The Democratic advocate., 1908-06-05
STATE CONVENTION.
BRYAN GETS FOUR OF THE SIXTEEN
DELEGATES TO DENVER
Harmony Prevails and Everybody is
Satisfied

The only excitement at the Demo-
cratic State Convention held Wednes-
day at the Auditorium Theatre came at
the close. Former State Senator w.
F. Applegarth, of Dorchester county,
launched forth in TRADE against
"gag' rule, insisted upon seconding
a motion to indorse William Jennings
Bryan, which had not been made, and
when declared out of order, broke
away from his friends, rushed to the
platform and asked the crowd to get
together trump" convention.
The efforts of Mr.. Applegarth we're
disapproved by representative Bryan
leaders in the convention, who realized
that in securing four out-and-out
Bryan men on the delegation to Denver
and inducing the party managers to
relinquish their idea of binding the
delegation by the unit rule, they had
won a considerable victory; in fact,
more than they had expected. The
leaders of the Bryan element, such as
Mr.. S. S. Field and State Senator
Blair Lee, realized that the Bryan fol-
lowing in the convention was short of
a majority and that on a Showdown"
they cold not muster enough votes
to obtain an Endorsement of Mr.. Bryan
or instructions for the delegation.
Their advice was strongly against
attempting it, it being plain that the
only result would be to precipitate a
row and make things unpleasant.
Believing that Mr.. Bryan will be
the nominee, these men are anxious to
have the party in Maryland as har-
monious as possible. 1t was with con-
siderable chagrin that they witnessed
the Juror kicked up by Mr.. Apple
garth over nothing. The incident,
however, served to get Mr.. Bryan's
name openly mentioned in the con-
vention and gave to his friends in the
convention, on the galleries and on the
stage an opportunity to cheer for him
of which they were not slow to take.
Aside from this the convention was
harmonious in the extreme and the re-
suit apparently, is satisfactory tol
everyone. There was a considerable
discussion in the committee on reso-
lutions, which was in session for
nearly an hour. The fight there was
for the Endorsement of Mr.. Bryan, but
none of this appeared in the conven-
ton, and the platform, as finally
adopted, contained no such indorse-
ment. But for the Seibert and Apple
garth speeches, the name of Bryan
would not have been mentioned.
In the original draft of the platform
there was a paragraph declaring un-
alterable hostility against the govern
mental ownership of Railroads.&c. pet
Bryan idea. This was stricken out
by the committee, as was also par
agraph declaring that the commerce
clause" in the Constitution was suffi-
cient to empower Congress to regulate
and control railroads. Several senten-
ces in the original draft, which is said
to have been drawn by John P. Poe,
which appeared to ameliorate the
tariff revision plank, were likewise
cut out and the stand taken for re-
vision is unequivocal. The corrupt
Practices act was indorsed and the
Republican party condemned for its
failure to pass the Publicity bill.
This provision was inserted into the
platform after considerable debate.
mittee for the Bryan Endorsement
were Robert w. Wells, of Prince
Georges county; Major w. E. Stewart,
of Talbot county; James E. Ellegood,
Of Wicomico county, and others. They
lost by vote of 16 to and accepted
the result gracefully. When the re-
port was finally submitted by Col.
George M. Upshur there was no dis
senting voice and it was adopted in
full by a unanimous vote.
The convention did not assemble un-
til 1890 the delay being caused by the
difficulty in fixing up the state for dele
gates to the convention. After At
torney-General Straus had consented
to go as a delegate-at-large there was
trouble getting right man for fourth
place. Congressman Talbot was fin
ally selected.
The George Gray boomers were on
hand about the hotel and at the con-
vention. They got what they wanted
no instructions for Bryan-but they
would have been far better pleased
had the convention adopted the unit
rule which would have prevented
Bryan from getting four of the Mary
land votes on the first ballot.
Senator IsidOr Rayner and Senator
John Walter Smith were in attendance
at the convention as were host OF
other Well-knoWn Democrats. The in
f1uence of Senator Smith in making
up the slate and in determining the
course of the convention was para
mount and his friends were in COM
plete control.
Frank I. Lewis represented Carroll
county in the committee on credentials
and George A. Shower was a member
of the committee on resolutions.
The four delegates-at-large are
Governor Austin L. Crothers, Gen.
Murray Vandiver, of Howard county;
Acknowledgement Isaac Lobe Straus,
of Baltimore; Congressman ]. F. G.
Talbot, of Baltimore county.
Following are the district delegates:
First-Andrew w. Woodall, of Kent
county, and w. Grason Winterbottom,
of Dorchester county.
Second-Charles H. Dickey, of Bal
timore county and T. Herbert Shriver,
of Carroll county.
Third-John J. Mahon, of the Fourth
ward, and John Hubert of the Second
ward.
Fourth-S. S. Field, of the Twelfth
ward, and Daniel ]. Loden of the Nine
teenth ward.
Fifth-Jackson H.Ralston, of Prince
Georges county, and j. Frank Smith,
of st. Mary's county,
Sixth-Blair Lee, of Montgomery
county and G. Semms Hamill, Sr., of
Garrett county.
Presidential electors were named as
follows:
At-Large-J. Enos Ray, Jr., of
Prince Georges and JamesW. Denny,
of Baltimore city.
First district-E. H. Brown, of
Queen Annes.
Second district-John F. Williams, of
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