New-York tribune., 1908-06-28
ORGANIZE AT DENVER
Bell Temporary Chairman - No
Votes for Philippine Delegates.

Dener, June 27-Theodore A Bell, OF Cafor-
mia, chosen temporary chairman of the DEM
ocratic National Convention by the committee on
convention arrangements to-day. No selection was
made for the permanent craftsmanship this matter
going over until the meeting OF the fun committee
can be held. Those most prominently mentioned
for the place at present are Representative Henry
D. Clayton, OF Alabama and Judson Harmon. OF
Ohio. Governor Joseph W. Folk Of Missouri and
Senator Joseph w. Bailey of Texas, also
strongly favored.
Other appointments made by the committee on
convention arrangements and which will probably
be made permanent were follows: General Sec
retary. Trey Woodson, of Kentucky; assistant gen.
eral secretary, Edwin Seton, Of Washington
sergeant at arms, John l. Martin, OF MISSOURI
chief assistant sergeant at arms. j. c. Fenn OF
Indiana: chief doerkeeper, Eugene W. Sullivan, OF
Illinois; pariiamentarian, n. D. Crutchfeld, OF
Kentucky; chaplain for the opening day, the Rev.
DR.. John J. Keane, Archbishop Of Iowa: official
stenographer, NJ. w Blumberg, of Washington
Those present at the committee meeting to-day
were Chairman Thomas Taggart, Secretary Urey
Woodson. Roger c. Sullivan, of Illinois; r. NJ
Johnson of Texas: James C. Dahlman, OF Ne
braska; Norman Z. Mack, OF New York, and Gov
ernor John e. Osbourne OF wyoming.
Two members, John 7. McGraw, of West Vir-
ginfa, and Clark Howell of Georgia. were absent,
the proxy of the former being held by Mr.. Sullivan
Of Illinois, while Urey Woodson represented M.
Howell
It was rumored early in the day that Roger c.
Sullivan, Of Illinois, who is chairman of the COM
nnittee convention arrangements, might head
fight against the selection Of Mr. Bell as chair
man. 1t said that while Mr.. Bell was known
to be favored by William J. Bryan, he was not
ardently desired by Mr.. Sullivan and some OF his
friends. and the report that six votes out of
total Of nine would be cast against him when his
name was mentioned. No fight developed how
unanimously within few minutes after the COM
mittee met and without another name being sus-
gested. r. NJ. Johnston. of Texas. offered the mo-
ton selecting Mr.. Bell temporary chairman, and
it promptly adopted.
1t decided to leave the selection Of chaplains.
except at the opening session of the convention,
with Chairman Taggart of the national committee,
and the appointment of additional secretaries and
sergeants- alarms with Secretary Woodson and
sergeant-at-arms Martin. respectively. The number
of reading and tally clerks put at maximum
Of fifteen.
The committee then took UP the question Of seat
ing the delegates and alternates already chosen
from the Philippine Islands, and after pref dis
cussion il decided that the precedent estab-
lsned by the national convention OF 1904 Of seat
ing the Philippine delegates with the alternates
and without votes, should be followed The ma
tiona convention in 1904 decided that the delegates
from the Philippines could not be received because
the islands were not properly part Of the United
States and that no delegate to a national conven-
ton could be legally sent from there
4 long discussion the apportionnaent Of
UckeIS occupied tnS Connllltee uIltli II
No settlement reached. and the entire mat
ter went until Tuesday when another meet,
ing will be held. The demand for tickets Of sdms-
sion has been unprecedented because Of the tre-
mendous pressure which is being brought upon the
members of the national committee for admission,
and 1t is possible that the sessions of the conven-
tion may be temporarily halted while professions of
persons who have been unable TO obtain tickets
are allowed to pass through the hall to witness
the spectacle Of great convention If this plan is
adopted aisle will be roped off for the process
sicn the crowds passing through the main body Of
delegates. while the band will play march music in
rapid time.
The selection of the temporary chairman was in
direct accord with the wishes Of Mr.. Bryan,
announced several days ago He said that he
strongly favored former Representative Bell and
Representative Henry Clayton, Of Alabama for the
temporary and permanent chairn1anships, and
while he was not particular to which man held
either position he believed that they should between
them preside over the entire deliberations OF the
convention.
Mayor James c. Dahlman, of Omaha, q warm
personal friend of Mr.. Bryan and member of
the subcommittee, arrived in Denver early to-day
and brought with him the latest news from Lin
coin. He declared that the position of Mr.. Bryan
as to the chairmanships was unchanged.
Mayor Dahlrnan generally credited with hav-
Ing in his possession copy of the platform which
is TO be submitted to the convention but he said
he did not bring it.
Il talked with Mr.. Bryan about the platform
he said but that is all 1t is not drawn up so
far as know, at least not In definite form. There
IS no mystery about the platform which will be
adopted by the Democratic convention II is gem
erelly understood throughout the country on what
sort OF platform Mr.. Bryan is willing to stand
and the public knows much about 1t as do"
When asked whether not Injunction"
plank will be inserted in the platform Mayor Dahl.
man admitted that in this respect the platform Of
the coming convention would probably differ from
that of the former Bryan platforms. He declared |
however, that nothing yet had been determined
in this respect and that in all probability the en-
tire matter would await probable visit of num-
Der OF men prominent in the labor movement to |
MT Bryan at his home in Lincoln This confer.
ence. he said, might be held in the early part Of |
next week.
The members Of the convention committee were |
at dinner tonight by Mayor Robert
W. speer and tomorrow they will make an ex-
,urson to the northern part Of the state return |