The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1908-07-09
DEMONSTRATION
SMASHES ALL
RECORDS
WhirIwind Of Bryan Enthusiasm
at Denver
BEAT ROOSEVELT OVATION
Six States, including New York, Did
Not Take Part In Grand
Climax.

Denver, July 9.-The actual busi-
.ness of the democratic national con-
vention began shortly after the great
body was called to order this fore
noon. The platform, which was in
an unfinished condition last night,
was presented and the long anticipat-
ed struggle over its adoption began.
The permanent organization was
completed by the naming of Powell
Clayton, as chairman. The commit
tee on platform made its report fol-
lowing the speech. 1t is so long that
lit will require at least two hours to
read 1t and already there isconsider-
able talk of nominating Bryan by ac-
clamation. Chairman Murphy of New
York has finally decided to let Bryan
have his way and the Empire state
delegates will vote for him on the first
ballot.
There were two sessions of the
convention yesterday and both were
marked by the bitter strife of party
leaders and tribulent enthusiasm for
Bryan. The demonstration for the
Nebraskan at the afternoon session
broke all records in duration.
Outside of the convention, the COM
| ittees proceeded with the serious
work of preparing the way for con-
vention action. The credentials com.
mittee unseated eight of Col. Guffey's
anti-Bryan Pennsylvania delegates,
thus reversing the complexion of the
Pennsylvania delegation from anti
Bryan to Bryan and prccipitating the
intense controversy which was fought
out before the night session of the
convention.
The early meeting of the conyen-
ton was productive of little
practical progress, as the principal
committees were not ready to report,
But it had the effect of exploding the
long spent up Bryan enthusiasm,
which took the signal from Senator
Cores eloquent reference "a the "a
braska leader, and burst into - -
wind of enthusiastic tribute last
ing one hour and 19 minutes, with
seven minutes more of the expiring
reports of clamor, and establishing
the convention rcord of an hour and
rs minutes, or full SO minutes in ex-
cess of Roosevelt's demonstration at
Chicago, which previously held the
record.
1t was decisive exhibition OF
the overmastering strength Of the
Bryan column and one of the most
dramatic convention pictures ever
presented as the standards of the
| Cta
ings and borne through the hall I'M
til they stood together on the plat
form, like an army of banners, pro-
claiming their united allegiance to
Bryan. Amid this storm of Bryan
demonstration the six standards Of
New York, New Jersey, Delaware
Georgia, Minnesota and Connecticut
stood rooted in their places, the
rallying points OF little groups I'M
moved by the frenzied scenes about
them. Throughout the hour and 10
minutes the deafening uproar contin-
ued, ebbing and flowing in enthus-
iasm, women joining with the men In
bearing the Bryan standards aloft,
while the whole assemblage of 10000
people joined in the tumultuous dem.
onstration
The early session lasted three
hours and then, worn out with exer-
ton and lacking the material to pro
coed with business, the convention
recessed until evening.
BY Encouragement the only bust
ness transacted at the evening ses-
sion was the consideration of the
report of the committee on credenti-
ais. When the session opened Rich.
ard Pearson Hobson was called to the
platform and made a war speech. He
was frequently interrupted by per-
sons in the galleries and on the
floor
Speeches were also made by Col.
Haldeman of Kentucky and Senator
Charles A. Towne. The committee ON
credentials presented Its report and
after a spirited discussion the majori-
ty report was adopted by a vote OF
1897 to GLE.