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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (July 10, 1908)
3pff rvsW(p'J '--i'" The Commoner. VOLUME 8, NUMBER 26 Democratic Nt -r -m t r "-. -tXTWSWM IM FIRST DAY'S PROCEEDINGS TJio democratic national convention for 1908 mot nt Donvor Tuesday, July 7. . Tho fol lowing report of tho routine proceedings is taken from tho Associated Press: Donver, July 7. Tho dnmocratic natiorial convention began its session at noon today amid scones of stirring animation. The vast ampi thcator of tho auditorium was packed with 12, 000 peoplo, an over moving Intense and expec tant throng, moved by patriotic airs and stirred into tumultuous demonstration as a silken por trait of Bryan was borno within tho- hall. It was just 12:20 when Chairman Taggart of tho national committee called tho convention to order. Bishop J. J. Keano of Choyonno, Wyo., pronounced tho opening invocation, an impres sivo plea for Divino graco on tho convention's deliberations. Tho convention ' promptly per fected the' preliminary organization, electing Theodore A. Bell of California as temporary clmirman. The keynote speech of the" tempor ary presiding officer started tho echoes ringing and brought forth an enthusiastic demonstra tion for Bryan and other party idols. The ap pointment of tho convention committees and the pro86ntation of resolutions of respect to the memory of tho lato Grover Cleveland completed tho formal work of the day Public interest was entirely in the opening session of tho convention and aside from this tho early part of tho day brought few 'develop ments of importance as to candidates' or platform-. The overwhelming drift of sentiment continues toward Bryan, and the enthusiasm' of the' opening floBsion only emphasized his com manding hold oh the convention; A strong cordon of police was stretched about tho Denver auditorium -when tho delegates to the democratic national convention began to arrive at tho scone of the 'next four days' activi ties'.' Tho sidewalks were roped off- to assist the' officers in handling the cu'ribus'tlirongs that began to'gathor about the' hall early In' the day. Mounted police kept tho streets clear lor a passage way for those holding' tickets. On two of its streets fronting the' audi torium great banks of snow gave a cool greet ing to the visitors. Prom the mourtaln heights the snow had been brought down to this mile high level on a special train. The day was by no means hot, however, and the only effect oi the snow was the novelty of an ice street scene in July. Tho doors . of the1 hdll were unbarred at 11:10 o'clock nearly one hour' before the1 gavel of National Chairman Taggart was soheduled' to fall as tho Bignal for tho beginning of the Initial session. - '"A now feature -of tho Convention arrange ' ments Was a battery of four automatic adding machines such as banking and large business establishments use. These were provided for the tallying and speedy and accurate result of tho balloting. An oil painting of Mr. Cleveland faced the rostrum, having a position of honor second only to that of Thomas Jefferson. A feature of the seating arrangements, new in political conventions, was tho labeling of all seats. Every chair carried on its back a small placard bearing the name of tho -state in large black capitals with the word "delegates" be neath it. This small detail did away with much of the confusion inside, as it showed whore the territory of every state ended and where that of its neighbors began and 'there was no good natured "scrapping" over boundary lines, as is generally tho case. At 11:30 o'clock whon the hall was less than one-fourth filled, the first music of the con vention crashed from tho uppor balcony A splendid brass band of some sixty pieces,' uni formed in costume of the western plains ' blue flannel shirts, peaked hats and red bandanna handkerchiefs flying about the neck-clayed a series of patriotic selections to the applause of the Incoming crowds. Ul One or two of tho North Carolina men in dulged themselves in a smoke, which thoy onlv ntorruptcd when the band after playing a me ley of southern airs swung into "Dixie" and then they, in common with tho offenders from Virginia, forgot their tobacco, while thov row and cheered approval of tho old time melody The mass of delegates and spectators foHowed on as they always do whon tho strains of "dIxIo" ow,ard ?iu't0v, a f minutes thj hall rang with the shouts of delight. . G National Chairman Taggart reached tho convention hall at 11:45 o'clock accompanied by Temporary ' Chairman Bell and they were lib erally applauded as they made their way to the platform. The delegates and spectators wero pouring moro rapidly into the hall .at this hour, and thero was tho usual hum of Confusion that always marks tho approach of -tho convening hour. When tho Georgia delegation reached the hall it was announced that the position they will tako on the presidential nomination will be de termined at a meeting to be held at 9:30 to morrow morning. This question was to have been decided at the meeting held this morning biit by unanimous action, a postponement was ordered; it was stated that the Georgia delega tion would act as a unit when a decision was reached. At 12 noon promptly Chairman Thomas Taggart of the national committee brought down his gavel with a resounding whack and called the ' convention to order. Cheers followed the blow of tho gavel and Chairman Taggart, as soon as they had subsided, spoke as follows: "As chairman of tho democratic national committee, it becomes my pleasing duty to Call this convention to order, and in so doing I can not refrain from the suggestion that in numbers, in tho personnel of the delegates, in enthusiasm and in the determination 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,' whoso citizens have shown their generous" 'hospitality on every hand and whoso 'enterprise and energy is attested by the erection of this magnificent auditorium. "In this connection I desire to express the thanks of the members of the national commit tee to thO people of Denver and especially to the members of the Denver convention league, whose unselfish arid Untiring work has contributed so much to this successful' and happy opening of tho campaign of 1908." Tho Michigan delegation , which had marched to the convention hall carrying a- large silk banner, bore it into the hall and were promptly ordered by the sergeant-at-arms to bear it out again. The wolverines compromised by laying it on the floor beneath their seats. After all the delegations had been seated with the exception of Nebraska the delegation from that state made a spectacular entrance. They came marching in a solid Column down the center aisle holding high a large banner of red white and "blue silk on which was painted a por trait of Mr. Bryan. Above the picture were the words "Bryan volunteers" and b neath it "of Nebraska." The sight of the banner and the march .of the Nebraskans created great enthu siasm for a few minutes, many of the delegates and alternates leaping upon their chairs and waving their hatsand handkerchiefs. California followed Nebraska into the hall and vied with that delegation in the splendor of a banner in white, blue and gold which also bore a likeness of Mr. Bryan. The Californians carried palm leaf fans and small national flacs which they waved in enthusiastic acknowledge ment of the cordial greetings accorded them tv the delegations already in the hall. Following Mr. Tagart's remarks the sec retary read the official call of tfca convention Bishop John J. Kean of Wyoming delivered the invocation, delegates and spectators risinc to their feet at the request of the chairman The name of Theodore A. Bell was greeted with an outburst of applause as was S n Urey Woodson, the secretary. Before M" Bell spoke Chairman Taggart requested that 'there should bo no smoking in the hall Th nouilcement was greeted with applause 'Gentlemen of the convention " ' said Mr Taggart. as the committee of three innearVnn the platform with Chairman Bell " take Sipkq ure in introducing to you your temporary Safe man, Theodoro A. Bell." c"i'"rary cnair- An instant shout of annlaiiRA fvfi words of the chairman and as uJtlVhe chairman advanced to the "front -to dSSS'hS address, the cheers were redoubled Mr T&ii id about five feet ten inches in height, slender clean shaven brown eyed and brown haired' He was garbed in the conventional afternoon a?: tiro. His voice is clear and nenptrnt n, i t had no difficulty in commanding Snld h? instant attention of the Tonvenfion c,0Be d Tho delegates wore prone to applaud from tho utterance of Mr. Bell's first sentence m manner of delivery lent emphasis to his points and there was spontaneous handclapping at tho conclusion of each of his gracefully rounded per iods. Galleries, too; joined liberally in the an plause. bestowed upon the speaker; Cheers mingled in the outburst'of applause when Mr. Bell asserted that the democratic nartv would always stand unalterably opposed to i monopoly of production. Laughter and cheers greeted the speaker's announcement that he had read deeply in tho Chicago platform .and he had Xai'ad to find there in anything about "republican prosperity." Hi3 sarcastic allusions to the claims of excellent management of the country made by the repub licans also elicited the approval of the delegates As Mr. Bell approached the subject of the anti-injunction plank, the attention of the con vention was quickened and his statement that tho republican declaration on that subject was merely a recital of existing law called out in creased applause. Still greater cheering followed the declara tion whatever we do on this .subject must bo done firmly, frankly and unequivocally," and this in turn was intensified when he asserted that the injunction must not be tui-ned into "an in strument of tyranny." Flags and hats went up in a cloud, and voices rose in a storm of approval . when tho speaker asserted that the popularity of the pres- SSLi imIn stration i due "to the democratic principles ho has practiced." Hv, The Prediction of Mr. Beil that the conven t wPqUw name, the next President of tho ?5lf States' and when he alluded in the, most Pojnted manner to Mr. Bryan the roar of delight S22LS?8? ?DCf J1101"6- Mauy- of the New York ?gtS 3??d In tbe demonstration, but the SS tii? em gained Passively in their IZ n I!1lnni?uted ,ln e.xactly tne same man-irvff-n8??' Kansas' Oklahoma and liin?Sa WJth d6ief alIons from tne far west yelled and stamped in approval, the men, from SU? ' irGSt VIrInIa' North and South Car olina and Vermont sat silent-and gaye no trlb , ute to the first unmistakable allusion to Mr. Bryan as a presidential candidate ,, M?m B,e11 c,aIled out another demonstration 2.V?f f1?1 criticised therepublican party in,hHMl ? ,adopt a planlc callinS for the Hon SE? ofT.TcamPaign contributions prior to elec- 21 iG ?e?,lared tne refusal of the repub licans to adopt "a cash register" was a "con fession of dishonesty." n Th declaration of the speaker in favor Sv Sf ecti ele?tion of UnIted States senators by the people also was cheered on the main floor and in the galleries. A stand for protec tion against the immigration from "oriental' wa ters caused a renewal of the applause which seemed-ever near the surface and burst forth time and time again. At the conclusion of the speech the dele gates rose to their feet and cheered Mr. Bell for some time. r,an At, "j njst order of business, Mr. Bell recognized John E. Lamb of Indiana who offered a motion for a call of the states for membership on the various standing committees of'the con vention. l The reading clerk, when ho came to Ar kansas, pronounced the name of the state like Kansas and there immediately came a shout of ES roin A? delegation, whose members shouted back "Ar-kan-saw." . :'. Amid laughter the cleric corrected-his -pronunciation. . ' ! in mnd,n 'rritory," called the clerk, : "In- SJS,!8? There was no response: 'The clerk called the name a third time; "' ' She's married!" yelled' a delegate. I mean Oklahoma," said the clerk, and the lau htor UP . thG cnairman's stan'd amid much The calling of the states soon ceased and the names of the committees were sent up by the pages while other business was in progress. The chair recognized I. J. D-unn of Omaha, Neb., to present the resolutions of respect to the memory of the late Grover Cleveland, pre pared at a conference of the friends of Mr. Bryan this morning. The convention committee on resolutions approvOd the Cleveland tribute ' as offered. Charles Bryan, a brother of the candidate, waa a member of tho conference. ' '