Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1916-06-20
De MOCRATc OPEN
THEIR BIG MEET
CONVENTION AT ST. LOUIS IS
CALLED TO ORDER BY
McCOMBS.
GLYNN TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN
Former Governor of New York Sounds
the Party Keynote, Dwelling
Especially on Wilson's Sue
cess in Avoiding War

st. Louis, June 1.-THE Democratic
national convention was called to or
| der this morning in the Coliseum by
William F. McCombs, chairman of the
national committee, and entered on
its formal business promptly and
smoothly. The hall, which was quite
| deliberately decorated with the Ameri-
can flag and with bunting, was filled
to more than the limit of its seating
capacity, despite the fact that several
thousand additional seats had been
provided by the construction of a mez-
canine balcony.
AS the members of the national COM
mittee and the delegations took their
places there was hearty applause for
the many notables whom the audience
was quick to recognize. Several mem
bers of the cabinet and, of course,
many United States senators were
among these distinguished attendants.
When Sergeant-at-Arms John l.
Martin and his assistants had brought
about quiet in the big assemblage,
Chairman McCombs stepped forward,
gavel in hand, and was given a hearty
round of applause. He formally de
clared the convention opened, and aft
er the divine blessing had been in
voked and the call for the convention
read Mr.. McCombs announced the Sc
lection of Martin H. Glynn, former
governor of New York, as temporary
chairman.
Glynn Sounds the Keynote.
Mr.. Glynn is an eloquent and
forceful speaker, and in setting forth
the issues of the campaign as the
Democratic party sees them he evoked
the frequent cheers of his audience
Especially did he emphasize the sue
cess Of President Wilson's policy in
keeping the American nation from be-
ing embroiled in the European war
The policy the president has pursued,
he asserted, is the same that has been
followed by many Of his predecessors,
from Washington down, who by skill
full diplomacy avoided war without
sacrificing the nations honor. In
stance after instance he cited, and
said: ITO maintain our national honor
by peace if we can, by war if we must,
is the motto of the president of the
United States"
This led the speaker to the subject
of preparedness, and in this connec-
ton he claimed the present admins
tration has done more for our army
and our navy than any administration
in our history. Preparedness for de-
Tense, not preparedness for aggres-
sion, he said, was what the Democratic
party advocated.
Mr.. Glynn closed with an impas-
stoned eulogy of President Wilson,
predicting that when the history of
these days of war is written his name
will represent the triumph of Ameri-
can principles over the hosts of dark
ness and Of death.
Formal business occupied the time
of the rest of the first session, and the
convention was then adjourned until
Thursday.
Golden Lane" of Suffraqists.
The spectacular feature of the day
was the unique demonstration made
by the army of woman suffragists.
This took the form of a "walkless pa
rade," the women, thousands of them,
standing in lines on both sides of Lo-
Gust street, down which the delegates
proceeded from their headquarters to
the Coliseum. This was called the
Golden Lane" from the colors of the
suffragists, and, though the demon
stration was talkless as we'll as walk
less, its proportions and the evident
women taking part seemed to have its
due effect on the delegates. Every
woman in the long lines wore yellow
sash and carried a yellow parasol.
Suffrage Plank" the donkey mascot
of the st. Louis suffragists, was a fea-
ture that called forth loud cheers,
especially when he grew restless and
let his heels fly about a bit.
The climax of the women's demon
stration was tableau at the old Art
Museum, where Liberty stood on a
pedestal in the center of a pyramid of
beauteous ladies.
The days program of entertainment
for delegates, alternates, correspond
ents and distinguished guests began
after the convention adjourned. Auto
mobiles carried the city's guests on a
tour Of st. Louis. after which there
was a moonlight excursion on the Mis-
sissippi river, with a dinner, on the
steamer Grey Eagle.