Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-06-12
.MANY PROGRESSIVE
PLANKS In PLATFORM
Say Roosevelt ScuttIed Ship
and Destroyed Friends Try
ing to Save Himself
By Perry Arnold.


st. Louis, Mo-, June l2.-One grand
chores of harmony was lifted from u
thousand democratic throats today -
and the first actual business OF the
democratic national committee was be-
gun.
The melody of amity eminated from
the meeting of the national committee
was caught and swelled by silvery ora
tOrical larynxes in the lobby of the
jefferson hotel and borne out on the
breeze of sunshiny, cheerful and alto
gether perfect st. Louis day. The com.
mittee met to dispose of contests-but,
speaking paradoxically, the two con-
tests were harmonious ones, and they
weren't decided anyway, because no
body was terribly excited about them.
Time was when the republicans had
their chickering's all smoothed out be-
fore the convention put through the
candidate and platform. 1t used to be
the democratic conventions that ex-
ploded the pyrOthenics, furnishing a
sort of quadriennial free for all, yelling
out of internal dissensions. Things went
smoothly up to the convention time
and then began to burst.
Is Democratic Love Feast.
In this year of 1915, however, the
process is reverted. Democracy meets
in complete amity, understanding and
cheer No voice Of diseord will rasp
raucously in the harmony chorus. A
few Of the old timers-thev were the
only ones seen here in silk hats-stood
in the lobby of the Jefferson today
and Teminiscently recalled the days of
yore when every democratic convention
was an imitation of "Donnybrook
fair"
The sun smiled brightly today; so
did the hosts of demoeracy-or at least
that portion of the hosts that was here.
AS matter of fact, it was q small
host, as convention crowds 90. Demo
Gratis know there wont be any hear
smashing, no impassioned oratorical as.
saults, no picturesque divisions.
1t is cut and dried affair, a vii.
son end Marshall love feast, and for
I that reason the excited lobby debaters
are missing. Democracy feels absolute
ly certain Of victory. 1t thinks the
remnants of the late lamentod pro.
gres3ive party will find their haven of
refuge in the Jeffersonian bosom of
democracy. Orators were garding their
throats, not to get their larnyxes train.
ed tc shout the loudest but to sing the
sweetest of slvery tones in the grand
harmony chorus.
The Brewer Entertains
/ st. Louis most celebrated brewer ia
giving a mint julep party tonight.
There will be no prohibition fuss among
the trainers of the DIatform. Therefore,
who cares about ANYTHING but barber
shop harmony chords9
the platform will be mostly pridefrl
recital of demOcracy's three year rec.
ord. Probably also it will contain n
new plank, fathered by National Chair.
man McCombs, demanding legislation
which would bar any incumbent Of a
judicial office from a political office.
MeCombs is stepping down as Doitieal
manager this year. He probably will
be succeeded by John Davis, now solc.
itor general or Homer Cummins nres.
ent yice-chairman. Some want Henry
Morgenthau, former ambassador to
Turkey, to take the post, but Moreen.
thau prefers TO concentrate his energ-
les on the raising of money and prob.
ably will be chosen as national treas.
urer.
Tha national committee met today os.
tensibly to hear contests but in real.
ity to stage harmony sketch. One
false note sounded for moment. when
the chair ruled that alternates beyond
tho specified number allotted to the diff
ferent state delegations would have to
take chairs in the gallery.
What Was Done Today.
McCOmbs bade farewell to his associ.
ates on the national committee In a
speech exuding the sweet honey Of har.
mony.
''I am happy in the thought that a
warm feeling of friendship, eo.opera.
tion and support has existed among US
during the last four years. he said.
"I will always treasure the bond Of
symrethy which I hold for all time.U
The actual net business Of the ses.
sion was:
Texas and Hawaii contests temporar.
lily passed but National Committeeman
Cato Sells ana John H. Wilson, respect.
lively, were held in office.
Former Governor Glynn Of New York,
was approved as temporary chairman
II