Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-06-13
DEMOCRATS HOLD
Continued from Page 1.)
The Clans Gathering
By Perry Arnold.

by Ferry AArnOlu,
Omitted Press Staff Correspondent
st. Louis, June 13-Willam Jen-
nings Bryan arrived today-and found
the democratic national committee
ready to tell him, "good bye and God
bless you.
Nothing could be more indicative of
how democracy's times have changed
than the fact that the great commoner
four times a dominant figure in nation.
al conventions and three times democ-
racy's candidate for presidential hon.
ors, now figures in the councils of
that party as a mere alternate from
Nebraska and a reporter.
In all the platform talk heard today
there was no indication that the form
er secretary of state would have a
hand in the hewing Of the planks. He
pledged himself not to inject the prohi-
bition issue into the convention-an
having done so, the democrats were
willing to let Bryan alone, with hopes
that Bryan would also let democracy
alone and raise no discordant note in
the harmony program.
Twenty years ago the silver tongued
orator came to the 1896 democratic
convention as a reporter, thrilled
democracy with elOquence and departed
as its presidential candidate. -Four
years later he was again nominated.
In 1904 his leadership was rejected and
another candidate chosen, but four
years after that, it was William j.
Bryan who made the race as demo.
cratic standard bearer. In 1912 it was
Bryan who forced the nomination of
Woodrow Wilson; Bryan who headed
off Champ Clark and Bryan who
dictated the platform
Bryan Only Reporter.
In the convention Of 1916 William
j. Bryan win be a reported again
just as he was 20 years ago. He is
officially accredited also as an alter
nate. Alternates cannot address the
chair from the floor except by unan.
imous consent. Newspaper reporters,
of course, cannot participate in the
proceedings. Therefore, according to
all indications today, William }. Bry-
an will be out of the show. He may
be invited to make a speech-when the
business Of the convention has pro-
ceeded to the point where oratory is
needed to fill in-but no aid nor ad-
vice will be sought of him; no part in
the drama Of democratic politics viii
be cast for him.
The platform building-in which
work Bryan four years ago was the
master carpenters already done. To
night Secretary of War Baker arrives
with the draft approved by President
Wilson himself.
The chief executive is credited per.
sonally with writing number of
planks. He has talked tho whole docu.
ment over with Senator Stone Of Mis-.
souri,. The latter will have the princi-
pal direction Of the putting together
of the words and pledges on which
democracy will make the race this year.
Whiskers Threaten Democracy.
The great bulk of the delegates were
expected to arrive today. Lobbies of
the Jefferson and Planters hotels are
showing more Of the convention spirit
but so far exactly one band has
blared its way about downtown, and
there hasn't been a sign Of cheer
The delegates are alternately lodging
and talking to woman suffrage work
ers, several score Of moving picture
operators are on the job from dawn to
dark, and several hundred newspaper
reporters hunt for choice bits Of news.
st. Louis has done herself proud on
convention weather. The days have
been just warm enough to make sum
mer clothes comfortable, but not sticky
enough to be enervating.
IL was said while the denomination
Of Marshall for vice-president appeared
likely today, it might not be unan.
imous.
Roger Sullivan Of Illinois and Gov.
ernor Major, Of Missouri, both have
shoutors boosdng them for the second
place berth and probably will draw the
complimentary votes from their state
delegations. There was practical Ger.
tainty, however, that not more than
this number Of votes would be regis.
tered against Marshal's denomination
Friends of Senator James Hamilton
Lewis Of Illinois Indignantly declared
today that if Roger Sullivan 3 name
was presented as o candidate for the
yice-preMdential nomination that Of the
man who made the whisker famous in
politics would also 60 before the dele
gates. II was asserted that Lewis
could command a big bunch Of Illinois
delegates even bigger than those who
might vote for sullivan.