Los Angeles herald., 1908-04-24
ILLINOIS IS in
BRYAN COLUMN
CONVENTION ENDORSES MAN
FROM NEBRASKA
MUCH ENTHUSIASM SHOWN BY
DELEGATES
Johnson Faction Not in Evidence and
No Resolution Bearing His
Name Is Presented to
Convention

By Associated Press
SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,, April 28.-The
Illinois Democracy today adopted the
unit rule and instructed it's delegates to
the Denver convention to vote for w.
j. Bryan and "to use all honorable
means" to secure his nomination.
After a hot fight in the resolutions
committee, which was carried into the
convention, the party adopted a party
platform plank declaring in favor of
the greatest possible personal liberty"
to individuals, provided such liberty did
not infringe upon the rights of other
people.
Instead of naming the usual four dele
gates and alternates at large to the
national convention it was decided to
send eight, allowing each man one-half
of a vote. Two presidential electors at
large were also chosen.
The resolution indorsing Mr.. Bryan
was adopted with enthusiasm and a
fiattering demonstration followed the
action. For all that, however. it was
not worded entirely to the satisfaction
of Mr. Bryan's most enthusiastic sup
porters, and in the last few minutes of
the convention Judge owen p. Thomp-
son of Jacksonville, declaring that
bTydH Ildu DttIl SOlu OulJ dSilctlQCQ
that stronger resolution be passed.
He desired to have the instructions so
worded that Illinois would be bound
to support Bryan as long as his name
was before the convention. His effort
was made in the last few minutes Of
the convention and 1t met the usual
fate of new business that is sprung
upon hot, weary, hungry and thirsty
delegates who are anxious to catch
trains for their homes. 1t was swiftly
and overwhelmingly defeated.
Enthusiasm for Bryan
The convention, however, showed sim
cere enthusiasm for Bryan When his
name was mentioned there was in
variably great applause, and the read
ing of the resolution in his favor was
greeted with cheers. The applause, it
is true, came more from the delegates
from other counties than Cook and
other cities than Chicago.
Roger c. Sullivan, who dominated the
convention from first to last, did not
applaud Bryan's name at any time, but
Sullivan is not the kind of man who is
giving to applauding things, no matter
how strong his approval may be.
When the demonstration was in prog
ress after the reading of the Bryan
resolution he rose and stood until the
cheers subsidized and then resumed his
seat.
The fight over the personal liberty
or liquor plank in the platform was
warm and long. 1t delayed the con-
vention nearly two hours and then a
minority of seven presented a report
urging that the plank be entirely
omitted. Nineteen members of the com
mittee favored it, and the convention
sustained them-846 to GAG. OF the total
in favor of the plank 535 votes came
from Cook county. Three-quarters of
of the country delegations voted against
1t, but the heavy vote of Chicago was
too much for them
Considerable feeling was manifested
during the roll call which laid the
minority report upon the table.
The johnson men We're not in evil
dence throughout the convention and
no resolution bearing his name was in
troduced.