The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-06-25
Last Hope of Averting Fight
in Democratic COnyen-
tiOn Yanishes
BRYAN TO STATE
HIS OBJECTIONS
Convention Gets Under Way Today.
Little Thought Has Been Given
to the Presidency as Yet.
Contest Attracts Attention

Baltimore, June 24-An hope of avert+
ing fight from the fall of the gave in
the democratic national convention van-
| ished tonight when the national commits
tee approved the selection of former
Judge Alton II. Parker. of New York, as
temporary chairman, in defiance OF the
threat of w. J. Bryan to make an Issue
of the alleged conservatism of Judge Par
ker as opposed to the prosresstvism
which the Nebraskan declares should pre-
vail
An effort was made by the national
committee today to placate Mr. Bryan.
but conference resulted in complete
failure. Mr.. Bryan would not recede
from the position he had taken and to-
night prepared to make his nght from the
| floor of the convention tomorrow to rally
the progressives to his standard in cppo-
slton to Judge Parker
May Make Race Himself
Mr.. Bryan announced today If no other
good progressive could be prevailed upon
to make the race, he would enter the field
himself as the opponent of Judge Parker.
! The Nebraskan, three times a candidate
of his party for the presidency, stood out
today as the dominant figure in the con-
vention. All contingencies of the future.
Including the nomination of presidential
candidate, seemed to hinge upon what he
would do. The impression continued to
be more marked that Mr. Bryan might
himself be the ultimate presidential nomi-
nee. Some of his friends tonight declared
that he would be voted for in the conven-
! Wh haf he
tion or not and they expressed the belief
that he would win il the voting should so
to a fourth or fifth ballot
| In fnrtherance of their hope OF nominate
ing Mr. Bryan, some of his friends, II is
said. are bending their energies TO pre-
vent a coalition of the Clark and Wilson
| forces They are talking of Bryan and
! Wilson as possible ticket and the sug-
gestion is receiving attention in many
quarters.
May Urge Kern
!. In the event Mr.. Fryana a.,auls mt
/ be a candldate himself for tempurpry
chairman. II was said he might urge
Senator Kern of Indiana. his running
mate of four years ago, for the place.
Leaders, however. expected Mr. Bryan
| to enter the race.
! The contest over the chairmanship is
looked forward to with trepidation by
some of the leaders and by the sup
porters of several of the presidential
aspirants. One of the most interest
ing develo-ments looked for is the
stand to be taken by the Champ Clark
delegates. large number OF these
already have been pledged to support
the choice of the national committees
whoever he might be- This action was
regarded in the state delegations as dis
tinctly an anti-Bryan move. There has
been a long standing friendship be-
tween Mr.. Bryan and Speaker Clark
Delegates tonight are wondering IL to-
morrow's battle will show rupture.
|. 1t Is a coincidence that Mr.. Bryan is
arraying himself against the only man
who has shared with him the presiden-
tial nomination of his party since the
memorable campaign of 1896. Judge
Parker's comparatively wide margin of
success in the national committee--31
TO 20--was taken by many Of the lead
ers tonight as an indication Of defeat
for Mr. Bryan The latter's friends de-
clined to put any such Interpretation
upon the action of the committee.
Bryan's Statement
Mr.. Bryan said:
Il had expected IL. When Mr.. Guffey
was defeated against the protest of tho
democrats of Pennsylvania, I learned
what | had expected. that a majority
Of that committee either had no con-
ception of democracy or was so slav-
ishly under the control OF the predatory
interests not to be free TO follow
their convictions. The reasons which
they give are like all reasons given In
defense of wrong. They are insin-
cere and are not the reasons that are
really influencing them. The fight will
be resumed tomorrow at which time a
progressive will be presented for the
convention to vote for and the line will
be drawn 10 that the delegates can de-
eide whether they will ally themselves
with the Belmont Ryan Murphy crowd
that overwhelmed the party with de-
feat eight years ago and which is in
close partnership with the crowd that
nominated Mr.. Taft as Chicago
THE predatory interests have no
place. They are with the party that
serves them. Having enabled a minority
OF the republicans to override the will
of a majority Of republicans at Chi
cago, they are now here to enable a
minority of the democrats TO override
the majority in this convention.
There Is not a great exploiting in
that 1t Is not reported In the lobbics
OF the hotel, there is not corrupting
influence in American politics that is
not being used and the delegates to
this convention underestimate the in
Justice OF men who sent them here If
they think that they can go back and
deceive them into believing that they
|
motive. The talk of harmony is too
absurd TO deserve consideration. tried
TO secure harmony by urging SEVERAL
weeks ago that the committee invite
Mr. Clark and Mr.. Wilson, whose in
structed delegates constitute nearly
two-thirds of the convention, to agree
upon candidate for the purpose of
avoiding friction. They not only failed :
10 do this but refused to take the che
OF either candidate and at Mr.. NJ
phys dictation forced Mr. Park
nomination.
Parker Is Ignorant, He Say
II shall discuss Mr.. Parker's II, Il
for the position tomorrow. II Is enough
tonight TO say that II he does nor
know whose agent he is, he lacks the
Intelligence for a presiding officer ana
If he does know. he does not deserve
the support Of any man who has the
right to call himself democrat
II expect TO present the name or
some progressive and to support his
Claim befure the convention. II fail
10 ind man to lead the fight INV
name Will be presented as candidaft,
for temporary chairman. | have no 4.
way of knowing how the Convention
stands but the democrats OF the nation
have done enough for me to justify
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