The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-06-14

snail, and victory III November, was Jn'
program of the delegates who crowded
into the Coliseum to-day for the opening
session of the Democratic national con
vention. According to the party leaders
there will be no friction over the party's
declaration of principles, and only the
phraseology of a few planks in the plat.
form remains to be agreed upon.
The convention promises to be the
most harmonious in the history of the
party. The managers of the party hope
to enliven the proceedings by calling
campaigners to the delivery of ringing
speeches at odd moments and the ser
geant-at-arms and his assistants are pre-
pared to handle big crowds. In con-
trast to the Republican convention when
there were more than score of different
buttons announcing favorit sons as can
didates for president, there was but one
button carrying the likeness of Wilson
Delegates not wearing the Wilson button
wore an emblem indicating their vice
president fayorites, Thomas r. Marshall
OF Indiana, Roger c. Sullivan of Illinois,
Gov. Major of Missouri and Gov. More
head of Nebraska President Wilson has
indicated that his preference is for Mar
shall and there is not the slightest doubt
that his wish will be gratified.
At 1880 there were not more than
dozen delegates on the floor and less than
100 spectators in the seats. The galleries
were filling slowly, and only few OH
cials were on the platform. There was
little excitement and the ba1sds that
marched with the delegations furnished
the only amusement. A few minutes lat
er the crowds began increasing.
Only the picture of the president was
on the speakers stand with the inscrip-
tion, america First"
At II :45 the official band began the
opening concert, accompanying quartet
which sang new songs about America
and which brought the first applause of
the day. The Texas delegation tossed
souvenir bales of cotton from the gal
leries. Because of the heat under the
glaring skylight, many of the delegates
soon removed their coats. Senator Ollie
James was loudly cheered as he entered
the hall.
The convention was called to order
shortly after 1890 o'clock and then
everyone joined in singing the "Star
Spsngled Banner" Prayer was offered by |
Rev w. Lee.
In calling the convention to order, |
Chairman William F. McCombs OF the |
Democratic national committee spoke as
follows:
eve are in an atmosphere of victory. |
We have no feeling of guess, but spirit /
of certainty We meet to celebrate the
marvellous achievements of the Demo-
cratic party since il came into power and
to place a milestone upon the path of its
future success.
cover 1000 years ago. an old slave re-
lated the fable of the frog who wanted
TO grow to the size of an elephant. Such
was the ambition of his soul that his
body swelled to a marvellous proportion.
Indeed, Esop went so far as to predict
that the frog. upon reaching the size of
the elephant, would burst. | commend
to your notice the wisdom of Esop. II
took over 1000 years for his prophecy to
come true. Only last week the frog L
elephant--or the elephant frog -explod
ed. The Republican party for years sue
ceeded in deceiving the country. Now il
is successfully deceiving itself. In its
platform IL Offers HuitnIltuNiNou- prom 4
ise-but with vacuous intent. II prom
ises the country in the main. what the
Democratic party has already done or is
in the process Of doing, saving always.
sae bogus god. protection" II has
rloaked its iniquity with a judicial robe /,
but the cloven hoof Of special interest !,
still protrudes. /,
The board Of directors has sat in Chi h
cago and again resolved that they are the ,
They have adopted the doctrine
of foreordination and predestinstion, but I
have made it applicable only TO them :
selves. The rest Of the people are their !
vards-for profit. In
Ambition Is a noble attribute but I;
when Il Is sdulterated with greed. a !
rataclvsm is inevitable. We have re-
GENTLY witnessed the painful spectacle Of
two great American parties in Chicago
putting self in place Of ideals, self glori-
scation in place of national honor. Re
nublicsuism and Progressivism, 50 called I
IN place of our only "ismH-AmeTiczn-
sn.
"Ws have witnessed the drsh spectacle
lf two groups Of men trading principles =
ike competitors in fsh market, in the
acps that some compromise would win p
-uhlic support They have not come 90 "
have fallen cut over the o