The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1912-07-05


pearance on the platform and his VIC
lent attack upon the New York State
democracy and the Ryan-Morgan-Bel-
mont coterie of financiers proved the
sensation of the Democratic National
Convention. 1t reused the great mass
of humanity to a wild demonstration
at once of applause and denunciation
Bryan threw the convention into tur-
moil by deserving Clark for Wilson
and declaring he would not support
any candidate supported by Murphy
and the Ryan-Belmont crowd.
Violating all precedent Mr., Bryan
mounted the platform and made a
speech in which he took occasion to
denounce Charles F. Murphy by name
and to impugn the sincerity of the en-
tire New York delegation. To achieve
this end Mr.. Bryan went through the
! form of obtaining unanimous consent,
but there were a number of objections
to his course, and these were finally
withdrawn only because no individual
cared to be recorded as the objector
And when he had begun his speech
Mr.. Bryan took absolute charge. He
yielded to those who wished to ques-
ton him, wholly disregarding the
chair; hurled back answers which won
the galleries as much as they angered
the delegates opposed to him, and
through it all the leaders were OBJ
viously frightened beyond measure for
fear of Bryan stampede.
Various delegates hurled defiance at
Bryan, to his obvious delight, for in
every encounter he came out by far
the best of it. Asked if he would sup
port the nominee of the convention,
provided such nominee were chosen
through the influence of Murphy and
the Ryan-Belmont interests, Bryan de-
clared that he would not commit him
self in advance, but that such support
was comparable to the defence by
lawyer of a defendent after a crime
had been committed, which was quite
a different thing from the conspiracy
of a lawyer with the culprit before the
crime was committed
And before he had closed his re-
marks he had, in effect, placed in the
record threat to oppose any candi-
date who received the support of the
New York delegation and had actually
made Murphy and his friends appreci-
ate that the throwing of New York
vote to any candidate would be regard
ed by the Progressive forces as prima
facie evidence of guilt of such candi-
date. To say that the New Workers
frothed at the mouth would hardly be
an exaggeration, but they were power.
less. No one dared seek even to shut
off the Nebraskan. 1t was far too OBJ
vious that he sought to be made a
martyr and would welcome anything
which even remotely resembled being
steam rollered."
1t would be hard to imagine a more
tense situation than prevailed for
more than two hours, during which
the hearts of the "old guard" quaked.
They trembled in their shoes lest the
great magnetism of the Nebraskan
should one again fire the Imagination
of delegates as well as galleries to the
point of combustion.
New Mexico delegates had NINA
ture sombreros fastened to the lapels
of their coats. They appeared to be
more anxious to boost their new State
than to shout for any of the candi-
dates.
One of the interested spectators of
the proceedings was Mrs. Taft, wife of
the president, who was entertained by
Mrs. Norman +. Mack, wife of the
chairman of the Democratic national
committee. Mrs. Taft wore white, em.
broidered with white cord, and
white straw hat, set off with aigrcttes.
Tie Florida delegates spent much
time boosting their own State. They
wore long badges telling of the ad-
vantages to be gained by living in
Florida, and at the bottom was the
invitation, Come and see US"
Exit the wife-beater." The wife.
teatef is nolSe-maklng instrument
like clap-stick designed for merry
making" in crowds. Men were using
1t sc frequently on women and girls
5h;t the police ordered its Danish
ment.
Mrs. William H Taft attended the
convention. While in Baltimore Mrs.
Taft was the guest of Mrs Hugh c.
Wallace and Delegate Wallace OF
Washington State.
Mr.. Parker's glowing tribute in his
sreech to Bryan, whom he forthwith
recommended for the Craftsmanship
OF the resolutions committee, was re-
ceiyed with cheers.