The Detroit times., 1916-06-13
Great COmmOner Dis
tinctly Out of 1t AT
Convention
FIGURES ONLY
AS ALTERNATE
Not Likely to Have
Slightest Voice In
Building Platform
BY PERRY ARNOLD.

''''~H W. " fHffbNfH = 'ttfft 4 ffNn ,
ST. LOUIS, jane 13.-William
Jennings Bryan arrived today and
found the Democratic national con
ventlon ready 10 tell him Good bye
and God bless you
Nothing could be more indicative
OF how DemoCracy's times have
changed than the ract that the great
commoner, four times a dominant
figure In national conventions and
three times Democracy candidate
for presidential honors, now figures
in the councils OF that party as a
mere alternate from Nebraska and
reporter.
In al: me platform talk heard to.
day there was no indication that
the former secretary OF state would
have a hand in the howlng OF the
planks. He pledged himself several
weeks ago not to inject the prohibit
ton issue into the convention-and
having done 80 the Democrats were
today willing 10 lot Bryan alone,
with hopes that Bryan would also
let Democracy alone and raise no
discordant note in the harmony pro.
gram
Twenty years ago tho silver
tongued orator came 10 the 1870
Democratic convention as report,
or. thrilled Democracy with his elo.
quence and departed It's presidential
candidate. Four years later he was
renominated. In 1904. his leader
ship was rejected and another can.
didate chosen. but four years later
IL was William J Bryan who made
the race as Democracy's standard
bearer. I'm 1912, II was Bryan who
forced nomination OF Woodrow vii
son. Bryan who headed OFF Champ
Clark and Bryan who dictated the
platform.
In the convention OF 1916. VII.
liam ]. Bryan will be a reporter
again. just as he was 90 years ago.
He Is officially accredited also as an
alternate Alternates cannot adj
dress the chair from the moor OK.
cept by unanimous consent News.
paper reporters. Of course. cannot
participate Ia the proceedings.
Therefore. according 10 all indIca-
tons today, William L. Bryan win
be out of the show He may be in
vited 70 make n speech-when the
business OF the convention has pro
ceeded 10 the point where oratory
is needed 10 fll in--hut no aid nor
advice will be sought Of him; no
part in the drama Of Democratic
politics will he cast for him.
The platform building in which
work Bryan four years ago, was the
master carpenters already done.
Tonight Secretary OF War Baker
arrives with the draft approved by
President Wilson himself. The
chief executive is credited person.
ally with writing a number of the
planks. He has talked the whole
document over with Senator Stone.
OF Missouri The latter will have
principal direction OF the putting
together OF the words and pledges
on which Democracy will make the
race this year.
The great bulk OF the delegates
were expected TO arrive today. Lob
bies of the Jefferson and Planters
hotels are showing more of the con-
vention spirit--but so far exactly
one band has blared it's way about
downtown and there hasn't been a
sign OF cheer. The delegates are
alternately lodging and talking to
woman suffrage workers, several
score of moving picture operators
are on the Job from dawn TO dark
and several hundred newspaper re-
porters hunt desperately for sensa.
tons. so far st. Louis has done
herself proud on convention wealth.
er. The days have been just warm
enough 10 make summer clothes
comfortable. but not sticky enough
TO be eneryatinR