The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1916-06-16
DEMOCRATS OPEN
THEIR BIC MEET
CONVENTION AT ST. LOUIS Is
CALLED TO ORDER 8Y
MccOMeS.
GLYNN TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN
Former Governor Of New York Sounds
the Party Keynote, Dwelling
Especially on Wilson'S Sue
cess IN Avoiding War.

1I' 'phiSt ouhC
rational convention was called TO or
der this morning In the Coliseum by
William F. 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 its seating
capacity. despite the fact that several
Thousand additional seats had been
provided by the construction Of a meg
canine balcony.
AS the members of the national com
mtttee 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 attendants.
When Sergeant-at-Arms John 1.
Martin and his assistants had brought
about quiet Ii the big assemblage,
Chairman McCombs stepped forward.
gavel In hand. and was given a hearty
round OF applause. He formally de-
clared the convention opened. and aft.
err the divine blessing had been tn.
v0ked and the call for the convention
read Mr.. McCombs announced the Sc
lection Of Martin Fl. Gfynn. former.
governor Of New York. as Temporary
chairman.
GIynn 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 II we can, by wal II we must,
Is the motto of the president Of the
United States"
On American Loyalty.
Turning to the matter of American
ism, Mr.. Glynn asserted that the CON
v~eption must make it 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 united people. High above
every other issue that this convention
offers to the American people," he
said, I'VE must therefore write a vim
dication Of American loyalty" /
The chairmanfthen took up the sub
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 a trade commits.
sion and the Underwood tariff law,
which, he declared. Is the best and
fairest eve enacted.
Mr.. Glynn closed with an impas.
stoned eulogy Of President Wilson,
predicting that when the history Of
these days Of war Is written bis 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. .s....
Golden Lane" Of suffraalsts.
The spectacular feature Of the day
was the unique demonstration made
BY the army Of woman suffragists.
This took the form Of a "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
suffrasists. and. though the demon.
stration was talkless as we'll as walk.
less. Its proportions and the evident
e~arnestness Of the great number Of
women taking part seemed to have It's
due effect on the delegates. Every
woman in the long lines wore q yellow
sash and carried a yellow parasol.
Suffrage Plank" the donkey mascot
Of the st. Louis suffragists, was a fea-
ture that called forth loud cheers,
especially when he grew restless and
let his heels fly about q bit.
The climax Of the women's demon.
stration was a tableau at the cid Art
Museum. where Liberty stood on a
pedestal in the center Of a pyramid Of
beauteous ladies'.
The days program Of entertainment
for delegates. alternates. correspond.
ents and distinguished guests began
after the convention adjourned. Auto
mobiles cnrried the city's guests on a
tour Of st. Louis. after which there
was . moonlight excursion on the Mis-.
sissippt river, with a dinner. on the
steamer Grey Eagle.
What II Looked Like.
In a New Zealand town one of the