The Progressive West Virginian. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1911-1913, 1912-07-11
FOR PRESIDENT.
WOODROW WILSON
FOR WcE-PREsiDENT. i
THOMAS R. MARSHALL
~ w. a. PATTERSON.

Convention Hall. Baltimore. The
blase individual without an admission
ticket will tell you he would not go
II he had q ticket, "as all national
conventions are alike"
It has been my privilege to attend
. few national conventions, including
the recent Republican gathering at
Chicago, and the meeting OF the
Democrats at Baltimore, and can as
sure you the convention held here,
which nominated Woodrow Wilson
for president, and Thomas r. Marshall
for vice-president, was different.
Writers, like delegates, receive In
strnctions, and writer's, like delegates,
may not safely disregard these in
structions. / am going to try not to
disregard mine. which were to the
effect that write, not q political news
STORY" filled with opinions for or
against principles or factions or indi-
viduals, but human interest story
thattside OF the big meeting Of Demo.
Gratis which the people at home
would have seen had they been per.
mitted to attend. without regard to
the faults or virtues OF the contending
sides. or tie right or wrong OF the
different factions.
The Baltimore convention was one
of those great gatherings which one
may witness but once in lifetime II
at all; the kind of a political gather
ing whose like has never before been
" -.
try.
It was battle OF political Titans-
two men--William Jennings Bryan
three times the standard-bearer OF the
party, and Charles F. Murphy, the
recognized leader Of Tammany, prob.
ably the most remarkable political or.
ganization this country has ever
known.
No sooner had Cardinal Gibbons,
clad In the rich robes Of his churchly
Office, pronounced the final words OF
the opening invocation on Tuesday
noon than the battle was on.
Mr.. Bryan's nomination of Senator
Kern for the temporary craftsmanship
in opposition to Judge Parker, the
choice OF the national committee, was
but feint. When Mr.. Kern, taking
tho speakers platform, pleaded for
Democratic harmony, and proposed to
Judge Parker that they both retire in
favor Of any one Of half dozen men
whom he named, Mr.. Bryan scored his
first tally. He had the opposition on
the defnsive for q time at least.
When Judge Parker declined to re-
spond to Senator Kern's proposition
the senator retired and named Mr..
Bryan for temporary chairman. a
move that was wildly welcomed by
the New York delegation, as Mr.. Muir.
ply was more than willing to try con
illusions with-the Commoner on d.
rect issue.
The surprise of the day was the
throwing the Clark strength to Parker,
and 1t was that incident, happening
within an hour after Chairman Mack's
gavel had called the convention to
order, that produced the deadlock
when the balloting for the nominee
began early Friday morning. 1t re.
suited in the defeat of Mr.. Bryan by
a vote of 579 for Parker to $40 for
Bryan.
The defeat of Colonel Bryan for the
temporary Craftsmanship was mo.
mentous event for the Democratic
party, and the leaders and the rank
and file of the party knew it when II
occurred. 1t was no longer contest
between candidates. 1t was war to
the bitter end between Mr.. Bryan and
Mr.. Murphy. Both had accepted the
gage Of battle, and there would be nc
compromise.
The change in the party alignment
brought many surprises to the lay.
man, among them the swinging Of
Theodore A. Bell of California, tenn
porary chairman of the Denver con
ventiQn of four years ago to the Mur
ply forces Mr.. Bell led the opposition
to Bryan, and did not hesitate in de
manding that the Nebraskan, to whom
the Democracy had given three oppor
tunities. now step aside and permit
other leaders to shape the course Of
the party.
After the vote Ex-Governor Pattisor
of Ohio expressed the feelings o.
many of the osd leaders who had thai
day voted against Bryan, when b.
Baid:
@Tha defeat Of Mr.. Bryan. necessary