The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-07-08
CONVENTION AS A
WHOLE STRONGLY
FOR BRYAN
PROOF SHOWN ON OPENING DAY.
BUT NOT IN APPLAUSE, FOR
BELLS SPEECH DID NOT AZ.
FORD MUCH.
BY HON. THOMAS M. PATTERSON.
Former United States Senator from
Colorado. Written for Hearst News
Service and The Times.)

~ r'ONs tTOWNo W. ~ ChSS'''
Former United States Senator from
Colorado. Written for Hearst News
Service and The Times.)
DENVER, July s.-That the nation
al Democratic convention IL for
Bryan and what IL believes he stands
for. was put beyond a doubt within
80 minutes after the gavel OF Chair
man Thomas Taggart raped the
meeting TO order.
The proof was not given in rounds
OF applause-for theare was not very
much applause-but In the tenseness
OF the strain with which the delegates
followed the speech OF Temporary
Chairman Bell. seeking for opportuni-
ties 10 relieve the tension with APP
plause. and in doing so. though the
opportunities he gave them were few
and far between.
Mr.. Bells speech was neither great,
nor commonplace. IL wasn't calculat-
ed TO arouse enthusiasm. II was fol-
lowed critically--the verdict being
that II will make a good campaign
document.
The Three bad Men,"
The three most notable characters
OF the body are its bad" men-Col.
Gufey. and Messrs. Sullivan and Nc
Graw. Bryan brought them into
prominence by endeavoring 10 have
them excluded from further official
connection with the party. Yet the
Pennsylvania. Illinois and West Vir-
ginia delegations promptly renominat.
ed them for membership on the ma
tional committee. Isn't il curious
paradox that the delegations from
these three states will vote with prac-
teal unanimity for the nomination OF
Mr.. Bryan-who, II elected can. II he
choose, make himself the political die
tator OF every state Of the union. while
they ignore his plainly expressed wish
that they be excluded from the ma
tional committee?
-The-feason Is plain enough, how.
ever. They are the bosses in politics
They control the supplies at home and
I'LL the small Offices &c which most OF
the delegates aspire. The presidency
is filled SO far away and is associated
with home politics SO remotely. that
It Is a good deal OF mere abstraction.
or sentiment with the small politician.
while the boss and the Offices and
finances he controls are Il part OF their
practical everyday life. To vote for
Bryan's nomination for president,
while his wishes about the bosses are
ignored. is not. therefore, an anomaly
but only natural The delegates. in
voting for Bryan, respond 10 an ir-
resistable demand from those at home,e
while their support OF the bosses is
49, .s.., ~ ..ft hAis "a,
selfish natures.
Bones Of Contention.
The three bones of contention are
the tariff, the labor plank and the
vice presidency. The committees are
struggling over the first two-it is
idle TO predict the outcome in advance.
AS TO the latter, the sentiment Is
growing that the south has been pa
tient and long suffering In It's renun-
citation of all part In the presidency
and vice presidency since the close OF
the war and that IL will be patriotic
thing to send the vice presidency to
one of the border states.
The trend has been toward Ollie
James, OF Kentucky, for the second
Office. James is big bodied man,
big-headed and level-headed Ken
tuckian. He was too young to have
fought In the rebellion-yet, after be-
ing an American he is a southerner
I'm all his fibre. and would, 1t Is be-
lieved. add strength to Bryan. Then
81 Gray, who Is from Delaware. would
be an acceptable nominee for the vice
presidency, why not Ollie James. who
is also from what was a border state?
While | do not enter the ranks of the
prophets. the public need not be sur
prised should the ticket be Bryan and
Japcac