River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1912-06-27
BRYAN DEFEATED
IN FIRST CLASH.
JUDGE PARKER APPROVED FOR
cHAIRMAN.-8ITTER FIGHT
is INEVITABLE.
w. ]. TO FIGHT ON FLOOR.
viii Be Presidential Nominee.
Bryan and Wilson
Suggested.

Baltimore, June 25.-All hope of
averting fight, from the fall of the
gavel in the Democratic national con-
vention vanished when the national
committee approved the selection of
Former Judge Alton b Parker of
New York, as temporary chairman, in
defiance of the threat Of William Jen-
nings Bryan to make an issue of the
alleged conservatism of Judge Parker
as opposed to the Progressivism which
the distinguished Nebraskan declares
should prevail.
An effort was made by the national
committee to placate Mr.. Bryan, but
conference resulted in complete fail
ure. Mr.. Bryan would not recede
from the position he had taken and
prepared to make his fight upon the
floor OF the convention at the opening
to rally the Progressives to his stan
dard in opposition to Judge Parker.
Mr.. Bryan announced that if no
other good progressive could be pre-
vailed on to make the race, he would
enter the field himself as the opponent
of Judge Parker.
The Nebraskan, three times the can
didate of his party for the presidency,
stands out as the dominant figure in
the convention. All contingencies of
the future, including the nomination
OF a presidential candidate, seemed
TO hinge upon what he would do The
impression continued to be more mark
ed that Mr.. Bryan might himself be
the presidential nominee. Some of
his friends declared that he would
be voted for in the convention wheth-
er formally placed in nomination or
not and they expressed the belief he
would win if the voting should so to
fourth or fifth ballot.
In furtherance of their hope Of nom
mating Mr. Bryan some Of his friends,
it is said, are bending their energies
to preventing coalition of the Clark
and Wilson forces. They are talk
ing of Bryan and Wilson as possible
ticket, and the suggestion is receiving
attention in many quarters.
I In the event that Mr.. Bryan should
not be a candidate himself for tenn
porary chairman, it was said he might
urge Senator John w. Kern of IN
diana, his running mate of four years
ago, for the place. The leaders, how
ever, expected Mr.. Bryan to enter the
race.
The contest over the Craftsmanship
is looked forward to with trepidation
by some of the leaders and by the
supporters of several of the presiden-
tial aspirants.
One of the most interesting develop
ments looked for is the stand to be
taken by the Champ Clark delegates
A large number of these already have
been pledged to support the choice of
the national committee, whoever he
might be. This action was regarded
in the state delegation as distinctly
an anti-Bryan move. There has been
a long-standing friendship between
Mr.. Bryan and Speaker Clark.
The delegates to the convention are
wondering If the opening battle will
show rupture.
1t Is coincidence that Mr.. Bryan
is arraying himself against the only
man who has shared with him the
presidential nomination of his party
since the memorable campaign of 1896
-16 years ago.
Judge Parker's comparatively wide
margin Of success in the national com
mittee, 81 to 20, was taken by many
of the leaders as an indication of de-
feat FOR Mr.. Bryan.