Evening journal., 1916-06-13
Democrats HAVE
ONLY GOD BLESS
YOU FOR BRYAN
Party Leaders Prevent Him
Showing His Hand in
Platform Draft
DELEGATES Pile IN
FOR The CONVENTION
BY PERRY ARNOLD,
'nited Press STAFF Correspondent.

United freSS Stau Ooiresponuent.
ST. LOUIS, Mo. June 10. William
Jennings Bryan arrived today and
found the Democratic National Con-
vention ready to tell him goodbye,
and God bless you
Nothing could be more indicative
Of how Democracys times have
changed than the fact that the great
Commoner, four times a dominant
figure in national conventions AMI
three times Democracy's candidate
/ for Presidential honors. now figures
in the councils OF that party as
mere alternate from Nebraska and
reporter.
In all the platform talk heard to-
day, there was no indication that the
former secretary of state would have
a hand in the heating OF the plauks.
He pledged himself several weeks
ago not to inject the prohibition
issues into the convention-and hav-
ing done so the Democrats were
willing today TO let Bryan alone with
hopes that Bryan would also let
Democracy alone and raise no dis
cordant note in the harmony pro-
gram.
Twenty years ago the silver-tonguec
orator came TO the lSa6 Democratic con.
yention as a reporter, thrilled Democrat,
! with his oratory and departed as
Presidential candidate. -Four years later
he was renominated.
In 1904 his leadership was rejected
and another chosen, hut four years later
it was William J.. Bryan who made the
race as Democracy's standard bearer. IL
1912, IL was Bryan who forced the nomt
nation of Woodrow Wilson, Bryan wh'
m headed OF Champ Clark, and Bryai
| who dictated the platform
In the convention OF 1916. William ,
Bryan viii be a reporter again, Just a
~ he WAS twenty years ago. He Ia on
is cially accredited also as altcrnate A
ed ternates cannot address the chair froi
an the floor except with unanimous cor
sent. Newspaper reporters, of coursl
= cannot participate in the proceedingl
". Therefore. according 10 all indication
ss today William ). Bryan will be out o
IN the spotlight He will be invited 4
make speech when the business of tn
l. convention has proceeded 10 the poin
70 where oratory is needed TO fill in--bu
N no aid nor advice will be sought Of him
4, no part in the drama Of Democratic poll
= tics will be cast for him.
~ The platform building-in which
70 work Bryan four years ago was the
4 master carpenter-is already done
,s Tonight Secretary of War Baker ar
ar rives with the draft approved b,
. President Wilson himself The chic
n, executive is credited with writing
o. number of planks. He has talked thl
. whole document over with Senate
,o Stone. OF Missouri. The latter will
nv have principal direction of the put
~ ting together of the words AM
70 pledges on which Democracy vii
lv make the race this year.
a The great bulk of the delegate
we're expected TO arrive today Lob
40 bles Of the Jefferson and Planters
IT. hotels are showing more OF the con
dc vention spirit. but so far exactly on'
RI band has blared It's way down towr
,at and there hasn't been sign OF Z
Int cheer. The delegates are alternately
ge lodging and talking TO woman suf
,st frage workers. several score OF NOV
he ing picture operators are on the jot
from dawn to dark and several hun
,al dred newspaper reporters hunt des
am perately for sensations.
he So far ST. Louis has done hersel
Continued on Page Eleven.)