The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-07-04
A PARS0N AT THE con-
VESTION.
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OdoRe aIu slChct into tGe BaIt:-
more Convention. 1t is needless
to say that l appreciated this
courtesy and enjoyed its privilege
to the fullest.
had attended two Democratic
National Conventions before, one
at Chicago in 1892 and the last
one at Denver four years ago. 1t
is liberal education to attend
one of these great gatherings.
One gets to see and hear the
great leaders of American De-
mocraCy. 1t is battle royal that
one witnesses between the lead
ers of privilege and conservatism.
on the one hand and the greater
leaders of progressive Democracy
on the other. The convention
hall was the largest l ever saw
and the convention crowds were
by far the greatest ever gathered
on this continent. 1t was an in
spring sight 10 sit on the Press"
platform, close to the speakers
stand. and watch this mighty sea
Of from fifteen TO thirty thousand
human beings stirred as if storm
swept by the eloquent appeals or
passionate speeches Of some of
the worlds greatest orators. The
effect was SO tremendous. so ov-
overwhelming at times, that one
could not find sufficient vent in
applause and had simply to give
way to tears. This was especial
~ so during some ofuthe greatest
speeches and most imprisoned
appeals that fell from the lips of
that great orator and greater
man, the idol Of the people and
the bestowed man IN that con-
vention, William JenningsIBryan /.
Beside him the other leaders o.!
that body were as pigmies. 1t
was inspiring to feel thatttne peo-
pie had such a tribune TO plead
for them before that great throng
and TO boldly attack the insidious
foes OF Democracy. Old news
paper men told me that his
speeches were, by far. the best
they had ever heard him deliver.
He was by long odds the most
CONSPICUOUS and dominating fig
ure there,
The personal charac ter;stics of
the men OF this convention were
marked. The great body of the
convention was made up of a
younger, more virile, a cleaner
and soberer set Of men than that
which | say in Chicago twenty
years ago. II that convention
the goods were packed and label
ed and delivered on schedule time
with no protest from the rank
and file except the historic kick
from Tammany. In this conven-
ton the people were in the sad
Ole. except in the case of Virginia.
and New York. There were pro-
tests, suggestions and signs of life
everywhere. This omens well.
insurgency everywhere means
life. There are no quarrels IN
graVeyards.
The sentiment for Woodrow
" rlsOn was preemirent every =
where inside and outside Of the
convention hall. Even a casual
observer could not fail to note an
additional fact. that was the mark
ed difference between the looks
of the Wilson delegates and ad-
vocates and those OF the "Houn'
Dawg" candidate. The former
were noted for their seriousness
and general look of intelligence.
Woodrow Wilson appeals to such
d class.
That convention tried many a
speaker as by fire. 1t was ready
to listen to any speaker who had
something to say and said it we'll.
But the prolix. prOsaic and self
conscious windbag was Invariably
howled down. One of these was
"a small potatoes" from Wiscon-
sin, another was Senator Smith
from South Carolina. another. and
the very worst, was Governor
Brewer of Miss. Such pomposity
and such froth one seldom sees