The Progressive West Virginian. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1911-1913, 1912-07-11

hiuth, IL 5IOUu at Jul ~. All6T Tie
fortieth ballot the Wilson vote fell
off to 494, his net gain over the first
ballot being STU. When Wilson was
at the high water mark on Monday,
Clark had slumped to 422 but went up
again to 430 before adjournment. At
this time 1t seemed that the Illinois
delegation held the key to the situar
ton.
The other big event OF the day was
the excoriation of Bryan by John B.
Stanchfield of New York. This was
Murphy's first return blow, and it
was hard one. Praising the New
York delegation. Stanchf1eld said:
1T Is by common consent the most
representative delegation that ever
came to q national convention from
New York. II these be the puppets
Of wax that Mr.. Bryan refers to, we
say to that money-grabbing, Office
seeking, publicity-hunting marplot OF
Nebraska"
Stanchfield could not conclude the
sentence. It was drowned in burst
of cheers.
While the speaker delivered this
attack Bryan sat quietly in his seat.
He watched Stanchf1eld closely and
occasionally smiled.
Il desire to say again, the vote OF
New York Is vital to success" contin-
ued Mr.. Stanchfield. "And no man can
go forth from this convention stigma
tized and branded with the mark OF
Organism upon him and come within
half a million votes of success.
When Mr.. Bryan makes the state
ment that these delegates from New
York are under the influence OF Nor
gan and Ryan and Belmont, the pluto
Gratis Of this convention, he omits
one name. Outside of the three he
has named, the richest and most pow
erful plutocrat on the floor Is the
gentleman from Nebraska himself"
All day the delegates were in fight
ing mood, and once there was a gem
uine riot of which Bryan was the CEN
ter. He resented as an insult the
action of some Clark enthusiasts In
placing In front of the Commoner a
banner bearing words OF praise of
Clark attributed to Bryan in 1910.
Missouri, New Jersey and Nebraska
delegates mixed 1t up" and even
some press correspondents took a
hand. Then the police separated the
belligerents and later A. M. Dockery
and Dave Francis sent apologies to
Bryan, disclaiming for the Missouri
delegation any connection with the
banner.
Tired and out of temper, the dele
gates assembled at noon Tuesday.
determined to wind up matters quick
ly IL possible. On the first ballot OF
the day, the forty-third, Illinois switch
ed over to Wilson and on the succeed
ing ballots the vote Of the governor
rapidly increased. After the forty
fifth Senator Bankhead arose and
withdrew the name Of Oscar Under
wood. "That means Wilson," said the
managers for Clark. Then Governor
Foss' name also was withdrawn,
whereupon Senator Stone and ex-
Governor Francis gave up hope for
the speaker. They formally released
the Clark delegates from their pledges
and 1t seemed all over but the shout
ing. But the Tamnlany bunch and
some others were still stubborn and
Fitzgerald of New York objected to
the unanimous nomination OF Wilson
by reclamation. So further calling OF
the roll was necessary.
Every strategy known in political
generalship was tried to stampede the
convention for the different candi.
dates. No convention in the history
OF this country has seen such wild
demonstrations as have been wit
messed In this one at Baltimore.
While Tuesdays dramatic incident
arising over the selection of tenn
porary chairman. was the cause OF
almost unprecedented turmoil, there
was nothing even BORDERING on dem
onstration 1t was just plain fight
not enthusiasm
Even the speech OF Temporary
Chairman Parker did not arouse the
response so characteristic of Demo
cratic conventions Of the past. and the
convention showed nothing but a fight
ing mood until after the incident Of
the Bryan resolution Of Thursday eve
ming and the beginning Of the nomi
mating speeches.
The Clark and Wilson forces strug
| gled valiantly to make the greater
| showing for their respective candi
dates While Clark was showing tbs
greater voting strength bic lung TOW