The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1908-07-17
Scenes In the Convention
at Denver.

yeution OF the Democratic party, afte
series of sessions marked by enthusi
astic demonstrations unparalleled II
any similar organization, adjourned
after nominating William Jennings
BRYAN of Nebraska for the presidency
and John W. Kern of Indiana for vice
president. Thus Mr.. Bryan is for the
third time the standard bearer of his
party in national contest.
Mr.. Bryan's nomination had been
foreshadowed for many weeks prior te
the convention, and for even as long
time 1t had been conceded that he
could arbitrarily dictate as to who
would be the nominee for vice nresi.
dent II he desired to use his power
to this extent. BY leaving to the con.
rentlon the choice of the holder Of
second place on the ticket Mr.. Bryan
gave the 1902 delegates chance to
advance their claims for the favor
ite sons Of their states. to indulge In
the destinations of potential national
politics and to feel that each individual
among them had something of impor-
tance to do in the councils of his par
ty Probably there never have been
In the history of any American polit-
Ical party so many candidates offered
for the vice presidency as at Denver
No less than sixtytwo men were BOOM
which Judge Gray, the Delaware presi-
Dental candidate, could have had for
the asking
AS was the case at the Republican
convention at Chicago, both candidates
were nominated on the first ballot,
and Mr.. Bryan's nomination, like that
Of Mr.. Taft's, was made unanimous
after the first roll call. Mr.. Bryan had
received 1921 votes when the first
ballot was taken Mr.. Taft received
702
The features of particular interest
at the convention were, first. the evi-
dences Of the overwhelming power and
popularity Of Bryan; second, the bit
ter factional strife which arose over
the unseating of Colonel James NJ.
Guffey, Democratic leader of Pennsyl-
vania, and Of State Senator Patrick
H. McCarren, Democratic leader of
Brooklyn, and of their delegations
truly sensational was the contro-
versy between Mr.. Bryan and Colo
mel Guffey); third, the struggle over
the framing of the platform; fourth,
the uncertainty and excitement at
tending the choice Of vice presi-
Dental candidate; fifth, the pronounced
weakness Of the presidential boom of
Governor Johnson of Minnesota; sixth,
the adoption Of resolutions in memory
Of and laudatory Of the works and
policies Of the late President Grover
Cleveland; seventh, the approval in
the platform of the work Of President
Roosevelt along certain stated lines
and the actual naming OF him therein.
From start to finish the convention
was most enthusiastic one. What
opponents Mr.. Bryan had among the
delegates chose to evidence their dis
approval of the proceedings chiefly by
remaining quiet in the convention hall.
On Wednesday, July 8, occurred the
great outburst of applause at the men
tiOn Of the candidates name by the
blind Senator Gore Of Oklahoma, which
lasted one hour and twenty-eight min
utes by actual observation. Thus was
outstripped the time record made by
the applause for President Roosevelt
at the Republican convention, when
the delegates interrupted Senator
Lodge and cheered for forty-six min
utes.
The convention was called TO order
on Tuesday, July 7, and remained in
session but two hours.
In that time it had cleared the decks
for the nomination of Bryan and the
adoption of thoroughly radical
platform, had attacked Colonel Guffey,
made Judge Alton B. Parker Of New
York, Democratic candidate in 1904,
eat humble pie on his Cleveland resolu-
tlons and had listened to the keynote
speech Of Temporary Chairman Theo-
dore A. Bell of California. who, in an
able address admirably rendered, enun-
clated as the principles Of the Demo
cratic party practically all of Bryan's
doctrines. Chairman Thomas Taggart
OF the national committee called the
convention to order at u o'clock.
The routine preliminaries were
quickly concluded, and 1t was scarcely
twenty minutes after the convention
had been called to order before Chair
man Bell was escorted to the plat
form by Governor Blanchard of Lou-
siana, Ex-Governor Ellyson Of Ken
tucky and Ollie James of Kentucky.
Mr.. Bell proved to be young man,
tall and well built and with long black
hair. His hair is so long. In fact, that
MS appearance suggests the La Toilette
type. Up to the time that he began to
speak there had been hum all over
the hall. With his first words e hush
iell on the crowd. and from that time
on he was listened to with thorough at
tention. 1t is seldom that chairman
OF convention is treated SO well by
the audience.
! Mr.. Bells speech, In the opinion OF
all who heard him. was ~ remarkable
one, with sentences wei! rounded and
iosie clearly expressed. so that never
ior a minute was his point in doubt.
Republican Plea Of Guilty.
Mt Bell was particularly effective In
his recital Of what he termed the 'pleas
q guilty" Of the Republican party.
Ine following, he said. is the Repub-
iican confession Of guilt: