The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-07-21
Democratic Committee by the time the
convention is at an end

Democratic Committee by the time the
convention is at an end.
The boom for Elk Gov. David r. Fran
els, of Missouri, for National Chairman,
which looked large a few weeks ago,
has collapsed. Bryan frowned upon it
because Mr.. Francis in his business in
terests is too closely allied to the Rock
efeller and Standard Oil interests. On
the other hand Bryan frowned down
the boom of an ultra radical, Ex-Sena-
tor Pettigrew for chairman and Petit
grew will take his place as a member
of the executive committee.
Indiana always has star parts to play
in national conventions, because the In,
diana Democrats dearly love the politi
cal game. Then this year the hopes of
the Indiana Democracy are high. They
are conceded to have a chance to make
| that State again a great political bat
tleground and also to have bright pros
poets of electing their State ticket
| John w. Kern, who has led many a
forlorn hope in Hoosierdom and who is
now vice presidential aspirant, is one
of the most prominent Hoosier Demo
Gratis in the Hobbies of the hotels and
in the delegates enclosure of the con
vention hall. Of course Tom Taggart
stands forth prominently as the chair
man of the National convention, but his
star is rapidly waning. He is an old
Democratic warhorse but not of the
stripe that Bryan likes.
The South has not been as mucn IN
the saddle here as it generally is at
National conventions. The Southern
politicians as a rule are against Bryan
and he knows it. The masses of the
voters in the South are for him, and
that is why the Southern delegates
have come here to vote for Bryan
which assures his nomination The per-
manent chairman of the convention is
to come from the South, in Represen-
tative Clayton, of Alabama, a deep
voiced, rich toned Southerner. whom it
is a delight to hear exercise his vocal
organs. The South will probably get
some recognition on the convention
committees and it is to have some rec
ignition in the nominating speeches for
Gov. Swanson of Virginia is one of the
| Democrats picked to second Bryan s
nomination. a=i
But the big figures in the convention
are on the whole to be Northern Demo
Gratis. Representative Theodore A.
/ y
| plished Democrat, who would have car
ried the State for the Democracy two
years ago-and have been elected Gov.
ernor, but for the fact that Hearst per
sisted in running third ticket, sounded
such a keynote as Bryan wanted sound
ed and worked the convention to high
pitch of enthusiasm. Bryan has hopes
of California, although they are not
| likely to he realized
After all the great question that Dem.
| ocrats are asking themselves is whether
/ they are going to be able to get through
| the convention without big row. IF
they can do that they reason that they
viii have accomplished something they
have hardly ever been able to accom-
| plish before. The party is composed
of factions that love to war and that
dearly love a test of strength in their
great quadrennial gathering. If some
of them do not gea it they will not be
i satisfied, but the pacifeatory Bryan. in
his new role of peace politician, would
be highly elated.