The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1912-07-19
EDITOR JoRDAN's IMPRESSION
OF THE CONVENTION


delegate to the Baltimore conyen-
ton. should give some expression OF
MS own regarding that great .ather.
ing and its outcome, he will submit
few candid observations, which is
all that the limited space of this pa-
per VIII allow. A general review in
these columns is impossible. A de-
tailed history of the convention has
been given in the daily papers and
mas doubtless been read by all who
felt any interest in it.
The first impression is that, for
many reasons, Baltimore was a very
unsuitable place for the con, ention.
The city was too hot and hoggish and
the hall too far away from the hotels.
The convention was simply a mob
composed of 1000 delegates and al
ternates. 1000 policemen, newspaper
men, honorary guests and loafers,
who were surrounded by some 10000
restless and noisy spectators on the
floor and in the galleries. 1t was this
unruly and noisy throng that kept
the convention in session three days
longer than would. otherwise have
been necessary, and which made this
writer hail with pleasure the sug--
gestion that there would never again
be a national democratic convention.
Indications are that hereafter presi-
Dental primaries will take the place
of conventions.
The chairman, Ollie James, was d
splendid presiding officer. He and
six or eight other men with stentorian
voices wore out their threats trying
to keep the mob quiet or call the roll
loud enough to be heard thirty feet
from the platform.
William Jennings Bryan, as is now
generally known, was the chief
cook" of the convention. He denounc-
ed Belmont and Ryan and Murphy for
their supposed unrighteous design of
controlling the convention, and then
he himself proceeded to boss" it.
! He is the only man who injected any
bitterness into the proceedings; and
| while being the chief fomenter of
discord, he was paid $1,000 day for
reporting his own doings and views
to a local newspaper. Most anybody
would be a bowling democrat for
$1,000 a day.
Fortunately, however, he did not
succeed in winning the nomination
for himself, but, through his treach-
cry TO Champ Clark, he caused the
nomination of Woodrow Wilson, upon
whom the entire party can unite and,
in fact, has united. Bryan's evident
/ intention in deserving Clark when
Clark had a majority of the votes and
was likely to win, was to cause the
deadlock which resulted from his ac-
ton and thus pave the way to his own
nomination as a compromise candi-
date. But, having started the tide
TO turning to Wilson, he saw that he
could not stop it, and was wise
enough not TO make the effort.
The Florida delegates continued
steadfast to their instructions and
voted for Underwood up to the forth
eth ballot, when Messrs Mayes and
Griggs, of the third district, correctly
believing that Underwood was out OF
the race, went over to Wilson. On
the next ballot Governor Gilchrist
voted for Wilson, and then, on Under
wood being formally withdrawn, sew
en- of the delegates voted for Wilson
and five for Clark. These five voted
as they did because they felt that
Clark had been wronged, and not be-
cause of any animosity or resentment
toward Wilson. Before the final roll
call was ended, however, they asked
that their votes be changed to Wilson,
and now they will follow the example
of that great democrat, Oscar Under
wood. and do all they can for the
success of Wilson and Marshall
w call realize that it is strong
ticket and a strong platform, ana
there is no reason why we should not
win in November. Even those mil
lionaires. whom Mr.. Bryan insulted,
will support the ticket. And this
writer was assured by delegates from
several republican states, notably
South Dakota, Minnesota and Colora-
do. that their states would give the
ticket a handsome majority. A South
Dakota delegate, very intelligent
and we'll informed gentleman, SAID
that the ticket would sweep every
thing-carry every state from st.
Paul west to the Pacific coast.-Pun-
"a Gorda Herald.
~a rox.,hrioht lie hack on the ITO