Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-05-11
DENVER RESIDENTS
AWAIT CONVENTION
DEMOCRATS TO BE RECEIVED
WITH OPEN ARMS
SPEND LARGE SUMS TO WELL
COME GUESTS
Every Door Open to Delegates and
Members of Party Will Be Re-
ceived in True Western
Style

DENVER, Colo, May 10.-Denver secured the
Democratic national convention because the
time was ripe for a convention of one of the
big national political parties to be held west of
the Missouri river. a majority of the members
of the Democratic national committee were
keen enough to recognize this fact and they
realized that the time had come for Democracy
to show the entire country that sectional preju-
dices should be cast aside in great emergencies
OF great nations affairs and that recognition
should be given the far west, whose people
have labored so long and hard to reclaim broad
acres from the desert, and who have dug many
millions of dollars In gold from the rock-rib-
bed mountains to enrich the Golfers of the
grsndest nation on the face of the earth.
committee of earnest and determined men
o. Denver stood before the members OF the
Democratic national committee in washington
last December and in convincing language and
with substantial pledges to back up their
claims, pointed out the duty of the national
committee and assured its members that if the
Democratic party would hold its next national
convention In Denver the people of Colorado's
capital would add to the glory Of the party by
giving the delegates and visitors to the con-
venton true western welcome. and that they
would be entertained in manner that would
overshadow any other convention in the his
tory of the party.
Denver started out early to secure of the
two big national political conventions. The
first suggestion that the cost of holding one of
these conventions would total in the neighbor-
hood of 100000 came from the Republicans.
Word received at the headquarters of the
Denver Convention league that the city which
to be prepared to spend 500. 600 to defray the
actual cost of holding the convention. This cal
culation was based upon the expenses of the
last Republican convention. Therefore, when
the convention leagues representatives APP
peared before the Republican national committee
this sum was guaranteed. The Republicans
refused to recognize Denver's claims as q
western city for the convention They were
satisfied so far tho money offer was con-
cerned, but the majority of the national com
mittee did not to hold the convention in
However,
cago TO guarantee that all Of the expenses OF
the convention would be paid and obtained
that this would be done. which amounts to
practically the thing 100000 cash
guarantee.
Appear Before Committee
The men who appeared before the Democratic
national committee were Charles W. Franklin
C. H. Reynolds Charles F. Wilson, II. e.
Insiey and w. F. r. Mills, the latter being
secretary of the Denver Convention league, and
all constituting the, executive committee of the
league. Mr.. Franklin was the first speaker 10
present Denver's claims. He told of Denvers
location within 800 miles of the geographical
center of the Untitled States, and said that
the west had been waiting patiently many
years for one of the two leading political par
ties to recognize this great section by holding
a national convention in its midst He spoke
OF the wonders of Denver's climate, told OF the
structural beauties of the Queen City of the
Plains" and explained that accommodations
were ample for a crowd of more than l0O, 900
visitors. He said further that the people or
Denver had voted bond Issue to raise fund
for the purpose Of building a huge auditorium
that would cost not less than 5000 OOo, and
which would be the finest convention hall in
the world.
I'VE are here to ask you to select Denver as
the next meeting place for Democracy because
the far west is entitled to this recognition,
declared Mr.. Franklin and as this conviction
already existed in the minds Of the majority of
the national committee, he scored point that
really won the voting that followed.
For the purpose of illustration Mr.. Frank
lin used a map that the Denver men had
prepared after their arrival In Washington.
He showed that by drawing line dlVlulhs
the Dakotas, Minnesota and Nebraska from
Iowa. Kansas from Missouri, Oklahoma from
Arkansas and Texas from louisiana, the
territory west of the line indicated is en-
titled to 1876 delegates to the next national
convention, practically one-fifth of the en-
tire convention. He commended that II the
national committee acted with absolute fair-
ness in the division of benefits and burdens
the section indicated should nave one con-
vention in five.
Taking the Mississippi river as dividing
line, Mr.. Franklin pointed out that there
will be 800 delegates to the next Democratic
national convention from the section west
of that line, approximately one-third of the
west was entitled to one convention in three
He explained further that the cost of rail-
road transportation from the extreme end
of the United States to Denver would be
about equal. He based Denver's claims for
the convention absolutely upon what Dem
yer considered was the just due OF the west.
Secretary Mills Makes Pledges
Secretary Mills backed up Denvers offer
with written pledges from some of the best
and most substantial men in Colorado. He
said that the invitation came from the
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