The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-07-08
CONVENTION FAST
IN BRYAN'S GRIP
Attitude Of Delegates Makes
Probable Only One
Result.
LEADER IS DEFIED
TO FAVOR BOSSES
Three bad" Men Reelected to Ma
tiOnal Committee Only 10
Save Offices at Home.
By THOMAS M. PATTERSON,
Former United States Senator From
Colorado.

Colorado.
DENVER. July S-That the national
Democratic convention is for Bryan and
what it believes he stands for was put
beyond a doubt within thirty minutes
after the gavel OF Chairman Taggart
raped il to order
The proof was not given in rounds of
applause-for there was not very much
applause-but in the teuseness Of the
strain with which the delegates fol-
lowed the speech OF Temporary Chair
man Bell. seeking for opportunities to
relieve the tension with applause. and
in doing SO. though the opportunl-
ties he gave them were few and far
between.
Mr.. Bells speech was neither great
nor commonplace. II wasn't calculated
10 arouse enthusiasm. IL was follow
ed critically. the verdict being that il
VIII make a good campaign document
The three most notable characters of
the body are It's bad" men-CoIOneI
Guney and Nessrs. Sullivan and Nc
Graw, Bryan brought them into prom
\ inence by endeavOring to have them ex-
cluded from further official connection
with the party. Yet the Pennsylvania.
Illinois, and West Virginia delega-
lions promptly reuOminated them for
membership on the national committee
Protect Own Interests.
Isn't II curious paradox that the
delegations from these three States viii
vote with practical unauimity for the
nomination OF Mr. Bryan-who, if elect
ed. can, if he Will make himself the
political dictator Of every State Of the
Union, while they ignore his plainly
expressed wish that they be excluded
from the national committee?
The reason is plain enough however.
They are the bosses in politics. They
control the politics at home and fill the
small offices 70 which most OF the
delegates aspire. The Presidency is fill
ed so FAR away. and is associated with
home politics 50 remotely that IL is a
good deal of q mere abstraction or
sentiment with the small politician.
while the boss, and the ofnces and
finances he controls. are a part of their
practical every DAY life.
To vote for Bryau'S nomination for
President while his wishes about the
bosses are ignored is not therefore an
auOmaly-but only natural. The dele
gates I'm voting for Bryan respond to
an irresistible demand from those at
home, while their support Of the bosses
is the irresistible command of their
selfish natures
James a Probability.
The three bones of contention last
night were the tariff. the labor plank
and the Vice Presidency. The commit
tees are struggling over the first two.
Il is idle TO predict the outcome in ad-
vance As TO the latter. the sentiment
is growing that the South has been
patient and IonE-suffcrinE in its re-
nunciatiOn Of all part i'm the Presidency
and Vice Pres dency since the close Of
the war and that ii viii be a patriotic
thing to send the Vice Presidency to
one OF the border States
The trend today has been toward Oh
lie James. Of kentucky. for the second
office James is big-bOdied man, a
big-hearted. and level-headed Ken
tuckian. He was too young TO have
fought IN the rebelliOn-yet, after be
ing an American. he is a SOutherner IN
am his fiber and would, it is believed
add strength 10 Bryan.
While I do not enter the ranks OF
the prophets. the public need not be
surprised should the ticket be Bryan
and James.