Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1916-06-14
DEMOCRATS OPEN
MEET At ST. LOUIS
Convention Called to Order by
Chairman MCCombs.
HALL FILLED TO CAPACITY
Party's Keynote Sounded by Former
Governor Glynn OF New York.
Praises Wilson for Keeping U.
S. Out of the War.

st. Louis, June 14.-The Democratic
national convention was called to or.
der this morning in the Coliseum by
William T. 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 It's seating
capacity, despite the fact that several
thousand additional seats had been
provided by the construction Of 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 attend.
ants.
When Sergeant-at-Arms John I.
Martin and his assistants had brought
about quiet in the big assemblage,
Chairman McCombs stepped forward,
gavel in hand, and was given hearty
round of applause. He formally de-
clared the convention opened, and aft.
81. 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. At" "a
olynn 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 agrees
sion, he said. was what the Democratic
party advocated.
On American Loyalty.
Turning to the matter of American
ism, Mr.. Glynn asserted that the con-
vention must make 1t plain that all
divisions among the American people
end at the oceans edge, and that the
world must be made to know that we
are a unuited people. "High above
every other issue that this convention
offers to the American people," he
said, 1--WE must therefore write vim
dication Of American loyalty"
The chairman then took up the SUBJ
ject Of domestic policies, and briefly
set forth what he called the great
landmarks which chart the change
from government for the fortunate
few to an even-handed government in
the interest of all, credit for which he
gave to the present administration.
These included the federal reserve
act, the creation of trade commits
sion and the Underwood tariff law.
which, he declared, is the best and
fairest ever enacted.
Mr.. Glynn closed with an impas-
stoned eulogy Of President Wilson,
predicting that when the history Of
these days Of war Is writted 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 Suffragists.
The spectacular feature of the day
was the unique demonstration made
by the army of woman suffraglsts.
This took the form Of q ''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
sgtfragists, and, though the demon.