Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-06-29

standard bearer of four years ago. who
prepared the way for Reed. With some
difficulty Chairman Robinson slowed
down and finall.r brought to halt the
demonstration over the nomination
Mr. Davis spoke-eloquently as he al
ways speaks, forcefully and with that
fine choice of language for which he
is noted He asked for a united
Democracy He asked for burial of
those differences, which, always pres
ent when Democrats meet. must be put
behind them now. He held his audi
ence, but he gave them nothing to
grasp. He lifted no rallying standard,
Delegates Grow Quiet.
It was about midnight when he was
through and Chairman Robinson intro
duced the next speaker as that great
Senator from Missouri"
The Kleig lights Kissed The bands
began to play again. The delegates
sensed the meaning of what was to
come and forgot their WEAKNESS, the
long day behind them, the long speeches
already heard. the lateness of the hour
and the fact that Smith was already
nominated They settled themselves in
their seats. They grew quiet. One is
never bored when Reed of Missouri
speaks.
There were cheers from Missouri's
delegation, taken up in other parts of
the hall. Reed acknowledged them,
almost without smile. He stood silent
until the noise died down. Then-for
Reed knows how to be dramatic-he
lifted his right arm for more silence
and began TO speak. He spoke slowly
at first warming up as he progressed.
He said the usual things for a defeated
candidate who congratulateS the vic
tor, but he did not say them in the
usual way. for Reed cannot say things
in the usual way. Then he raised aloft
his old standard and attacked the Re-
pubIieans He jerked them up by the
scruff of their neckS and threw them
out BY the seat of their pants. He re-
viewed as only Reed could review the
scandals of Teapot Dome, of Pennsyi
vania elections. the little green house"
on K street. He attacked Hays. Hoover.
Mellon and those whom he didn't call by
name: he hung and nailed them 10 the
cross with bitter satire.
Spectators All Gone.
The hall was about emptied of spec
tatorS. The galleries were clear. Long
since Mrs. Smith and her family, who
had occupied a box and who had re-
viewed the cheering thousands who
marched past TO salute her, had gone.
The rear of the hall was clear, but the
delegates still sat tight One who
turned away from the dynamic man who
stood hurting his words into the micro
phones to look out ever the delegates
found an arreSting sight The faces Of
the delegates were fairly entranced.
They watched without moving, without
stirring, almost holding their breath,
better to drink the flow of language
that came in steady, unceasing tor
rent, sweetened and seasoned to their
taste, by master orator who held them
hypnotized and in the clouds.
So eagerly did they follow this man
that they must have forgotten, or they
could not remember, the differences Of
a few hours before which sometimes
had seemed SO great. Where was the
prohibition issue2 Gone. Where was
the religious issue? Gone Gone-per-
haps not forgotten, for such things are
not easily erased But gone for the
moment, trampled and buried under
the thunder Of Reeds charge. over
Swallowed by the banner that he held
aloft. as a white plume Of Navarro,