The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-05-15

| the Democratic situation in Massachu
SettS.
Mr.. Williams said: 'The amount of
misinformation concerning the attitude
Of the New England Democracy would
surprise me except for the fact that
have learned how little we know in
New England through the press Of
| what is going on in the rest Of the
country Apparently men in Washing
ton are astonished to learn that the
vote of New England in the Denver
convention will be by u great majority
for Mr.. Bryan. Rhode Island has act
ed, and seven out of the eight dele
gates from that state are earnest Bry-
an men. In Connecticut majority of
the delegation may safely be counted
for Bryan. Massachusetts, will send
thirty-two delegates pledged to Mr..
Bryan. Maine has elected delegates
from three districts, all Of whom pro-
fess to be friendly to him. l am as
sured that not single delegate will
go from New Hampshire or Vermont
who is not favorable to Mr.. Bryan's
candidacy. In Massachusetts at the
caucuses not one candidate for dele
gate to Denver opposed to Bryan re-
mains in the field. One man retired
before the caucuSes were held. declar-
ing that he was not in favor of Mr..
Bryan's candidacy, but that the senti-
s,, hi lsSt.., ,nf tt-oS nvfinnt1v
strong for Mr.. Bryan that his only
course was to withdraw. This state
ment is fairly representative of all
New England. The traditions in our
states are against instructions, but
failure to instruct does not mean hos
tility to any prominent candidate"
The Denver Convention.
The hall in which the Denver con-
vention is to be held, according to re-
ports brought to Washington, will ac-
commodate 1900 people-that is, it is
larger than Madison Square Garden in
New York and quite as large as the
Kansas City Auditorium, which the
Democrats occupied in 1900. Occasion
ally some newspaper editor gets it into
bis head that these great gatherings Of
the people influence the working body
of the convention, the delegates and
the speakers. SO that proper discretion
and Judgment are not applied to the
business Of the convention. have not
myself the slightest sympathy with
DThi1n hOCn DtfnnHpn
more conventions of both parties than
I care here and now to recount and
have seen many changes made in the
nominating plans Of the persons who
expected to be in control, yet I have
not seen, and I doubt whether any po-
litical correspondent has ever seen,
convention stampeded by the clamor Of
the galleries. The men on the floor, as
a rule. know what they have come for,
and mere noise from above does not
affect them.
But on the other hand. if. as under
our system the case should be. prop
er knowledge Of political methods and
politics as applied to the higher ends
of government is desirable a national
convention of the greatest proportions
should be applauded as an educational
institution.
TO bring together in the conventions
of the two great parties some 25,OOO
people in all gives an opportunity to
those who are not actively engaged in
politics to ACQUIRE some knowledge Of
the methods of making a president and
sends out into the campaign citizens
who, not being politicians, have still
heard from the best speakers the argu-
ments upon which each party bases its
claim for pre-eminence. The conVen-
ton harA at Chicago will accommodate
easily 1900 people. Those who so
there will hear the best orators in the
Republican party set forth its claims
to public favor and eulogiZe their re-
spective candidates. The great throng
at Denver will hear Democratic doc
trine set forth and no doubt listen to
impassoned eulQgies Of Judge Gray,
Governor Johnson, JudSon Harmon,
Senator Culberson and Mr.. Bryan.
The auditors will come away knowing
more of their party and its leaders
than when they went there. 1t is vast
" better that all who can be carried
within the carrying power Of a human
voice should have this opportunity than
that thousand delegates and few
favored spectators in small hall
should 20 perfunctorily through the
task of selecting Il predetermined can
didate.
Mr.. Hearst's Convention.
Some delegates have been elected to
the convention Of the independence
league to be held in Chicago late in
July, actual date not fixed. BY a
strange coincidence William 4. Hearst
led the list. The party being person
ally conducted one, Arthur brisbane,
one of his employees. was selected for
one of The presidential electors in New
York. At one point the proprietary in
terest failed. Word was sent to one
district by Mr.. Ihmsen, another Hearst
employee. that John Temple Graves.
still another Hearst employee, must be
selected as delegate. The result was
a revolt and the reputation Of Mr..
Graves by the district committee, with
some rather bite words about dicta-
ton from above.
Few of the New York districts were
able to secure ut the meetings suttl-
cient number Of lcaguers TO justify