The San Francisco call., 1908-07-10
BRYAN CREATES
ENTIRE PLATFORM
SPECIAL DISPATCH TO THE CALL

DENVER, July 9.-It is Bryans plat
form-Bryans from beginning to end.
Its creation began last winter when
Bryan at Lincoln began the preparation
of the Nebraska state platform. The
planks of that platform were made by
men who were students of the particu-
lar subjects embraced, Haskell, gov
ernor of Oklahoma, for instance, pre-
pairing that upon government insurance
of bank deposits; former Attorney
General Monnett of Ohio drafting that
upon physical railroad valuation. The
various planks of this platform were
put together by Bryan himself after he
had carefully considered and revised
them.
When the leaders of the party began
their pilgrimage to Denver many of
them stopped en- route at Lincoln.
Bryan showed them the Nebraska plat
form. THE national platform should
follow closely the Nebraska idea" was
Bryan's suggestion Haskell was the
first man of any prominence to reach
Denver. He made 1t point to get in
touch with delegates to sound them as
to their attitude on Bryan's policies,
and to gather ideas for incorporation
in the platform.
Never was treasure guarded so care
fully as were the Bryan suggestions.
This was in accordance with the In
structions of the Nebraskan, who had
taken a leaf from the experience of
President Roosevelt and Secretary Taft
at Chicago. He did not propose to re-
veal his program and thus permit the
opposition to concentrate It's strength
against provisions which he deemed
absolutely essential. These men were
devoting themselves to an effort to Sc
o1rr q roGnIuffnnC 1uafffao OH rad
with Bryan men that anything like
successful assault upon the Bryan
policies would result in failure. The
committee was organized without much
departure from what had been exc
cuted at Lincoln. Haskell was elected,
as had been decreed from the begin
ming.
Finding 1t impossible for the subcom-
mittee to draft the platform. subcom-
mittees OF three were formed. Bryan
passed also on the organization of
these subcommittee. Then the real
work of drafting the platform began.
The anti-injunction subcommittee ne
gotiated with Gompers, communicated
with Bryan and then reduced its ideas
to writing. Gompers had swung the
New York delegation to support his
labor plank.
The New York anti-injunction plank
cut absolutely no figure, however, in
the work OF the subcommittee. The
latter body included Alton B. Parker,
who entertained views of his own, and
an examination of the plank estab-
lished that they played a large part
in framing it.
What was true of anti-injunction
likewise was true of other pIanks.
The subcommittee discussed the sub
jects referred to them. prepared their
recommendations and submitted them
either to Haskell or to Bryan. When
they were approved they submitted
them to the subcommittee. 1t was ex-
pected the subcommittee would com
plete its work in time to report to the
full committee last night. On account
of the credentials row in the conven-
tion and the need of submitting all the
planks that had been perfected this
proved impossible.
The tariff and trusts precipitated a
long debate. AS one member expressed
it, There were 40 lawyers upon the
committee and every one OF them.