Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-07-18
FOR PRESIDENT.
WOODROW WILSON
FOR VICE-PRESIDENT.
THOMAS r. MARSHALL
FOR PRESIDENT.
RY W. A. PATERSON.

BY w. A. PATTERSON.
Convention Hall, Baltimorer-The
blase individual without an admission
ticket viii tell you he would not 90
Il he had ticket, "as all national
conventions are alike"
It has been ny privilege to attend
3 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.
Writer'S, like delegates, receive IN
structions, and writer's, like delegates,
may not safely disregard these in
structions. I am going to try not to
disregard mine, which were to the
effect that I write. not a political news
STORY" filed with opinions for or
against principles or factions or indi-
yiduals but a human interest story;
that side 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 the right or wrong of the
different factions.
The Baltimore convention was one
Of those great gatherings which one
may witness but once in a lifetime if
at all; the kind Of a political gather
Ing whose like has never before been
witnessed in this or any other coun-
try.
1t was a battle of political Thans-
two men-WiIliam Jennings Bryan,
three times the standard-be 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
moor than the battle was on.
MI. Bryan's nomination of Senator
Kern for the temporary Craftsmanship
in opposition to Judge Parker, the
choice Of the national committee. was
but a feint. When Mr. Kern, taking
the speakers platform, pleaded for
Democratic harmony, and proposed to
bulge Parker that they both retire in
favor Of any one of half a dozen men
whom he named, Mr.. Bryan scored his
drst 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 a di-
rect issue.
The surprise of the day was the
throwing the Clark strength to Parker.
and It 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. It re
suited In the defeat of Mr.. Bryan by
q vote Of go for Parker to $40 for
Bryan.
The defeat Of Colonel Bryan for the
temporary craftsmanship was a mo
mentous event for the Democratic
party, and the leaders and the rank
and file of the party knew it when it
occurred. 1t was no longer q contest
between candidates. It was war 10
the bitter end between Mr.. Bryan and
Mr.. Murphy. Both had accepted the
gage Of battle, and there would be no
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
yention Of four years ago to the Muir,
ply forces. Mr.. Bell led the opposition
to Bryan, and did not hesitate in de
handing 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 Pattison
Of Ohio expressed the feelings OF
many of the old leaders who had that
day voted against Bryan, when he
said:
THE defeat Of Mr.. Bryan, necessary
though it was, was an occasion foI
tears rather than cheers. He has been
ana is a great man, but he has had his
opportunity, and must now step aside
That Tuesday night following the
defeat Of Mr. Bryan will ever. remain
q memorable one IN Democratic his
tory. The great question Of that night
was Is it to be a bolt?"
Among the leaders for the various
candidates, the Clark forces instantly
realized that If the speaker was II
win he must 90 so in spite of Mr.
Bryan's opposition. The Wilson lead
ers knew they would have Bryan's
support, but would it suffice? Lead
ers Of other candidates were wonder
ing what form the alignment would
take when the deadlock between ClaTl
and Wilson should be broken.
Mr.. Bryan was named as a member
Of the committee on resolutions, bu