The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-06-26
BRYAh'S MAN BEATEN
Parker Elected Temporary Chairman
Over kern-Bryan Relieved To be
the Dark Horse

convention Hall, baltimore, June %.
NJ l2:16 p. m. yesterday the demo-
ratio national convention was opened
when Chairman Norman F.. Mack of
he national committee called the big
Gathering To order
Cardinal Gibbons offered prayer.
The doors of the armory were thrown
pen a 10 o'clock. but ii was not until
Il o'clock that the people began to
lie in in numbers.
\ wealth of decorations in white ana
gold and the national colors greeted
ar.v arrivals on the scene Of the
democratic national convention. Thou
:andS OF yards of bunting had trans
or ned the huge brick walled armory
nto a place of beauty. The crowd
,ame slowly in and when the band be-
IAN to play at IL o'clock the galleries
md those places reserved for dis
.ingpshed guests held but few per-
sons
First Cheer for Wilson
The first cheer to he raised was for
Woodrow Wilson. when the big Texas
delegation. carrying a Wilson hammer
swept onto the floor of the convention
lall
bryan Slipped In
All were looking for Colonel Bryan
to make his entrance by the main
aisle. 1t had been planned by his
friends to give him a great ovation.
Bryan forestalled this by slipping
quietly into the auditorium by one of
the side entrances and was on the
platform some minutes without being
recognized.
Beginning of the Struggle
Chairman Mack directed that the
names of candidates for the office of
temporary chairman be made ready
and announced. That of Judge Alton
B. Parker of New York was announc-
ed as the selection of the national
committee, subject to ratification by
| the convention. The announcement
was greeted by great cheering. In the
| midst of it Colonel Bryan arose and
stepped to the front of the platform. A
lthunderous burst of applause greeted
the smiling Nebraskan and he threw
| back his head as if in great enjoyment
| of the familiar sights and sounds.
Directly he held up his hand, the old
| Bryan signal for quiet. 1t soon came,
/ and in a clear voice he placed in NOM
| ination the name of Senator John w.
| Kern of Indiana as candidate of the
progressive wing of the party for the
Temporary chairmanship. The vote was
i579 for Parker and SOC for Kern.
Bryan's shadow Looms Up Big
Six democrats, all of them big men
in the party. are avowed candidates
for the nomination. They are Governor
| Woodrow Wilson of New Jersey.
Speaker Champ Clark of Missouri, Rep
lresentative Oscar w. Underwood of
Ala bama, Governor Judson Harmon of
lOhio. Governor John Burke of North
Dakota, Governor Thomas Marshall of
Indiana. None of these men can hope
to receive the required two-thirds ma
ljority, 72S votes, on the first ballot.
There is certain to be several ballots
before a choice is made.
William Jennings Bryan has said
repeatedly that he is not a candidate
iyet he goes into the convention as sec
iond choice of more states than any
Iavowed candidate. He is the real
l"dark horse of the democratic con-
lvention of 1912. Since his arrival here
Hast Sunday he has absolutely refused
to talk about his plans for the pres
idency except to say that he is for a
progressive. There can be no doubt
however, that he is the central figure
there, just as Roosevelt was the centra
figure at Chicago. There, however
the analogy ends. There is no belief
THAT Bryan. even though outvoted
would bolt his party.
| It's Any Mans Game
. No candidate now prominent has q
surety of the nomination. Clark i:
the strongest in the matter of dele
gates pledged, with Wilson next. Their,
iare many who believe Gov. Thomas L
. Marshall of Indiana would be tn,
ideal compromise candidate should /
be shown that none of those nov
prominently mentioned can be nomi
, mated.
Always Bryan's Shadow
And there is Bryan. 1t seems Ger
tain, that while the Nebraskan ha
repeatedly said during the campaign
that he is not a candidate for tn
presidential nomination, he will re
ceive a scattering vote on the frs
ballot, and there is every probabilit
that this vote will increase in size i
several ballots are taken without re
suit and without indication Of increas
= ing strength on the part of Clark
|