The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-06-08
Bryan Strokes His Chin.

William Jennings Bryan from his sea,
on the press stand listened intently tc
senator Lodges hot denunciation oI
Mr.. Wilson and his associates, who
he declared had attempted TO drag u:
from the path of Washington, Lincoln
and Roosevelt"
Mr.. Bryan stroked his chin thought
iully, but maintained poker face
throughout.
There was another wave of laughter
and applause when Senator Lodge re-
ferred to President Wilson a Demo
cratic free trader with socialistic pro-
clivities"
Forty minutes before the convention
was due TO open. the band struck up
and the delegations began getting into
position. The hail was filling rapidly
ana many notables were arriving. There
was a marked absence OF confusion.
The old timers said II looked almost as
tame as four years ago.
Unlike former conventions. the old
guard came early in the old days they
We're the last to arrive, being he'd back
by conferences. AS many OF the lead
ers took their seats Without causing !
ripple Of excitement, the band played
a mournful air.
There were many women delegates
and alternates on the floor.
The seating arrangements were alto
gether different from what they were
four years ago. In the front rows were
delegations from California, North Da-
kota, Arkansas, Connecticut, Colorado
and Virginia.
The platform was slow in filling up
Apparently the leaders were in confer
ence elsewhere to determine what was
to be done on the question of perma-
nent" organization. The women dele
gates were eagerly sought by the
scouts of the campaign managers and
held quite a handshaking affair Of their
own. They seemed to be enjoying their
first participation in national conven-
ton.
The band continued to blare off pupd-
lar airs with regularity and the dele
gates and alteTnates continued to pour
in at all the doors. The galleries were
filled early with the fortunate hun
dreds who managed to get in. to the
disappointment of the unlucky thou
sands who lost out on the tickets.
Lineup Uncertain.
The opening moments were spent in
conferences among the dele
gates on the floor and renewals OF old
Nobody seemed to have
any more definite idea of how things
were going to line up than they did
last week.
Twenty minutes before the hour set
for the opening the crowd was still
streaming in. 1t was not till then the
electric llghts were turned on, throwing
into relief the thousands Of American
flags that comprised the only decora-
tions, The floor was about half full
at that time.
The only decoration on the platform
was big vase OF American Beauty
roses,
Up to the moment temporary Chair
man Lodge left his hotel for the Coli
scum there had been no final determi-
nation on the question of permanent
organization, and it was said that the
chances were good of making the tenn
porary organization permanent, thus
avoiding two keynote speeches. More
over ii would dispose Of the danger Of
engeudering III feeling by contest such
as has been going on by supporters OF
Beveridge Of Indiana and Sena-
tor Medill Mccormick Of Illinois. Advo-
Gates Of two different organizations
continued to wage their fight, however.
and National committeeman Hays was
to favor Senator Mccormick.
The gathering audience began to
show the first signs of animation when
the band struck up The Stars and
Stripes Forever" Whistlers in some
parts Of the visitors galleries accom-
I,anied the band The first applause that
swept the hall came at the conclusion
Of this selection.