Omaha daily bee., 1908-07-10

Theodore Roosevelt, Chicago, 1908, forty
eight minutes.
w. ]. Bryan, Denver, 1905, eighty-seven
minutes.
Colonel James McClurg Guffey OF
Pennsylvania, who was fired through the
stained glass transom by the Bryan
bronco, is said to be n millionaire five
times over and 50 years Of age. For a
score of years he has been a democratic
leader of Pennsylvania. a state which his
ancestors helped wrest from its Indian
holders. William Guffey, a Lanarkshire
Scotchman, accompanied the Forbes ex-
petition which captured Fort Duquesne in
175S, and in his old age became one Of the
first permanent white settlers on the Loyal
hanna Creek, in Westmoreland county,
Pennsylvania.
Marrying the sister Of n Scotch COM
panion Of the Indian wars. William Guffey
established the line Of Pennsylvania Cuff
feys, who still are the largest holders Of
real estate in the surrounding counties and
whose members are listed in the leading
families of the state.
The family name, but not the fortune,
descended to James Guffey, who went out
and garnered the wealth he felt requisite to
the dignity of the Guffeys. Today he Is
the largest individual oil producer in the
United States, owns mines in Idaho, Mon
tana and Colorado, and his business inter
ests are scattered through a score of states.
In business life Mr.. Guffey, who has
added the honorary title OF Colonel to his
other holdings, has been a whirlwind Of
energy, industry, diplomacy, originality and
persistency. His combative traits have
been reserved for his pet avocation-politics.
The personality of Colonel Guffey is his
chief charm. Despite his fighting instinct,
he is the embodiment OF courtesy and affa-
bility, and in his home and business life his
democracy Is proverbial. He is a trustee OF
Washington and Jefferson college, a mem
Der of the Duquesne club of Pittsburg, the
Manhattan club Of New York and many
other similar institutions, and is famed as a
social entertainer.
But the colonel would not bow to the
Peerless One, and out he goes.
Some democratic state conventions this
year have taken a shot a Speaker Cannon,
accusing him OF various violations of par
liamentary law. Reports from Denver show
that Speaker Cannon's conduct was as mild
and soothing as a July zephyr compared
with the parliamentary steam roller oper-
ated by Temporary Chairman Bell. Ray
mund, in the Chicago Tribune. says: 1.-The
steam roller at Chicago, OF which so much
was said, the despotic rule of Speaker
Reed in the house'of representatives, or the
domination of the emperor of Russia over
his newly created legislative chamber was
nothing compared to the short shrift which
was given to Guffey and his followers.
They were run over in defiance of every
possible rule Of parliamentary law and
were deprived of right which were given
to them by an overwhelming vote of the
party. All this was done without any de-
bate and in a fashion which does not
speak well for the fairness Of the con-
trolling element in the convention"
A more effective illustration of Bells
autocratic methods was given when the
time came for presenting the resolution on
the death of Grover Cleveland. Judge
Parker sought recognition from the chair,
but was ignored. 1t was planned that L.
j. Dunn should be recognized for this
purpose. II was the business Of Chairman
Bell to see that Mr.. Dunn was not over
looked. The former representative and
democratic candidate for governor of Cali
fornia took no chances on Mr.. Dunn be-
ing tardy in asking recognition. The ap-
plause had scarcely subsidized on the con-
clusion of Mr.. Bells speech before he said.
The chair recognizes Mr.. I~gnatius ].
Dunn, a delegate from Nebraska"
If Mr.. Dunn had made any effort for
recognition up TO this time nobody except
the temporary chairman had noticed it.
But when his name was called, he climbed
into his chair and offered the resolutions
which had been prepared on the death of
Grover Cleveland, and moved their adop-
ton.