Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-06-16
NO DEMOCRAT
DARED KNOCK,
SAYS BLYTHE
Everybody" at Convention
Was for Wilson ain
the Open"
UNDERcURRENT OF ANGER
BY SAMUEL G. BLYTHE
CoOpVriOnt isis, BY the Central Press

ST. LOUIS, June 1s.-The one place
where the unexpected we have been told
always happens does not happen is a ma
tionai political convention which has as
senbled TO renomlnate for President an oc-
eupsnt Of the white House
There have been several of those since
1888, mostly Republican, although the Dem
ocratic Convention OF 1892 performed in
the expected manner and three expected
outcomes have not been delayed de-
terred by the efforts OF discontented par
tisans to change the ordained current OF
affairs. However. with the exception Of the
Mckinley convention in Philadelphia in
1900, and even there there was a lively fight
over the vice presidency. and the Roosevelt
convention in 1904 there has not been a
convention in many years that was 80
accurately on schedule and performed 30
perfectly in accord with the plans made
for It as this Democratic Convention.
The reason is. of course. that the man
IN the White House has so much power, and
dominates so thoroughly that HIS plans sre
perforce the plans OF the convention, and
hiss suggestions the conventions law The
delegates. no matter what their private
opinions and preferences may be- are too
partisan to let any display Of Ill temper
or soreness come out in the open to
danger the ticket they know they must
name, and even II the rank and file are
unruly the bosses always pocket their griev-
ances and hold things steady In the exact
manner desired by the prospective nominee.
That makes the convention uninteresting
from seeing viewpoint, but makes them
effective from a party anglo. There is no
doubt that II the roof could be taken off
some of the men who have had most to do
toward making this Democratic National
Convention all harmonious there would be
disclosed considerable amount OF
antipathy for President Wilson, and not n
little real anger, but that never comes out
except in private and heart-to-heart dis
cussion. In the open. everybody was for
Wilson. There was no recourse, for any at
tempt to do anything or start anything that
was against the wishes of the President
would have met with the instant rebuke
from the majority of those present at this
time, and with a popular admonition later.
Nobody dared begin an assault, either on
the President personally, or on any Of his
policies.
Notwithstanding this, as has been the Gus.
tom in the past, here President Wilson kept
o firm hand on the convention. He had
three Of his Cabinet members, Baker. Dan.
iels and Houston, present and in constant
conferences besides many unofficial friends
and supporters. There wasn't minute
when the White House was not In instant
touch with the Jefferson Hotel and the con-
vention hall He selected the temporary
chairman and the permanent chairman. and
he knew what was in their speeches and
what the order of the convention was to be-
It was ut Washington suggestion that the
nominations were made last night instead
of today, and the principal portions of the
platform were known. down to the last
word, to the President before they were
embodied I'm the report Of the Committee on
Resolutions.
WILSON AT THE HELM
n Ii
his campaign managers, and told the Ma
donal Committee who they would be. lie
was cognizant of every movement made
and squelched the vice presidential aspi-
rations of several ambitious, but not avail
able patriots.
This was President Wilson's convention.
and he saw to 1t that 1t was the exact
kind OF convention he desired. About
every contingency was forecast and pro-
vided for. even the Bryan episode. It was
expected there would be some sort of |
Bryan demonstration, and while there was
no way OF telling what form that demon |
stration would take, II was decided that |
the only thing to do was to let nature |
take its course with that. and hope that |
the results would not be hurtful.
SO far as the actual results are con-
cerned this assemblage was Woodrow Will |
son In convention assembled and for the |
purpose OF re-nominating Woodrow Wilson |
for President. adopting Woodrow Wilson's |
camnaigu managers. and In general being |
entirely and emphatcally Woodrow VIII |
soniBh.
The President wasn't namby-pamby nor
mockngly modest nor disingenuous about |
IL. He took hold in a square and open |
fashion and saw 20 Il that he as the per- |
son most interested, got what he deemed |
most wise and polite. He must run upon
platform and he must administer affairs II |
he Is re-elected. Hence. the prellminarIes |
were conducted as he wished them to be |
Nothing unexpected happened. Everything, |
including Bryan, was provided for dis |
counted Indeed, as example of sclen- |
tinc and efficient convention management
this one was a success. II was stickiIy
harmonious, reasonably enthusiastic en- |
tirely afnenabie and obeyed orders unhesi-
tatin6iy. As convention director Mr.
Wilson Is most expert and efficient