Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1908-06-19
Friday, June 10. 1908.
DEMOCRATIC TICKET.
Election, November 3, 1908.
THE CONVENTION.

The Democratic convention at Roam
oke on the 18th was the most hamOni-
Gus ''cut and dried" affair that has
taken place in Virginia for years. The
Organization" was perfect. The faith
full arrived sufficiently long before the
beginning of their duties and the ses-
sion, to enable it to arrange all the de-
tails and to chose every individual for
every committee, and none was chosen
unless he was "loyal" or unless his po-
sition was SO overshadowed by the
majority of those who were loyal, as
to make any self assertiveness ON his
part a negative quantity, save and eX-
cept ON the committee on resolutions
which they did not desire to control.
There was no disagreement, however,
ON the part of the majority, or unkind
feeling because the minority took it all.
The majority were bent on one thing
and if that could be accomplished with
the opposition enthroned in every
craftsmanship, and with substantial
majority on every committee, the VIC
tory would be much greater, and the
result was accomplished just that way.
Take Augusta and Staunton for in
stance. Of Staunton's delegates one
half were for Bryan and one-half
against him. An anti-Bryan man was
made chairman of the delegation. In
A ugusta with Is votes, II of which
were Bryan and anti-Bryan, an anti
Bryan man was made chairman. We
learn that the same thing was observed
everywhere unless some fight was
made. The chairmen have appointing
powers and this means much when hot
fights are on. The "slate" in these
cases was somewhat disarranged at
times, especially as to the committee
on resolutions, by the counties them
selves recommending the name of the
committeeman they desired. This was
the all important committee. The
anti-Bryan element, however, got such
luCll VII IL 40 SOls DiCh Alstloldll vi
ortsmouth, and A. B. Williams of
the Richmond News-Leader, and few
Others all as bitter against the candi-
dacy of Mr.. Bryan as Mr.. Marshall or
Mr.. Williams. But the "wisdom" of
others who were possibly as much OPP
posed to Mr.. Bryan as they, aided of
course by some loyal Bryan men, made
the majority of that committee SO over
whelming for instructions that the
minority was smothered. Col. Mar
shall, however, persisted in vote on
his minority report, and this is what
led the hostile press publish the fight
as "a bitter one." There was nothing
hi tier in it, from the stand point of the
majority. They saw their ability to
force instructions, and they simply
j0llied the minority SO as to evoke all
the ''sound" possible from them, be-
cause sound was their principal stock
in trade.
THE SECOND DISTRICT.
1t was a shot air" delegation, that
End district delegation. 1t was said by
some who knew them best that the
majority composing the delegation
never had supported Mr.. Bryan, and
there is some doubt as to whether they
ever will, but still they put themselves
in evidence as much as possible, to the
am usement of the other portion of the
convention.
1t is understood, and it is fact, that
opposing instructions meant hostility
to Mr.. Bryan. On this the line was
drawn. They who were not for him,
were against him. 1t is also the opin-
ion of many that the whole 'organiza-
ton" in Virginia is opposed to him,
but that all in this case save our proph-
ct Daniel, interpreted the hand writing
and wisely took to the band wagon.
SENATOR DANIELS POSITION.
Senator Daniel held for an uninstruct-
ed delegation, but said that he was al
ways willing to obey the voice of Vir-
ginia, and that if the people wished to
send delegation to Denver instructed,
and desired that he be one of the dele
gates, he would carry out their will.
The convention wanted only such a
statement from Senator Daniel 1t
wanted him to go to Denver. 1t re-
joiced in the fact that Virginia had
such material to present to that con-
yention. He is regarded as her favorite
son. He has honored her, and she him,
and she was ready, as she has always
been, to honor him again. But on this
occasion Virginia wanted really not a
pledge, nor did she really wish to doubt
the loyal intention of any delegate, but
she was determined, for the moral effect
it would have on the States whose del
egates had not yet been chosen, as well
as to uphold the hands of those which
had voted, and to voice NOW as well as
ON the day of the convention her real
sentiments in her choice of candidates,
to instruct, in words that meant some
thing, that told the wishes of her peo-
pie. 1t was, therefore, a matter of
supreme pleasure to that convention,
and we believe to the people at large in
Virginia, that Senator Daniel-while
not yielding in his desire for an unin-
structed delegation-yielded to the voice
of Virginia SO gracefully.
From the moment that Chairman
Byrd announced that there would be
instructions, there was not the slight
Lt bout tho n,1tnnr,no III, ,.raS.