| Grover Cleveland. But the enthusiasm
of the opening session was cOmpara-
| lively brief, intermittent and tempeStu-
Gus. without that long g-sustained and
| frenzied clamor which is still reserved
| for the future.
| 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 tomorrow. Meantime,
! the convention hosts chafe over the
| two days delay which must inter
| vene before their great purpose is ac-
| complished-the nomination of a Pres
idential candidate.
The tide of Bryan sentiment swept
on, gathering force as it proceeds and
tonight the chorus of Bryan, Bryan"
| is well nigh universal With it is a
steadily swelling undercurrent for the
nomination of George Gray Of Della
ware, as Vice President and this move
ment, at first intangible has now as
sumed definiteness which promises
| to merger with the current moving to-
ward Bryan. The opponents of Bryan
are still seeking to unite their
strength against him with the hope
of ultimately accomplishing his de-
feat.
| 1t was & stirring scene which spread
before Chairman Taggart at noon to
day, when, with uplifted gavel, he
sought to bring order out of the con-
| fused babel of sound and motion The
splendid amphitheatre, decorated with
flags and bunting. was packed to its
utmost limits, with a dense and seeth-
ing mass of humanity. Below, in the
| central arena, sat the delegates, just
two more than an even thousand and
| back of them the 1000 alternatos-theSe
1000, the real convention, with the
lestinies of the party in their hands
Flanking them. and sweeping around
the hail were the long lines of eager
expectant on-lookers. rising tier on
tier and gallery on gallery. solid mass
es, the brightness of the women in the
gay costumes vieing with the splen-
dors of Old Glory which hung at every
hand.
| Here and there among this bewilder-
ing throng stood out the notable groups
of leaders. Immediately in front and
under the presiding officers eye Were
ranged the Nebraska delegation
bronZed sons of the West, headed by
the cowboy mayor, Dahlman. the per-
sonal spokesman of Bryan. Well to the
fore were the New York forces with
Chief Murphy and Judge Parker ra-
ther serious-f faced. Further back Col
Guffey was the smiling center of his
Pennsylvania adherents, and near him
James Kerr, who is struggling to dis
place Guffey and take up the leader
i ship. Illinois was to the left-centei
with the rotund Roger Sullivan to the
fore. Further back Tom Johnson, the
fighting mayor of Cleveland, moved
among his adherents until the gave
sent him to his place among the dis
tinguished guests upon the platform.
Near him there sat notable group
the venerable Senator Daniel of Nir-
einia. a type of the old time Southern
er. with Towne, the Vice Presidential
candidate and orator, and the tail
blonde, waspy Congressman Sulzer OF
New York With the Virginians coulc
be seen Gov. Swanson; with Nevada
Governor Dickerson and Senator New
lands; with Kentucky. Senator Me
Creary; with Missouri, Senator Stone
and occasionally Ex-Governor Decker
and Champ Clark with Idaho; Former
Senator Dubois and Heitfeldt, Mime
sofa. with the Johnson lieutenant:
poorly placed in the rear, while Della
ware with the Gray forces We're better
off in the right foreground.
Off to the left was the President:
daughter, Mrs. Alice Roosevelt Long
worth, in a fetching gown and Lad,
GRAY Spafker hat with flowing plume
who smiled from one of the boxes ant
from another box looked out tn
daughter of the Nebraska leader. Mrs
| Ruth BRYAN Leavitt, beaming as Sh
awaited the naming of her father 10
the Presidency. On the platform, too
were many representatives of foreigl
, countries. Young Viscount DeCham
brun of France; NJ Kroupfsky of Rus
sia. Hon. II. F. Charters of England
and the ministers of Argentina ant
: Greece.
. An outburst of enthusiasm came JUS
] as the session was opening when
! silken banner bearing the portrait O
r Bryan was displayed. Immediatel
there was a storm of wild applause