New-York tribune., 1908-07-05
DENVER'S FIERY 4TH
all LURID BUT PARKER.
He Sings Harmony Song, Not
Mentioning CIeueland Resolution.

the streets have been ablaze with color, an IN
cessant din of cannon and crackers has mingleu
with the enthusiasm of arriving political delega-
tions and long trains have crept over the prairie
from every direction. adding their throngs 10
the multitude already here. Tonight the state
Capitol and other public buildings are flluml-
mated. the streets are filed with convention
throngs and resound with the clatter OF hre-
works. and the hotel lobbies are crowded with
political leaders. delegates and onlookers from
every section of the country. Thus far, how
ever .he crowds are somewhat below the av-
erage of national conventions, owing to the dis
tance of Denver from the populous centres ana
because government and state restrictions on
railroad passes keep back hundreds who nave
heretofore made national convention the occa-
sion for free excursion However, the conVeh-
ton is still three days off, and there is ample
time for an influx up to precedent in numbers
and noise It is estimated that twenty thousand
strangers are already here, and sixty thousand
more are expected in the next two days
The arrivals to-day included the Missouri dele
CATION headed BY Senator Stone: part of the
North Carolina delegation. headed by Governor
Glenn. who promptly retired his candidacy Tor
the Vice Presidency. and struggling advance
guards of MANY of the other delegations. These,
with Alton B. Parker the Democratic candidate
of 1904; Colonel Clayton, of Alabama, who VIII
be permanent chairman of the convention;
Charles F. Murphy, of Tammany Han, ana
Governor Haskell of Oklahoma, favorite cand1-
date for chair-an of the platform committee
are the chief figures of national interest now on
the ground. But there is rather a noticeable
absence of national leaders and the conspicuous
figures of former conventions, such as I1llman,
Bailey. Culberson, Champ Clark and John Sharp
Williams Most of the men of action in this
Of lnaol laoh
One of the arrivals to-day was Charles w
Bryan. brother of the candidate, who came from
Lincoln with a number of the Nebraska leaders
to dispense hospitality from the Nebraska and
Bryan headquarters. This is the first appear
ance of Brother Charles" in national affairs
although he has been for eleven years private
secretary to his brother and the business head
of The Commoner," which William j. con-
tributes the editorial inspiration.
Ex-Judge Parker attracts much attention and
interest When seen to-day he did not wish TO
give a formal interview, but in an informal way
he chatted on the situation and the outlook.
DO you consider the Presidential nomination
still an open question, is Mr.. Bryan's NOM
ination reasonably assured" he was asked.
PARKER STATES HIS VIEWS
"Of course L have no more exact information
than you have that subject he replied
But the reports gathered by the press and by
those who keeping pretty close track OF the
standing of delegates appear to indicate that MI
BRYAN has very strong lead. and one which
NAV be sufficient to give him the nomination
At the same time, we are here in friendly rival
~ both as to and measures 1t may oe
that soma of us would have preferred another
candidate But we are here for an exchange of
views and it is the very essence of Democratic
faith to accept the will of the majority VI
course there is only one final way for that Will
to have official expression, and that is by
ballot in the convention. Meantime, there Is
not a man in the convention who VIII not say
TODAY that he is ready to accept the Will of
the convention and support the candidate when
that will is definitely made known.
In the event of Mr.. Bryan's nomination
iudge from the foregoing that you would wish
YOUR stanch friends of 1904 to give thelr Ioyal
support to him." asked.
|. Most assuredly," he replied. and why not?
Afr Rrvan will then become the exponent of the
Democratic party, with its great principles and
/. great mission still to perform Mr.. Bryans
ability is everywhere conceded and by no one
more than myself. He is q gentleman of splen-
did intellectual ability, of vast information on
public affairs, orator of magnetic quantities.
with an engaging personality which wins him
hosts of devoted adherents, and natural leader
of men Make no mistake, therefore, as to the
attitude and the personal feeling of my friends
and of myself toward Mr. Bryan IN lhe event
of his nomination"
is there any division of sentiment over the
PLATFORM"
AS TO THE PLATFORM.
Don't call it division Of sentiment 1t is the
same as to measures as II is to men-we are
here for an exchange of views We are all de-
,ch NO haHp
long been identified. In gathering of one
thousand men from every section Of this i'm
mense country it is altogether natural that there
should be differing shades Of view upon some
of the great problems now confronting the
country. This difference of view and this rec
onciIng of the varying shades Of sentiment serve
a most valuable end, for out Of it all will come
the solid jugdment of Democrats representing
the whole country, and such Judgment, 1t is to
he hoped will be consistent with the great prin-
ciples Of the Democratic party and will serve
the country in a most vital manner at this mo-
1nent by combating the Rooseveltian tendency
TO centralize all power in the hands Of the fed
eral government as against the states. l do
not want to go into details as to these prin-
ciples as some gentlemen a bit sensitive
{ and are prone TO arragn radicals or con-
servatives However, all this will, l trust, be
reconciled conservatism will l hope and be-
lieve have a moderating influence upon the
more advanced ideas of some OF our brothers,
while the advanced views will keep from
tagging in the rear and will insure the party a
steady infusion of the progressive spirit of the
age Leave TO the pessimists. therefore, the
talk of troubles over candidates and platform.
We will consider confer and then decide, and
that decision will present to the country a
ticket which will command enthusiastic ap-
provaI and declaration Of principles which I
fervently trust will be satisfactory to the best