Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (July 10, 1908)
b;h fWWMl4. ,.. - toT,r , M JULY 10, 1908 The Commoner 3 The recognition of Mr. Dunn shut off the Parker resolution. The Dunn resolutions follow: "As it has pleased the Ruler of the uni verse to remove from its midst Grover Cleve land, late president of the United States, who was three times the candidate of the democratic party, be it "Resolved, That we, the delegates of the party in national convention assembled, recog nize in him one of the strongest and ablest char acters known to the world's statesmanship, who possessed to an extraordinary degree the ele ments of leadership, and by his able, conscien tious and forceful administration of public affairs reflected honor upon his country and upon his party and, "Resolved, That we hereby express our deep sorrow at his death and extend our warmest sympathy and condolence to his family and that this resolution be spread upon the records of the convention and a copy be forwarded to Mrs. Cleveland, and "Resolved, As a further mark of respect to his memory the convention do now adjourn until 12 o'clock (noon) tomorrow." Mr. Dunn mounted upon a chair, moved the adoption of his resolution and for the purpose of seconding the resolution, the chair recog nized ex-Governor David R. Francis of Missouri, who spoke briefly in eulogy of Itr. Cleveland. The address of ex-Governor Francis was punctuated with frequent applause and a terrific shout greeted the words, "Let us now bury all dissensions of the past." Many of the delegates rose to their feet and cheered lustily. At the conclusion of Gov ernor Francis' address the chair recognized Colonel W. A. Haldeman of Kentucky. "Speaking for Kentucky and for Kentuck ians," said Colonel Haldeman, "and as the per sonal and political friend of Mr. Cleveland I wish to second the motion of the gentleman from Nebraska and to indorse every word, that Gov ernor Francis has said." "It is moVed and seconded," began Chair man Bell, but he was at once interrupted by cries of "Parker, Parker," which came from all parts of the hall. Judge Parker said: "It was my purpose had I been fortunate enough to first secure the attention of the chairman to offer my 'resolu tions." " ' ' The former standard-bearer of the demo cratic party read his resolution in a ringing voice and he was accorded the most careful attention through the fbading of his resolution, frequent applause compelling him to halt the delivery. At the ending of his reading Judge Parker Joined in the Dunn resolution by saying: "And therefore, I beg leave to second the motion of the gentleman from Nebraska." Repeated cheers followed the distinguished speaker as he returned to his seat in the New York delegation. The question of adopting the Nebraska res olution was put and concurred in by a rising vote. The chairman stated that two sets of com mittee appointments had been sent to the chair from Pennsylvania, evidencing a dispute or mis understanding in that state. Ollie James was recognized to move that all matters in dispute as to contest, etc., be re ferred to the committee on credentials. Governor Haskell seconded the motion but 'John Mi Garman of Pennsylvania was on his feet clamoring for recognition which he finally received. He desired to have the question of the regularity of the contesting Pennsylvania delegation threshed out on the floor at once. Mr. Garman was interrupted by cries of "order" and "question," but was allowed to con clude when Colonel J. M. Guffey went down the aisle asking for recognition. A dozen other delegates were on their feet when Mr. Bell de clared the convention must proceed in regular order, the only question being a J to whether or not the matter should be sent to the committee on credentials. "Don't you want a ruling?" said the chair man, and then he gave it without waiting for a reply, saying: "The point of order is not well taken." Mr. Garman moved as a substitute to the motion of Mr. James that the list sent to the desk by the majority of the delegates from Pennsylvania be accepted as the only proper list of committeemen. The chairman, however, re fused to entertain the amendment and declared the motion of Mr. Jame3 the only matter before the convention. Colonel Guffey secured recognition finally and spoke briefly, and as he concluded his ad dress he turned back down the aisle and when the chair called for the ayes and noes he turned, and with a face white with wrath shouted: "We demand a roll call," and the cry was taken up by other members of tho Pennsyl vania delegation and seconded from a dozen parts of the hall. Tho chairman, however, called for the vote and great confusion and cries of "roll call" from tho Guffey people and shouts of "sit down," which were hurled at them from all sides of tho hall. The viva voce vote seemed overwhelmingly in favor of tho motion of Mr. James, and tho chairman so declared, while Colonel Guffey, Mr. Garman and other of his friends shouted de risively. After the announcement by the chair man of the .meeting places of tho various com mittees, all of which were ordered to assemble at 5 p. m., the convention adjourned until 12 o'clock tomorrow In respect to the moraory of Mr. Cleveland. SECOND DAY'S PROCEEDINGS Tho democratic national convention was called to order for tho second day at 12:2G o'clock Wednesday. Prayer was offered by Rev. Christian F. Relsner of Denver. W. H. Martin of Arkansas presented on be half of the national committee a resolution of regret and tribute to the late James K. Jones, former chairman of the committee. It was adopted by a rising vote, and r motion to ad journ until 8 o'clock in the evening was lost, and the convention called for Senator Gore of Oklahoma. Following is the Associated Press report: "We shall hear from Senator Gore," finally announced Mr. Bell, amid great cheering. When the chairman announced that Sen ator Gore would address the convention, tho delegates of Oklahoma went Into a spasm of de light. They whooped and yelled in delight as the blind senator was led to the platform. His first utterances were happy and he caught the convention immediately. Loud cheers and applause greeted his declaration that Oklahoma is tho most democratic state in the union. The cheers were repeated later when ho said: "The president of the United States has said that his opinion of our constitution Is unfit for publication. That Is true of many of tho opinions of the president of the United States. "Fellow delegates, tho great secretary of war came to Oklahoma and waged war against our constitution. He asked us to give up our right of liberty and self-government, but by a vote of thousands upon thousands Oklahoma re jected the advice of Taft and accepted the advice jit Bryan." The mention of the name brought out great applause and many members of tho New York delegation joined In the cheering, but a majority remained seated. Minnesota and Delaware were the conspicuous exceptions to the general cele bration. A Bryan banner, which had been lurking In the rear was rushed to the stage and waved above the heads of the chairman and speaker. The point of the flagstaff caught one of the sus pended eagles over the chairman's desk and brought it crashing to the floor. It was quickly caught up, however, and held above Senator Gore's head. The band joined In the demon stration with lively music. Sergeant-at-arms Martin, after he had thor oughly mussed the senator'3 hair with the eagle's tail, waved the great stuffed bird so close to the senator's nose that he must have started back had he been able to see what was going on two inches from his face. The applause was relaxing somewhat when the band poured oil on the fire by striking p "Dixie" and Instantly the '"ame was burning fiercely, and brighter than before. The young man with the Bryan banner held his place on the speaker's stand by the side of the senator, waving the banner to and fro, careful, however, to tear no more eagles from their perches. Senator Gore, who had caused the terrific outburst, waited for a time for tlu noise to cease and then quietly turned and seated him self against the railing of the platform, waiting for the uproar to subside. Georgia's delegation, In the midst of the cheering was also conspicuous for its absolute silence. When the demonstration had proceed ed for some fifteen minutes a delegate from Iowa caught up the standard of that state and led a march to the stage where there was a grouping of the states. It was a wild rush to the platform in which there was much confu sion. Delegates other than those carrying tho heavy standards joined In the surging crowd, invading the space set aside for working news paper men and seriously interfering with their labors. Tho only standards that finally were left In their places were Georgia, New York, Dela ware, Minnesota, Maryland, Connecticut and Now Jersey. When the enthusiasm was at its height tho group of the state standards around the plat form included Rhode Island, Porto Rico, Alaska, South Dakota, West Virginia, Iowa, Orogon, Kansas, Virginia, Montana, Texas, Pennsylva nia, Illinois, Oklahoma, Arkansas, South Caro lina, Washington, New Hampshire, North Da kota, Louisiana, North Carolina, Florida, Wis consin and California. After ten minutes of yelling tho . rspir ing, scrambling dolegates with their state standards left tho platform and started on a parade around the hall. Back and forth tho aisle in front of tho press seats tho excited, shouting Bryan men carried their standards. California's Bryan banner, heavy with gold tassels and fringe, was carried to the stage while the cheering continued unabated and cries of "Whoop 'or up" came from the delegates In tho front row. Maryland at last deserted from tho "stay at homes" and its banner was tnken into tho midst of tho parade. Many of the standard-bearers formed a circle about the New York delegation and cheered their lustiest. In the midst of the riot of noise and tho confusion of marching dolegates the constant boom flashlight explosions from the photo graphers added to tho pandomonlum. Tho standard bearers finally invaded tho galleries, Maine and Alabama leading the climb to tho second tier. The galleries already had taken their full share of tho demonstration. Tho band kept up a continuous flow of music which finally started all the delegates to sing, when "Hail, Hall, the gang's all here," was struck up. The band In the gallery struck up "March ing Through Georgia." While the latter air was ringing through the hall a determined as sault was made by tho frenzied Bryan shouters upon tho Georgia standard, which up to this time had been kept firmly rooted In Its place: The delegation showed in firm fashion -that It was dangerous to "march through Georgia-," as ever it had been in the days of tho war. They rallied around tholr little yellow po1 bearing the name of tholr state In white against a background of blue and they stuck staunchly to their guardianship, It was the only southern standard that remained unrooted and where It was planted it stayed. The cowboy band at last left its place in the galleries and joined tho parade through tho aisle playing "Marching Through Georgia. " Tho man with the big bass horn had troubles which w.eve only equalled by the bars drummer In get ting through tho crowd. ! Pennsylvania's standard was the first re turned to its place, but the example apparently had little effect upon the other states. After ttfe uproar had continued for fifty minutes Maine joined in the parade, which was constantly swinging up and down the aisles. Kentucky and Pennsylvania, however, had returned to the' places, and the demonstration seemed for the time to be dying down. The band again woke the echoes with "A hot time" and the ocqan of cheers was again in flood tide. Sorgeants-at-arms carried away by tho frenzy of tho occa sion, left their posts and joined In the yelling, exultant throng. Men, however, can not 'yell forever, nor is their strength inexhaustible and the signs of a let down were unralstakaMe and more frequent. At 2:36 o'clock Chairman Bell made his first effort to stop the tumult. At 2:47 o'clock one hour and twenty-seven minutes after Senator Gore had mentioned the name of Bryan, a majority of the state stand ards were in the proper places and Senator Gpr3 resumed his speech. "My country," he said, "to the greater and older states of this great republic, Oklahoma has only this to say: 'Go thou and do likewise.' " Cheers and applause greeted Senator Gore as he made his way from tho platform. The chair again recognized Mr, Jauies. of Kentucky, who again moved that a recess until 8 p. m. bo taken. Mr. Bell put the motion and, without wait ing for a negative vote, declared it carried and the session ended. THE NIGHT SESSION The convention was called to order for tho evening session at 8:37 o'clock. The following is from the Associated Pres3 report: Mr. Orraond ( f Florida, was recognized to I't
