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DEMOCR ATS NOMINATE BRYAN
On First Ballot for President of the
United States.
HIS NAME CHEERED BY THOUSANDS
Demonstration for Johnson and Gray as a Whisper Com
pared to That for Bryan—An All Night Session.
Story of the Convention.
Denver, Colorado —The democratic
uational convention began its sessions
Tuesday, amid scenes of stirring ani
mation. The vast amphitheater of the
auditorium was packed with 12,000
people, an ever-moving intense and
expectant throng.
Chairman Thomas Taggart of the
national committee brought down his
gavel with a resounding whack and
called the convention to order at 12:
20 p. m.
Cheers followed the blow of the
gavel, and Chairman Taggart, as soon
as they had subsided, spoke as fol
lows :
“As chairman of the democratic na
tional committee, it becomes my
William J. Bryan.
pleasing duty to call this convention
to order, and in so doing I cannot re
frain from the suggestion that in num
bers, in the personnel of the dele
gates, in enthusiasm and in the deter
mination of victory, it is the greatest
political convention ever assembled in
the United States.
“It is certainly appropriate that
such a convention should meet in this
great western city, whose citizens
have shown their generous hospitality
on every hand, and whose enterprise
and energy is attested by the erection
of this magnificent auditorium.
“In this connection, I resire to ex
press the thanks of the members of
the committee to the people of Den
ver and especially to the members of
the Denver convention league, whose
unselfish and untiling work has con
tributed so much to this successful
and happy opening of the campaign of
1908.”
lie then introduced Bishop J. J.
Keane of Cheyenne, Wyoming, who
pronounced the opening invocation,
an impressive plea for divine grace
on the convention’s deliberations.
The convention promptly effected
the preliminary organization, electing
Theodore A. Bell of California as tem
porary chairman.
In part Chairman Bell said:
“The most palpable instance of in
sincerity was the Chicago conven
tion's declaration respecting the is
suance of injunctions. It was entitled
to more respect if it had been omit
ted. No matter how strong the plat
form of the republican party is it nev
er would have been fulfilled. Nobody
short of an anarchist desires to cur
tail the right of courts to prevent the
THEODORE A. BELL,
Former Democratic Candidate For Gov
ernor of California—Temporay Chair
man at the Democratic Na
tional Convention.
threatened destruction of property,
but a biased and ignorant judge may
issue a writ outside of equity.
“The people above the courts may
modify the powers if they desire to be
democratic. They must unequivocally
pledge such legislation as will prevent
an injunction being converted into in
struments of oppression.
“If Taft is elected it will be a bi
sected presidency with Roosevelt. The
American people will not stand for a
divided responsiblity at the white
house.
“As to the general demand for pub
licity of campaign contributions, the
people have a right to know if any
party is maintained by the treasuries
Convention Echoes.
In acknowledging the remarkable
demonstration given him by delegates
to the democratic national convention
William J. Bryan said: “The demo
crats have been very good to me, and
1 can And no words to express my
deep appreciation of the confidence
and good will which the demonstra
tion indicates.
Far in the rear of all the states,
with its little blue standard nailed on
the outside ol a railing, was the dele
gation from the Philippines.
of corporations. Let the people consir
er whether the refusal of the republi
cans is not a direct confession of the
debasing corrupt money in cam
paigns.”
The delegates were prone to ap
plaud from the utterance of Mr. Bell’s
first sentence. His manned of delivery
lent emphasis to his points, and there
was spontaneous handclapping at the
conclusion of each of his gracefully
rounded periods. Galleries joined lib
erally in the applause bestowed upon
the speaker.
Cheers mingled in the outburst of
applause when Mr. Bell asserted that
the democratic partys would alway
stand unalterably opposed to monop
oly of production.
As the first order of business a call
of the roll of states was proceeded
with and soon completed.
The chair recognized I. J. Dunn of
Omaha, Neb., to' present the following
resolutions of respect to the memory
of the late Grover Cleveland:
“As it has pleased the Ruler of the
Universe to remove from our midst
Grover Cleveland, late president of
the United States, who was three
times the candidate of the democratic
party, he it
“Resolved, That we, the delegates
of the party in national convention as
sembled, recognize in him one of the
strongest and ablest characters
known to the world’s statesmanship,
who possessed to an extraordinary de
gree the elements of leadership, and
by his able, conscientious and forceful
administration of public affairs, reflec
ted honor upon his country and upon
his party, and
“Resolved, That we hereby express
our deep corrow at his death and ex
tend our warmest sympathy, and eon-
Gov. Johnson, of Minnesota.
dolence to his family, and that this
resolution be spread upon the records
of the convention and a copy be for
warded to Mrs. Cleveland, and
“Resolved, as a further mark of re
spect to his memory the convention
now adjourn until 12 o’clock (noon)
tomorrow.”
These resolutions were seconded by
Judge Parker of New York, who read
a set of resolutions he had drafted but
was upable to get before the conven
tion. The resolutions of Mr. Dunn of
Nebraska were adopted by a rising
vote.
After referring all matters in ris
pute as to committee appointments,
etc., to the committee on credentials
the convention adjourned until 12
o’clock Wednesday in respect to the
memory of Mr. Cleveland.
Wednesday.
After several futile attempts to get
order out of the confusion which pre
vailed in the convention hall Wednes
day Chairman Bell finally succeeded
and called the convention to order at
12:26 p. m.
Rev. Christian F. Reisrier of Den
ver, the chaplain of the day, delivered
an invocation. As he concluded he
was greeted with an outburst of ap
plause particularly from the Indiana
and New York delegates, -
“The Milwaukee and other march
ing clubs will pass through the hall,"
announced the chairman, and as the
last words left his lips the strains of
“Dixie” floated into the auditorium,
and a cheer broke from the crowd as
the first Bryan banner in line was
swung through the door. The parade
was not a long one, and the conven
tion soon returned to business.
A motion that the convention be
governed by the rules of the demo
cratic convention of 1904 was unani
mously adopted as was a resolution
of regret and tribute to the late James
K. Jones, former chairman of the com
mittee.
A motion to adjourn till 8 p. m. was
offered at this point, but was defeated
seemingly by the galleries voting “no ’
so strongly that the voices of the del
egates voting “aye” were drowned.
“Bob” Taylor of Tennessee and
Charles A. Towne of New York w r ere
The anti-injunction plank of the
platform was drafted by Samuel Gom
pers and John Mitchell. It embodies
every principle labor demanded of the
republicans at Chicago, but was
framed in different language.
At 11:30 o’clock Tuesday, when the
hall was less than one-third full, the
first music of the convention crashed
forth from the upper balcony. A splen
did band of some sixty-odd pieces, uni
formed in costumes of the western
plains, played a series of patriotic se
lections to the applause of the incom
ing crowd. ~
called upon to speak hut neither of
the .gentlemen could be found.
Senator Gore, the blind senator
from Oklahoma, was given the floor
and was greeted with great applause
when he said:
“The president of the United States
has said that his opinion of our con
stitution (Oklahoma’s) is unfit for
publication. That is true of many of
the opinions of the president of the
United States.
“Fellow democrats, the great secre
tary of war came to Oklahoma and
waged war against our constitution,”
continued Senator Gore. “He asked us
to give up our right of liberty and
self-government. But by a vote of
thousands upon thousands, we reject
ed the advice of Taft and accepted
the advice of Bryan.”
This was the Bryan men’s signal.
Instantly a shout broke from the gal
leries, and was echoed bhck from the
floor, at first only a tempest of de
tached yells and shouts of “Bryan,”
but gradually gathering force and vol
ume until it swelled to a whirlwind
of sound and motion, as delegates and
spectators rose en masse, mounting
chairs, waving banners, hats, hand
kerchiefs, flags, newspapers any
thing which could be seized upon to
aid turbulence to the scene. Amid
the tumult the band struck up “Dix-
CONGRESSMAN HENRY D. CLAYTON,
Of Alabama.
ie,” but the clash of brass and drums
-was completely lost in the babble of
sound which swelled up from the
great throng.
For the first minute Senators Gore
stood waiting to proceed, occasionally
raising his hand for silence, only to
awaken a defiant yell, twice louder
than before and he finally retired to
the edge of the platform where he sat
smiling, but unseeing, at the great
commotion his words had produced.
Georgia’s delegation, in the midst
of the cheering crowd, was conspicu
ous for its absolute silence.
Delegates danced up and down in
the aisles to the measures of “A Hot
Time” and shouted the chorus of
“Marching Through Georgia.” While
the latter air was ringing through the
hall a determined assault was made
by the frenzied Bryan shouters on the
Georgia standard, which up to this
time had been kept firmly rooted in
its place. The delegation showed in
quick fashion that it was as danger
ous to “March Through Georgia” as
ever it had been in the days of the
war. They rallied around their little
yellow flag-pole, bearing the name of
their state in white against a back
ground of blue and stuck staunchly to
their guardianship. It was the only
southern standard that remained root
ed, and where it was planted it
stayed.
At 2:47 p. m., one hour and twen
ty-seven minutes-, after Gore had men
tioned the name of Bryan, the demon
stration ended aud Senator Gore fin
ished his address.
The convention then adjourned un
til 8 p. m.
The fight between the majority and
minority factions of the credential
committee over the unseating of Colo
nel James M. Guffey and other dele
gates of Pennsylvania began shortly
after the convention met for the night
session.
Before taking up the Guffey matter
the convention heard speeches on va
rious subjects from Richmond P. Hub
son and others.
fter these speeches Chairman Bell
recognized Christopher C. Callahan,
chairman of the credential committee,
who presented the majority report of
the committee recommending that
certain delegates from Pennsylvania
be denied seats in the convention.
Mr. I. L. Straus of Maryland was
recognized and presented the minor
ity report, which recommended that
the contestees in the Pennsylvania
cases be seated. Thirty minutes was
alloted to each side for debating the
question. Mr. Callahan and Govern
or Haskell of Oklahoma spoke in fa
vor of adopting the majority report.
Mr. Straus made an impassioned ap
peal for the adoption of the minority
report.
“The question is on the adoption of
the minority report in place of that
portion of the majority report relating
to Pennsylvania,” announced Chair
man Bell, as he directed the clerk to
begin the call by states. When the
roll w T as closed Chairman Bell an
nounced: “Upon this question the
ayes have 387 votes and the noes
615.” The majority report was then
adopted by a viva voce vote.
Great confusion followed the an
nouncement of the result of the roll
call, but, through the uproar filtered a
motion to adjourn until 11 o’clock
Thursday morning. It was seconded
in a flash, and carried with a shout,
and the delegates made for the doors.
Thursday.
At 11:30 o’clock Thursday, Chair
man Bell begun the ten minutes of
hammering with his gavel, w’hich he
has thus far found necessary in call-
A feature of the seating arrange
ments, new in political conventions,
w r as the labeling of all seats. Every
chair carried on its back a small
white placard bearing the name of the
state in large capitals with the woid,
“Delegate” beneath it. This small
detail did away with much of the con
fusion incident to former conventions.
The gavel used by Permanent
Chairman Clayton at the convention
w r as made hickory obtained by
Benton McMillen of Nashville, Tenn.,
from the Hermitage, Andrew Jack
son’s Tennessee home.
leg the convention to order. Finally
succeeding, he introduced Rabbi Sam
uel Koch of Seattle, chaplain for the
After the prayer was concluded,
Chairman Bell announced that the
committee on organization had nam
ed Henry D. Clayton of Alabama for
permanent chairman, Uray Woodson
of Kentucky for secretary and tlohn
I Martinoff of Missoni as sergeant-at
arms, and that, in all other respects,
the temporary organization was made
permanent.
Temporary Chairman Bell then pre
sented Permanent Chairman Clayton,
amid wild cheers. Chairman Clayton
was presented with a big bouquet of
roses by several little <girls, wrapped
in flags, who kissed him, and some
one called out “Hobson!” “Hobson!”
Mr. Clayton called out the first ap
plause when, after .thanking the con
vention for the privilege of presiding
over its deliberations, he declared,
with emphasis:
“This is a democratic year.”
When he came to that part of his
address dealing with the trusts, Mr.
Clayton omitted a large paragraph
covering a message sent to congress
,by President Roosevelt on the subject
of trust regulation.
“I will not weary you by reading
this,” he said. “You can read it in
the newspapers.”
The task of delivering his address,
it was apparent, was telling some
what.
Loud cheers of approval greeted
Chairman Clayton as he concluded,
and the applause was continued for
several minutes.
The delegates stood on their chairs
and tossed hats and hankerchiefs into
the air.
Pending the report of the resolu
tion committee, Raymond of
Chicago, George W. Littleton of New
York were asked to address the con
vention, which they did briefly.
The list of new national committee
men was then read. When the clerk
read the committeemen from Pennsyh
vania, he included James T. Guffey in
the list. The mention of Guffey’s
name brought out prolonged cheeiing,
but Chairman Clayton ruled his name
out and declared the place vacant.
At this point the committee oji reso
lutions reported that it would be
ready to submit its report at i
p. m.
Senator Grady of New York moved
a recess until 7 o’clock. The motion
was carried with a whoop.
A small American flag had been
placed on every delegate’s chair prior
to the beginning of the evening ses
sion. This was the unmistakable evi
dence of the nominating session of the
convention, and quickened ihe inter
est of the spectators, who early made
a rush for the galleries, filling them
to overflowing.
The selection of James Kerr as
member of the national committee
from Pennsylvania in place of Colo
nel James M. Guffey, who was select
ed before the Pennsylvania contests
were settled, was ratified.
Addresses by Thomas P. Ball of
Texas, Thomas F. Grady of New \ ork,
Judge M. J. Wade of lowa and Champ
Clark of Missouri were then heard.
Following these, the galleries, with
a profound ignorance of the manner
in which the convention should be
managed, broke in with cries of
“Vote;” “Vote!”
The committee on resolutions sent
a communication stating that they
would not be able to report before
midnigl*. It was then decided to
suspend the regular order of busi
ness and proceed with the presiden
tial nominating speeches.
“Alabama!” called the clerk.
The chairman of that delegation
arose and was recognized.
“Knowing that Nebraska will
no mistake in nominating the right
man,” he said, “Alabama yields to
I. J. Dunn of Omaha arose and be
gan the first nominating speech of
IGNATIUS J. DUNN,
Of Nebraska, Selected to Nominate W. J.
I3rj*an For President at the Demo
cratic National Convention.
the convention. As Mr. Dunn pro
ceeded almost every allusion he made
to the character of Mr. Bryan was en
thusiastically applauded, although he
had not yet mentioned the name of the
Nebraska candidate. The closing
phrase of his speech stirred the vast
assemblage into wild demonstration.
“I nominate,” he exclaimed, “as the
standard bearer of our party, the man
who, in the thrilling days of 189 G and
1900 bore the battle-scarred banner of
democracy with fame as untarnished
as the crusaders of old America’s
great commoner, Nebraska’s gifted
son, William J. Bryan.”
Immediately a pandemonium of
sound and motion was unloosed, as
delegates and spectators rose en
masse and joined in the reverberat
ing chorus of tribute to the Nebraska
candidate. The standards of the state
were wrenched from their places and
borne through the nail to the plat
form, while banners bearing the por-
The republican banner which was
strung across the street at Lincoln,
Nebraska, Bryan’s home, was torn
down by his supporters. Mr. Bryan
upon hearing of the occurrence said:
“1 am very sorry to learn of it. It
was inexcusable. If the man who did
it thought he was helping me or the
democratic party he was woefully mis
taken.”
The Tuesday session, lasting a little
over two hours, was notable rather
for its impressive magnitude and
spectacular effects than for the busi
ness accomplished.
trait of the commoner were waved
aloft, and the multitude joined in long
continued tribute. At times the in
tensity of the demonstration threaten
ed a panic. One woman was borne
out fainting. Only six banners were
missing from the states in the parade
through the aisles after the grouping
at the stage had broken into a pro
cession. These were Maryland, Min
nesota, New York, Georgia, New Jer
sey and Delaware.
It was 10:24 p. m. when the demon
stration’s last cry had died away.
Chairman Clayton directed the sec
retary to continue the calling of the
roll of states. Speeches seconding
Brvan's nomination were made by
Senator Gearin of Oregon, Governor
Glenn of North Carolina, Governor
Swanson of Virginia and several oth
ers. The chairman had a very diffi
cut time keeping order daring the sec
onding speeches, as the delegates ail
seemed to be tired and worn out.
The opportunity of Johnson's sup
porters came when the roll call reach
ed Connecticut, and that state gave
way to Minnesota. Winfield S. Ham
mond of the latter state took the
stand, amid a considerable volume of
applause, and* placed in nomination
Governor John A. Johnson of Minne<
sota. Mr. Hammond, although he was
speaking to a mass of delegates, who
had conclusively shown their prefer
ence for another candidate, made a
most favorable impression on the con
vention for himself and his candidate.
A liberal amount of applause greeted
the sneaker at the conclusion of his
speech. Then some of the Georgia
delegates mounted their chairs after
a few minutes, and added their voices
to those of the Minnesota man.
Chairman Clayton was somewhat
less tolerant in dealing with the John
son shouters than he had been with
the Bryan followers and the Minneso
ta delegation complained bitterly of
partiality. The chairman immediate
ly ordered the band to play, but the
demonstration ceased twenty-five min
utes after it beg'an.
L. Irving Handy of Delaware then
named George Gray as presidential
candidate for his state. When Mr.
Handy had spoken for a few minutes,
he was interrupted by the appearance
of the long-waited committee on reso
lutions. After the committee had
been provided with seats, Mr. Handy
proceeded with his speech. Some
cheering was heard when Mr. Handy
had concluded, but there was no at
tempt at a Gray demonstration.
Governor Haskell of Oklahoma, the
chairman of the resolution committee,
was presented, and he proceeded to
read the party’s platform. Scattering
applause greeted the various planks,
as they were read by Governor Has
kell.
That portion of the piank on finance,
referring to the guarantee of bank de
posits, one of Mr. Bryan’s favorite pol
icies, ’ elicited the warmest applause
given up to that time.
The reading of the injunction plank
was heard with the deepest attention,
and the declaration in favor of ‘a re
vision of the injunction law,” was first
applauded, and other sections were
warmly approved. /When the plank
was finished the convention broke into
cheers.
The reading of the platform was
concluded at 12:56, Governor Haskell
having read for a few minutes les*
than one hour. The platform, as pre
sented was adopted unanimously.
The roll call of states for nomina
tions was then completed, and nomi
nations declared closed, and the roll
call of states to vote for the party’s
presidential candidate w*as ordered.
Only one ballot was necessary, Bry
an being nominated on the first. The
states voting as follows. %_
' and j
• and S . . 9
■§ ■§ i £ O-g
>■ m cq i-s ; O % >
22j'Alabama . . . . |22
20|California . . . .[2O
lOjColorado. . . .10
14|Connecticut. . . 9 5
6j Delaware ~ • 6 ....
101 Florid a . . . .10
26;Goorgia .... 4 2 20 ....
6jldaho 6
54illlinois . . . . .54
30‘Indiana . . . .30
26 lowa j 26
20|Kansas . . . .[2O
26!Kentucky . . .26
lSiLouisiana . . .[lB
12 Maine (10 1 .... 1
161 Maryland ... .| 7 9
32;Massachusetts . [32
28 Michigan. . . .[2B
22jMinnesota . . .[....22
20|Mississippi. ._.[2o
36|Missouri . . . .36
6j Montana . . . . 6
16 Nebraska . . . 16
6 [Nevada 6
B[New Hampshire. 7 1
24jNew Jersey 24 ....
78 New York . . .78
24[North Carolina .24
B[North Dakota . 8
46:0hi0 46 j....
18jOklahoma . . .18
8 [Oregon 8
68|Pennsylvania .
B|Rhode Island. .j 5 3
18[South Carolina .j 18
B|South Dakota . .j 8
24[Tennessee . . . 24
36JTexas . . . . .[36
6[Utah | 6 '
81 Vermont. . . . | 7 1
24; Virginia .... .[24
10 Washington . . jlO
14!West Virginia .114
26|Wisconsin . . .26
6; Wyoming .... 6
6D. of Columbia . 6
6 J Alaska 6
6jArizona 6
6[ Hawaii 6 ’
6[New Mexico . . 6
6 j Porto Rico . . . 6
1006 9 y 2 \ 8
Denver’s mystery of the sheet-iron
mule has been solved. For days an
enormous mule has been in course of
construction on top of a building op
posite the Brown Palace hotel. But
the mule was only a part of the de
sign, and all Denver has been guess
ing at the rest. Now it transpires that
there is to the mule the key to Den
ver. The mule will accept.
The reading clerk caused some mer
riment Wednesday by announcing in
all seriousness that, if “Mr. Johnson
is in the house, he is requested to call
up phone Main 4200.”
J. W. KERN OF INDIANA
Nominated For Vice Preid en ,
By the Democrat*.
NO BALLOT WAS NECESSARY
Clark Howeil of Georgia, Towne of N Cv
York and McNeil of Connecticut Be
fore the Convention.
. Denver, Col. The democratic r.
Banal convetnion concluded its Ke
Friday by the nomination 0 f h!h*
Worth Kern of Indiana for vb e r l p n
ident, completing the ticket cn wi- l"
William Jennings Bryan was mad
the nominee for president.
The nomination of Mr. Kern w
made by acclamation amid the r'e
sounding cheers of delegates and snj
tators. No ballot was necessary
the tide of sentiment had st-t irre s >\
tibly toward the Indiana candidate
state after state registering their del
egations in his favor, and all oth
candidates withdrawing before the
universal demand for his nominatim.
On the call for states, Indiana p re !
sented the name of Kern; Colorado
through former Governor Thomas
placed in nomination Charles V
Towne of New York; Connecti. ut pre
sented Archibald McNeil, and Georgia
Clark Howell.
The names of Judge George Giay of
HON. JOHN W. KERN.
Delaware and of John Mitchell of Il
linois were not presented, owing to
the positive requests of these gentle
men not to have their names go be
fore the convention.
For a time it looked as though a
ballot w*ould be required. But the
steady line of states which joined in
seconding Kern’s nomination soon
made it apparent that the chances of
all other candidates had been extin
guished.
Mr. Towne in person was the first
candidate to recognize the decisive na
ture of the Kern movement, and in a
ringing speech he withdrew his name
from consideration and pledged his
support to the ticket of Bryan and
Kern.
Delegate J. T. Hill of Georgia, who,
in nominating Clark Howell, had
made quite a hit with the convention,
rose and withdrew Mr. Howell’s name,
and seconded Kern for Georgia.
Withdrawal quickly followed from
the supporters of McNeil of Connecti
cut leaving the Indiana candidate
alone in the field. The withdrawal o‘
the Connecticut candidate was accom
plished by a motion that the nomina
tion of Kern be made by acclamation.
The motion was carried with a deaf
ening shout, and the great assemblage
broke into clamorous demonstration
on the accomplishment of its woni
and the completion of the democratic
national ticket.
After the nomination the conven
tion adjourned without date.
The democratic convention at
Denver adopted a platform which
contained planks on the follow
ing subjects:
Economy in administration.
Arbitrary power of speaker,
Misuse of patronage.
Campaign contributions.
Tariff.
Trusts.
Railroad regulations.
Banking.
Income tax.
Labor and injunctions.
Merchant marine.
The navy.
Civil service.
popular election of senatois.
Arizona and New Mexico.
Grazing lands.
Waterways.
National resources.
Philippines.
Panama Canal.
Pan-American relations.
Asiactic immigration.
Pensions . . A A
$20,000 WILLED TO EMPLOYEE.
Woman Has Served as Cashier :
Company for Many Year*.
Savannah, Ga.-No one *"*
surprised than Miss
when the contents of the will c ■ •
Foye, who died suddenly t hat
public and it became Ky Keane.
$20,000 had been left to ft
Miss Keane had for >eai Foye
trusted employe of the r.
company as treasurer a ■ f wa s
confidence of her employ aD( j
because fo her devotion * lba t
■work iu the interest ot
the bequest was made. ma de,
Several other bequest
but this was the largest.
bio wheaTcrop expected.
Western Canada Will Hava °° ' 5C '
000 Bushels to Expo - carefu i
Winnipeg, Manitobia. A , west
review of the crop in eg .
ern Canada the leading est .
timate the total wheat yield 9 g>
ern Canada the leading b y S bel3
els. or an average of twenn
to the acre. a go.COO,'
Last year’s wheat crop 67>00 0 >0 00
600 bushels.. A tolal . e stim& te(i
bushels was reported B 1 seaS oB
that 100,000,000 bushels rtla
will be available for expoit.