The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-07-21
INNER VIEW Of
bic Convention
The Scenes and Incidents at
the Big Denver
POW-WOW.
By Ernest G.. Walker.

ing the convention hall by day and pro
crossing toward the nomination of a
candidate for President ard candidate
for Vice President The lions and the
lambs of the party have been walking
side by side. 1t has been harmony,
But everybody has been wondering
what moment there would be a growl
among the lions and some of the lambs
would be devoured. For Democratic
National conventions have come to be
regarded as the occasions for fray.
The first days session of the conven-
ton was today (Tuesday), but it was
brief because adjournment was taken
out of respect to the memory of ex-
President Cleveland. That seemed a
fitting tribute and it was paid impress,
sively. At one time it promised to open
a terrific fight over Democracy's past.
Alton B. Parker, of New York, ex-Chief
Judge of the Court of Appeals and the
Democratic standard bearer four years
ago, as good as announced a resolution
all that Grover Cleveland ever did, es.
pecially in maintaining the gold stand
ard, right and wise. That would have
made the lions growl. And there would
have been time of it sure enough.
Just as soon as Judge Parker got to
the public with that, Editor Henry
Watterson, of Louisville, who has be,
come a Bryant convert and who is APP
parently to be the scourge of Bryan S
enemies in this campaign, took his pen
and wrote an editorial which the dele,
gates here in Denver roughly allude to
as "a hide pee1er.'' Tt was carried far
and wide by the press associations and
Mr.. Parker read it, while his Pullman
car was laundering on its way and
making great cloud of dust over the
arid prairies of Kansas and Colorado. 1t
brought the former jurist up standing
and no sooner had he landed in his hotel
here than he issued statement, deny
ing that he proposed to offer any of
fensive resolutions.
, The general run of delegates do not
seem to take very kindly to Judge
Parker He is received with respect on
every hand but there is a feeling that
he stands for the gold bugs of the East
and this Bryan convention therefore
does not want to fraternize with him.
The New York chieftains have come
to the convention in force. They have,
brought their Democrats who are skilled
in oratory and also their Democrats who
are crafty in politics. ''Charlie2
Murphy, boss of Tammany Hall, and |
(" Pat" McCarren, lean and lank, of |
Brooklyn, are facing the music and |
whether Murphy or Me-
Carren shall rule across the river, or |
in other words whether the tiger is to |
cross into Brooklyn. Martin Littleton, /
silver tongued, who nominated Parker /
for President and made a good speech, |
too; Bird S. Coler, the Brooklyn Demo
crat who came very near being Demo
cratic Governor of New York in 1902, |
and who, the wise ones say, would have
beaten Odell had he not been so stingy
about putting out some money up the
State; Lewis S. Nixon, once boss of
1ammany for while and always a
consistent Bryan man, and many, many
other eminent New York Democrats,
even to Fingy Connors, have been on
the ground early.
They have been wearing the olive
branch in the lapels of their coats.
Much to the surprise of all concerned,
their mission has been one of peace,
as far as the general contest is con-
cerned. "We came not for war but
for peace, | assure you, y quoth Muir
ply as soon as he arrived in Denver,
which was in great contrast to the Hon
orable I" JIM Guffey, of Pennsylvania,
who came breathing defiance and an
that he was ready to fight
'em all. He did not want Bryan nomi-
mated, etc., etc. He was taking the
nti-Bryan tack about everything.
With their tremendous delegations the
Pennsylvanians and New Workers al
ways loom large in a Democratic con-
vention. For Democratic conventions
ever care tremendously for what New
York is thinking and doing. The State
has ceased to be pivotal, of course, but
it has not ceased to be very essential
to a Democratic victory. The Pennsyi-
numbering sixty-eight dele
votes but do not receive the same at
tention because it is well recognized
that the State is hopelessly Republican.
Ohio has been figuring materially in
the proceedings, because the Democrats
claim to have hopes of carrying that |
State for Governor, with Judson Har-
mon as their candidate, and some hopes, |
even though they be remote, of carry |
ing the State for Bryan. The name |
of Tom l.. johnson, Mayor of Cleve- |
land, has been on the lips of the con-
vention throngs quite as much as that |
of his namesake the Governor of Mime |
sofa who is a rival candidate with Bry |
an for the nomination. For Bryan |
wants Tom johnson to manage the cam
paign, which would add to the Ohio
interest. The subject was preached to
Mayor Tom several weeks ago but he |
responded that he was too busy with his !
mayoralty and especially with his |
street railway schemes in Cleveland to |
give it his attention. Since then Mr.. |
Bryan has heard that Mayor Tom, if