Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-06-12
BRYAN THINKS
SPROULLIKELY,
MAYBE HUGHES
Convention Very Reactionary,
He Says in Light of Forty
Years Experience.
SEES FINISH OF LEADERS
BY WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN.
copYrlaht, 1920. by w. ]. Bryan.

BY WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN
Copyright, 1920, by w. J. Bryan.
CHICAGO. June 12.-As this re
port of the convention must be given
to the press before the convention
meets, 1t is not possible to report its
action on the presidential nomina-
ton, and that nomination may be
made before my words reach the
reader.
can. therefore. set forth only the
Indications based upon the character
Of the convention. their value de-
pending upon whether they are borne
out by final results.
This convention seems to be very re-
dictionary.
l have been attending national con-
ventions for forty four years. beginning
in 1876. II may be permitted to turn
for a moment TO personal experience.
At the age Of 16 ] attended the con-
cention in st. Louis. seventy miles from
/ knew no one and what was worse, nc
one knew me.
A policeman took pity on me and put
me through a window.
In 1880 the convention was held al
Cincinnati, tee far away from my home
for me TO attend.
1 attended the Chicago convention in
1884 and St Louis convention in 1855
and the Chicago convention In 1892.
In 1896 went to the republican con-
vention at st. Louis. partly to report II
for the World Herald Of which / was
then editor. but even more to encourage
the silver republicans, who were con-
ductin9 a losing fight against the gold
element Of the party,
Later | attended the democratic con-
vention at Chicago. at which l received
my first nomination.
did not so to Kansas City in 1900, II
being certain that would be nominated
for the second time.
/ attended the democratic convention
at St Louis in 1904, but remained away
from the Denver convention in 1908
where again my denomination was GER
tain.
l attended the Baltimore convention in
1912 and the st. Louis convention In
1916, the last named convention as a
member OF the press.
shall be a delegate at San Francisco
later in this month.
CONTRASTS THE TWO
CONVENTIONS OF 1916.
From the above 1t will be seen I have
attended every democratic convention
during the last forty years, except three
the one in 1888, before I was grown, and
the ones in 1900 and 1908, when I was
In close communication by wire
Besides reporting the republican con-
vention Of 1895, acted in the same
capacity at the republican conventions
Of 1912 and 1915.
I was a delegate to the democratic
conventions IN 1906. 1904 and 1912.
In the republican convention OF 1872 the
Taft and Roosevelt forces were so evenly
matched that the real fight was over the
seating of delegates.
The Taft machine was directed by the
skilled hand of Senator Root
In 1915 there were two conventions. and
I divided my time between the two halls
The political temperature was so diff
ferent in the two gatherings that l os-
cillated between freezing and sunstroke.
This convention is the most reaction
ary that I have had the privilege OF
attending, a fact made manifest in many
ways.
The chairman of the resolutions COM
mittee is Senator Watson. who will feel
compIimented when l call him stand
patter of the standpatters.
He had no progressive rival for the
position and received nine -tenths OF the
votes as against New York rival.
OF the candidates before this conven
ton, Senator Johnson and Senator La
toilette are the only progressives, the
former receiving 14S votes, about one
fifth Of the convention, and the latter "a
votes.
NOTES DIFFERANCE
IN TIRE APPLAUSE.
The difference In the applause that
greeted the reactionary candidate and
that given to the progressives was quite
marked
The convention even went 50 far as to
manifest dlsapproval by groans when
senator Lafollette's name was mon
toned, Notwithstanding the fact that
this battle scared champion OF many
reforms Ia in hospital recovering from
serious operation.
Els vote was necessary in organising
the senate.
Senator 6moot of Utah. one Of the out
tContinusd On Rags TEo.l