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The Commoner
vV-.: WILLIAM J. BRYAN, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR
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VOLY 12, flO. 26
Lincoln, Nebraska, July 5, 1912
Whole Number 598
n'"
yfth
NMional Convention
The democratic national convention was
called, to-order at noon, Tuesday, Juno 25th,
by Norman E. Mack, chairman of the national
committee.' Following is the "United Press re
port: At 11:49 the Connecticut delegation
marched down the aisle to their seats. They
carried a big blue and golden banner inscribed:
"Our choice for president, Simeon E. Bald
win." , . . f.
There Was a scattering of applause, but it
only lasted a second. The band, however,
struck up "Dixie" and immediately a wild yell
of approval went up from the floor and galleries.
The "Star Spangled Banner" followed and while
the delegates were standing in honor of it,
Brycn came in by a side entrance and walked
across the stage to shake hands with Cardinal
Gibbons. He then sat down in a seat on the
platform directly behind the cardinal. There
was very little applause for the Nebraska
leader, in fact, there had been up to this time
very little genuine enthusiasm, the only warm
reception being that given to Cardinal Gibbons.
The California delegation marched into the
hall at 11:55. The delegates were preceded by
a standard bearer bearing a picture of Champ
Clark on a banner, under which was inscribed:
"Special- privileges, . to non,e; -etfuM jighte
tQsallj ft .1 o v ; " ,- i.u ,f
,-'.Ai noon auusL "-.;"e uolc" -v ' C?, . : i.
placeSbUt .the -anti-Bryan leaders' had not
shown iip.' They wgre believed to be, n con
ference with the national committee officers in
the rear of the armory. ' .'
To avoid the crowds in' the lobby of" the
hotel and the streets waiting to see the Ne
braskan, Mrs, W. J. Bryan and her daughter,
Grace,, today left the Belvedere by the servants'
elevator when they started for the armory.
1 They were provided With-platform seats by Mrs.
Norman Mack, wife of the national chairman.
. While the crowds waited, in the 'armory,
Colonel John I. Martin, sergeant-at-arms posed
for the photographers on the platform, holding
tW gavel "which1 'was later used by Chairman
' Mack in calling the' convention to order,
v -At 12:10 National Committeeman Norman E.
Mack took his seat! at the table and a moment
later Cardinal Gibbons took his place alongside.
Most of -the delegates were in their seats at
that time, but MUrphy, Taggart and Sullivan
were- conspicuous by their absence.
rlt was 12:17 when Chairman Norman E.
Mack 'rapped the convention to order and
directed the sergant-at-arms to clear the aisles.
This was a somewhat difficult task and, while
the officers were at work, 'Judge Parker saun
tered leisurely to his seat, apparently un
noticed. Tom Taggart, the Indiana boss, strolled up to
the platform and held' a whispered conversation
with Chairman Mack, while the convention
waited. Taggart was very earnest in his con
versation. , . ,.
At 12:20 Mack rapped for order- for the
second time and this -time he was aided by
Colonel Martin,' who had armed himself with
a small gavel.
The galleries were only half filled, but this
was due to the miserable arrangements for
' handling the crowds and there were more than
5,000 people standing in line trying to get in.
Delegate Davis reported to Mack that some
delegates were standing outside unable to get
into the hall and asked for delay that they
might get in to' v6te for. the temporary chair
manship. Mack said that he would do so.
While waiting, the- band struck up "Tammany,
'hut it did not create the furore of former years,
only the New York delegates applauding.
- . The New Jersey delegation brought a bunch
I of bananas with them for lunch and during the
wait they munched the fruit contentedly.
At 12:30 Martin attempted to get order and
Set tho crush out of the aisles, but made little
impression. An assistant sorgeant-at-arms
shouted that ho could not make the crowd movo.
"Oh, well, do your best," said Martin.
Most of the crowd in tho aisles wero wearing
assistant borgeant-at-arms badges.
At 12:34 Assistant Secretary Tom Smith, of
New York, began reading tho convention call.
When ho concluded, Mack introduced Cardinal
Gibbons, who delivered tho opening invocation.
Cardinal Gibbons, tho venerable Catholic pre
late, invoked Divine blessing in tho following
prayer:
"We pray thee, O God of might, wisdom and
justice, through whom authority is rightly ad
ministered, laws enacted and judgment decreed,
assist with Thy holy spirit of counsel and forti
tude tho president of tho United States,' that his
administration may be conducted in righteous
ness, and be eminently useful to tho people
over whom he presides by encouraging duo
respect for virtue and religion, by faithful
execution of the laws of justice and mercy and
by restraining vice and immorality.
. "Let the light 6f Thy divine wisdom direct
the deliberations of" this convention, and shine
forth in all its proceedings, and enactments, so
that they may tend to the preservation of con
cord and harmony. , ' .
i i4ays.utUor.ity.vb '.exercised lthdutUdepot-
' ism 'and 'liberty "tyrvgU wfthout license. . -May
jthia convention rtfe'mortBtrato once more to tho
American people and to the world at large, that
the citizens of the United States have solved tho
problem of self government by exercising and
tolerating broadest and most untrammeled free
dom of discussion in their political assemblies
without dethroning reason and without invad
ing the sacred-and inviolable rights of law and
public order.
stMay the delegates assembled to select a
'candidate for chief1 magistrate be ever mindful
tliat they are sons of the same heavenly father,
that' they are brothers of tho same national
family, that they are 'heirs of the same heritage
of freedom, and may it be their highest ambl
"tibri to transmit this precious inheritance, unim
paired, to their children and their children's
' children. May the consciousness of this com
munity of interests banish from us all bitter
ries's, hatred and ill "will and inspire them with
sentiments of genuine charity, and benevplence.
We recommend likewise to Thy unbounded
mercy all our brethren and fellow citizens
throughout the United States that they ma be
blessed in the knowledge and sanctified jn the
observance of Thy most holy law; that they may
be preserved In union and in peace which the
world can not give, and after enjoying tho
blessings of this life, they may be admitted to
those which are eternal."
As soon' as Cardinal Gibbons concluded, tho
silence broke into applause and cheers. Muck
again ordered the aisles cleared, but his direc
tions were jeered by the crowds, who simply
refused to move.
Taggart was standing at Mack's right and
kept up a running fire of conversation with him
throughout.
Mack then announced the temporary officers,
as suggested by tho national committee. They
were headed by Alton B. Parker and the men
tion of his name started applause from the New
York Illinois, Indiana and other eastern dele
gations. The band started up but, on a signal
from the platform, ceased playing.
Urey Woodson was named as- temporary
secretary and Colonel Martin as sergeant-at-arms.
Colonel Bryan came to tho platform and
there was a wild yell from the floor, wh.Ich was
joined In by the galleries. , .
Bryan was very pale and his face was feet and
rigid. Ho shook his head in a deprecating man
ner and raised bis hand in an attempt to still
the audience, but they were not to be denied.
Tho cheers swelled across from delegation to
delegation and at laat the galleries took It up.
Tho delegations from Ohio, Wisconsin, Texas,
Now Jersey, Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma
wore on their feet, but tho big Now York, In
diana and Illinois delegations sat stolidly in
their seats.
Bryan appealed to Mack to restore qulot and
finally ho was ablo to begin.
"Gentlemen of tho convention," ho said, ' I
rise to place in nomination for tho office of tem
porary cbairman, the name of Hon. John W.
Kern of Indiana."
Tho mention of Korn's name started tho ap- '
plauso again.
"In thus dissenting from tho judgment of
our national committee," Bryan continued, "I
recognize that tho burden of proof is upon mo.
to overthrow tho assumption that tho conven
tion can claim that it is representing the wishes
of tho party In tho nation. I remind you that
tho very fact that this convention has every
right to reject, is conclusive proof that tho
wisdom of the convention Is tho last word on
this matter.
"If any ask for my credentials or why I,
as a delegate from one of tho smallest states,
should presume to present a name, I bog to tell
you that in three campaigns I have been the
champion . of the, democratic party's- principle
and in" 'those' campaign! I -have recoivedth
-vptes of .six million and a half of democrats.
'This I feel, shows that I have tho confidence of
the deniocrata of this-nation. '-Confidence carr
ries with It responsibilities. I would not bo
worthy of the trust of tho democrats of this
nation if I were not willing to risk humiliation
in theJr defense.
"A man can not carry on a political warfaro
In defense of the people for sixteen years with
out making enemies. I recognlzo that those
enemies have attacked me. The fact that I
have lived is proof that I hove not deserted tho
people. .
"I take for my text a quotation tho committea
was kind enough to place there on the walls
for my use:
" 'He never sold the truth to servo the hour
"That Is the language of the hero of Monti
cello. I would not bo worthy of tho support
I have received, if I were unwiiling to do less.
"We are told It is disturbing harmony to dis
sent frpm the committee's recommendations.
Is there any other delegate who tried earlier
than I to secure harmony. I began several
weeks ago, I announced to a subcommittee that
I was not a candidate for temporary chairman.
I was told I could serve without Immodesty; It
was urged that at the end of sixteen years of
battle, when I find the things I fought for,
triumphant, not in my own party, but in tho
republican party, that I be permitted to preside
here. But I refused it. I advised the com
mittee to consult the two leading candidates.
I asked this committee to get the two leading
candidates to agree on a temporary chairman.
I asked them to allow two-thirds of the conven
tion a word In Its voice. In the sub-commltteo
tho Clark and Wilson forces could not agree.
In the full committee last night the Wilson
men supported Mr. James', the Clark choice, but
yet the choice of tho Clark men was not chosen.
"When 1 admit that the plan that I followed
was for harmony, while the committee's plan
was not for harmony, let mo present the quali
fications of order filed for this occasion. This
is an epoch-making convention. We have had
such a ptruggle as was never seen in politics
before. I know the sacrifice that has been re
, quired; I know of men working in the rail
roads, who have angered the railroads, and
risked their bread and butter to aid the fight.
Business men have been threatened If they did
not sell 'their citizenship, but I have seen them
defying he demands of predatory wealth and
voting for tho masses.
"I have seen men give up everything to aid
in this fight of tho people. Now that the hour.
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