The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1916-06-23


doc was avoided. When 10000 per-
sons rose then and sang America"
the roof nearly came off the conven-
ton hall.
Following the nominations there
were some speeches of laudatory char
acter. This lasted until half after II
in the morning. Then the convention
adjourned until IL a. IN. Friday.
The platform committee sat up the
rest of the night to white the planks
and get them ready to nail down.
The Democratic convention was seen
by unbiased observers as the most
nearly unanimous affair of its kind
since the big wind of ID, or there
abouts. President Wilson controlled
the situation absolutely from Wash
ington, yet nobody could say it was a
boss-ridden festival
And the Bosses Behaved.
To tell the truth the bosses, So
called, Charlie Murphy of New York,
Tom Taggart Of Indiana and Roger
Sullivan of Illinois, didn't seem to have
much luck. There was great deal of
talk before the convention began 10
perform that these party captains
would try to nominate Mr.. Sullivan
for vice president. But there was
nothing to it. When the climax came,
Sullivan, Taggart and Murphy lined
up nicely for Mr.. Marshall.
The only real excitement of nomi-
mating night was made by William
Jennings Bryan, who. having been de-
feated as a delegate for the conven-
ton, came as a plain newspaper re-
porter and sat among the scribes.
Considering his past leadership and
the present strong hold he has upon
the sentiments of hordes of Democrats,
1t would have been strange indeed II
the Peerless Leader" hadn't been
shown at least a courtesy.
So IL came about that the conven-
tioneers began to call for Bryan early
Thursday night. when he entered the
press stand with Mrs. Bryan. After
much good.natured shouting and play
full demonstration, the delegates per-
suaded the former secretary of state
to make a speech. And he made one.
Its theme was harmony. Various
movements In this political symphony
of words were praise for Mr.. Wilson.
damnation Of the money trust. en-
comlum for Democratic reform meas
ures and laudation for the administra-
TONS peace and neutrality policies.
Clashes over Platform.
The platform committee announced
two hours before the convention opened
Friday that its draft was ready for
delegate action. 1t was learned that
the questions of equal suffrage, prohi-
bition, labor, and child-labor legislation
had caused clashes in the committee.
President Wilson's Americanism
plank, which is stern rebuke to those
persons and organizations that have
been active In their sympathy for one
or another of the belligerents In the
European war, and slack in their
American citizenship, caused n little
storm i'm committee. Many Democratic
politicians 1t is said, are afraid of this
stand by the chief executive and OPP
posed incorporation Of the plank in
the platform. Senator William j.
Stone chairman of the committee, was
Ia constant touch by long-distance
phone with the president.
The platform contains about %
planks and 1000 words. 1t indorses
Wilson's policies, praises the federal
reserve banking system, says monopoly
has been strangled, agrees that equal
suffrage Is right, speaks Of the income
tax claims protection for labor, points
with pride to postal extension and
profits, lauds the Underwood tariff act
and suggests nonpartisan tariff study.
Life Above Property Value.
II calls for development of our sea-
shipping business. promises adequate
national preparedness. declares we
must work for world peace, asserts
there must be freedom Of the seas,
places the value Of human Life above