The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-07-08
SHORT SESSION.
Committee on CREDENTIALS Not
Ready With Report.
The Convention Takes Recess
and Will ST Tonight.
A FIGHT FOR LIFE.
Pennsylvania Contest Goes to
Floor of Convention.
Guffey Makes Formal Protest
Against Comm ttee Action.
A TEST OF STRENGTH
Between Bryan Men and the
Opposition Will Result.
Quite me Will Largely Influence
Further Proceedings.
A TEST OF STRENGTH
Between Bryan Men and the
Opposition Will Result.
Quite me Will Largely Influence
Further Proceedings.

Convention Hall. Denver. Colo, July
S.-1 p. m.-The Democratic national
convention held a brief session today.
but will meet again tonight when stir
ring scenes and highly colored Incl
dents are expected
The delay was made necessary by the
inability of the committee on creden-
tials to have it's report ready for the
convention before 2 O'Clock in the af-
ternoon The resolutions committee.
too. was making slow progress and it
being certain that the delay must come
at some time it was decided that it
should take place today.
The chief interest of the day center
ed around the action of the credentials
committee in declaring against Colonel
James NJ. Guffey of Pennsylvania, and
the various efforts made by that skill
ed and veteran warrior to organize his
forces for a battle in the convention
which he was determined to carry to
the uttermost In this fight New York
for the first time gave an indication of
where it's colors will fly in any contest
that may come up, it having in COM
pany with f3 other states. signed the
gregate voting strength of. these states
Is 276. but that figure is not an exact
statement of the votes that Guffey will
be able to call to his side: as not all
of them are acting under the unit rule.
Test of Strength.
The supreme fight of today RACES
about the contest over the Penn
sylvania delegation and the displace-
ment of Colonel James Nj. Guffey of
&I,o
Pennsylvania Democracy Intense in
terest has been awakened over this all
night fight which eliminated at 10
O'Clock this morning when the element
friendly to Mr.. Bryan secured a COM
plete victory before the committee on
credentials.
This was but the prelude to a con-
test of intense bitterness on the floor
of the convention today as Colonel Cuff
fey and his lieutenants Immediately an
nounced their determination to fight to
the last ditch. 1t was not alone a per-
sonal contest, but one to some extent
involving the presidential nomination
itself. for If Guffey should be finally
and decisively unhorsed before the con-
vention today 1t meant that the one
rallying point of the anti-Bryan forces
had gone to pieces; whereas Guffey' S
fight on the floor of the convention
meant the first SHOW down" of a roll
call between the two contesting ele-
.
then. to be the first alignment
which might force New York into the
open and compel other wavering dele
cations to show their colors.
Colonel Guffey was fairly stunned
when word was brought to him of the
action of the committee.
Can it be possible" he said. that
this disfranchisement of men represent
ing the sovereign state of Pennsylvania
men holding certificates under the great
seal of the commonwealth has deliber-
ately taken place?"
stood Outside All Night.
The report of what had been done
was laid before Colonel Guffey and
John NJ. Garman. former Democratic
state chairman of PENNSYLVANIA and the
Pennsylvania members of the creden-
tials committee. All night he ha6
stood at the door of the committee re-
fused place owing to the pendins
contest. but always on guard without
food or relief. through the early morn.
ing hours until the final action was
taken. His summary of the situation
TO Colonel Guffey was this:
Eight of our Philadelphia dele
gates have been unseated and eight
contestants put in their places Prior
to this action, the Pennsylvania vote
stood 321a for Guffey to 261s for
Kerr. But taking off the eight PhiIa-
delphia delegates and adding the eight
contestants gives Kerr 34h votes 10
voting, as he refuses to take sides. The
selection OF Colonel Guffey as chair
man of the committee is referred back
TO the Pennsylvania delegation which
means that II the credentials com
mittee report is sustained by the con.
vention the anti-Guffey forces viii
make a new selection for nationa
committeeman from Pennsylvania"
Immediate steps were taken to car.
ry the contest to the floor of the con.
vention and Colonel Guffey issued this
formal protest:
Guffey's Protest.
"Pennsylvania's delegates came IL
this convention elected under the
statutes of Pennsylvania. their elec.
tion being certified not alone by tn,
commissioners of the district but h,
the secretary of the commonwealth o.
Pennsylvania. Not shadow of com.
plaint was made as to any of thes,
delegates. This delegation was certi
fed to the national committee by tn,
chairman and secretary of the state O
PENNSYLVANIA. Notice of contests in ;
few districts were filed with the ma
donal committee. A sub-committe,