San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-11-08

l decided to go to the convention as
delegate, at least / announced my
willingness to do so, but even in Ne
braska a club was organized to sup
port Mr.. Parker and an effort was
made to carry the convention for him.
This effort, however, failed and We
carried every county / think, but one,
in the state and the state convention
elected set of delegates who to a man
supported my position. went to the
st. Louis convention from sense OF
duty and not because / expected to
W in any victory there, or even to avoid
humiliating defeat.
Remembering that the gold Demo-
Gratis had left the party and by leav-
ing had lost their influence in the
party, 1 was afraid that if the plat
form was written by the conservative
element it would drive large part
of the radical Democrats out of the
party. My purpose, therefore, in go
ing to the convention was to get a
platform that would not sacrifice what
the party had been fighting for, and if
possible secure candidate who could
be voted for by those who had been
enthusiastic In my support.
FIGHT OVER HEARST.
The first fight in the convention
was over the Illinois delegation. Mr..
Hearst had a considerable majority in
the Illinois state convention, but the
organization was against him, ana
the temporary chairman proceeded to
run the convention with the gavel
without regard to the wishes Of the
delegates.
A crowd had been brought down
from Chicago and stationed near the
platform to prevent any interference
with the program that had been laid
down by those in charge. While they
could not prevent resolution en-
dorsing Mr.. Hearst, they selected a
delegation, a majority of which was
opposed to him, and the selection was
made by the most high handed meth
DDS.
The delegates from the several con-
gressional districts made selection of
national delegates, but these were ig-
nored and new names substituted to
meet the purpose of those in charge.
When j read in the paper an &C.
count of the convention, / telegraphed
Mr.. Dunlap to meet me at st. Louis
and j questioned him in regard to the
convention.
CALLS ACT OUTRAGE.
Believing that an outrage had been
perpetrated upon the Democrats Of
Illinois, and believing that the action
Of the convention might have a decided
&c h.
ton, i proposed that a contest be
made. l went to Chicago and laid the
matter before Mr.. Hearst, but he felt
that it might be n reflection upon the
instructions for him to attack the con-
vention that gave the instructions.
Mr.. Dunlap and / then decided TO
make the fight ourselves, and each
bearing half the expense, we proceeded
to secure petition from a majority
Of the delegates of the convention
asking for the seating of certain men
as delegates-at-large and of the men
who had been chosen in the several
districts by majority vote.
Before the convention met we had
n signed request of more than a ma
jority Of those who actually took part
in the convention asking for the &C.
ton which we had arranged. OF
course, this was resisted and the
Parker men, being in control of the
convention, the contestants were over
ruled and Che regular delegates
seated.
WINS VICTORY.
] got proxy from the Nebraska
member of the committee on resolu-
tons and went into the committee
and presented a minority report. /
opened and closed the debate on this
question and it was the first victory
won in the convention, for, although
/ was voted down by the convention,
/ had such an overwhelming majority
Of the audience outside of the dele
gates that the expression of opinion
very much strengthened me in the
contest that followed.
The Dispatch, one of the Park
er papers. had two-column editorial
entitled "The Passing of Bryan" in
which the editor went on to discuss at
some length the insignificant part that
1 was taking in the convention. l
had entered the convention the day
before while some one was speaking
and i took my scat unnoticed. This
was commented upon as an indica-
ton that / no longer had influence
in the party.
The delegates had Just about had
time to read that editorial when !
entered the convention to make the
minority report and possibly because
of the vindictive spirit that ran
through the editorial. my entrance
was made the occasion for a demon
stration that lasted some twenty
minutes. That was the first notice
served upon the delegates that they
were not TO have things all their own
way.
AUDIENCE FOR BRYAN.
The reception accorded my speech,
in behalf of the Illinois contestants
increased the impression, and by the
time / took up the fight in the full
the conservative element
was aware that / had with me large
majority Of the audience and a minor
ity in the convention.
/ was of course a member OF the
resolutions committee, being selected
for the place by my own delegation.
Senator Daniels was made the chair
man OF the committee and he appoint
ed subcommittee to draft the plat |
form. As a matter OF courtesy | was
put on this subcommittee. but / was
the only one in the beginning who |
represented our side Of the fight. SEN
ator Ncwlands afterwards was added
and be was great assistance in the |
fight which followed. We spent one |
Il