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Ml
The Commoner.
3
JULY 12, 1912
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How Ryan Became a Delegate
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Thomas Fortune Ryan, tho man named In
Mr. Bryan's resolution, was a delegate In the
Baltimore convention from tho Tenth district of
Virginia. How he became a delegate since his
presence in tho convention was a surprise even
to tho Virginia delegation is told in Washing
ton correspondence to the Now York World.
The representative in congross from tho dis
trict is Representative Flood, boss of tho dis
trict machine forces. Senator Martin is tho
state boss. The machine was for Clark. Tho
forces. under Tucker (anti-machine leader) wero
lighting to elect progressive delegates who would
vote for Woodrow Wilson. The machine won.
Tho Flood forces in the district convention
claimed a majority of sixteen. The Tucker men
admitted that the convention was against them
by a majority of at least six.
At this stage of the procedings it was possiblo
for the Flood men to nominate and elect two
Clark delegates. Instead of doing this, they
proposed, to the amazement of tho progressives,
that all fighting in the convention should cease.
A conference of tho leaders on both sides was
held and the Flood men proposed to Tucker and
his followers that they should name a delegate
and that the Flood men should namo a dele
gate, and that tho two selected in this manner
should be elected unanimously by tho entiro
convention. In this conference tho Flood men
wero careful to refrain from mentioning who
their man would be.
The proposition was accepted by the progres
sives. It gave them a delegate which otherwise
they would have been unable to get and in addi
tion, it looked as if "the organization" for tho
sake of harmony, was treating them with great
fairness and consideration. Announcement of
the agreement was made to the convention dele
gates of both sides, so that tho understanding
might bo absolute. The Tucker progressives
named one of their own number, who has
voted throughout tho Baltimore convention for
every" progressive proposition and is .expecting
to' vote for Wilson. Tho leaders on tho other
side, tho machine men, announced their solec-
tion a3 "Mr. Ryan."
The convention was not even informed as to
the "Mr. Ryan" meant. The dologates sus
pected that they were voting for Thomas S.
Ryan, son of the Wall street manipulator. This
younger Ryan was neither in the convention nor
in tho minds of tho delegates. Npt until after
the convention had adjourned and Thomas For
tune Ryan had been in this manner Unanimously
chosen a delegato was his identity disclosed.
Senator Martin has been blamed in Virginia
for tho perpetration of this trick. Ho has de
nied any responsibility for it. Tho organization
delegates, -many of them, have declared that
they would not have voted for Mr. Ryan had ho
been openly proposed to tho convention.
In order to get Ryan into the convention tho
organization Surrendered a delegate to the pro
gressives in the belief that Ryan's presence in
the national convention, together with what he
represented the great combinations of Wall
street would be more influential in bringing
about the nomination of some candidate sup
posed to be friendly to special privilege than
would a considerable number of ordinary dele
gates. Dubuque (Iowa) Telegraph-Herald.
THE INFLUENCES BEHIND THE PARKER
FORCES
Following is the United Press report: It
was conceded that the Parker forces wore per
sonally directed by Thomas F. Ryan, trust
magnate and captain of big business, who is sit
ting as a delegate from Virginia. Allied with
Ryan are August Belmont, American represen
tatives of the Rothschilds, and his brother.
Perry, delegates from New York; Delancey
Nicoll, a Ryan attorney and a leader of the
Palmer and Buckner bolt from Bryan In 1896;
Clarence H. Mackay, owner of the Postal Tele
graph company; John R. McLean, ot Cincinnati
and Washington, and William C. Sheehan, law
partner of Judge Parker.
But even more noticoable than the presence
of those democrats is tho presence here of such
republican representation of standpatism as
Patrick C. Calhoun, tho San Francisco traction
magnate and politician, and Archie Stevenson,
"Big Steve," of Colorado, two of the assistant
engineers of the Chicago "steam roller." Th
Bryan men charge that these two men are
here as representatives of the reactionary ia-
toreBts seoking to control the democratic con
vention and break tho strength of Bryan or any
other radical leader.
Offsetting those forces, tho situation hero
presents Senator Bristow of Kansas, a radical
and close friend of Roosevelt, who says ho is
"covering" tho convention for a Now York
newspaper, but who, with Senator Works of
California, also a progressive, havo been in a
secret conferenco with Bryan. Robert M. La
folletto also is reportod to havo been in tele
phone conversation with Bryan and planning to
como hero today for a conferenco with tho
"commoner."
Notwithstanding ho occupied a very largo
place in all of today's papers, Thomas F. Ryan,
tho man behind tho Parkor fight, denied him
self to all newspaper men and, in ordor the bet
ter to escape tho newspaper roporters, scatter
ing his time between four different apartments.
When located shortly before the convention
was called to order, Ryan flatly rofusod to re
ceive cards from any of the roporters. A pri
vate secretary recited tho same speech to all
tho correspdndents.
"Mr. Ryan has nothing to say to the news
papers and has no interest in what tho news
papers say about him. They have been abus
ing him for thirty years and ho has become so
used to it that he would bo rather lonosomo
without thoir attoution. Ho has no statement
to give out and will havo nono. Ho is hero
as a delegate, nothing more."
During the morning Judge Parkor, Charles F.
Murphy, August Belmont and William F. Shee
han called on Ryan, but no ono of them talked
about his conference.
WHERE THE BLAME BELONGS
Editorial in Detroit News: Champ Clark says
Bryan killed his candidacy. Mr. Clark will
pardon us, but ho is mistaken. Tho man who
killed tho Clark Boom was tho far-seeing poli
tician who welded tho Clark and Murphy. forces
together for the election of Alton B. Parker,
temporary chairman.
Ohio's nineteen anti-Harmon delegates wero
in evidence from tho beginning of the conven
tion to tho end. They did not lose any points.
Mayor Baker made a splendid impression on tho
convention. He could havo had tho vice presi
dency for the asking.
What a difference betwoon tho Pennsylvania
delegation at Baltimore and the Pennsylvania
delegation at St. Louis oight years ago! And
what a difference between Congressman Palme?
and Colonel Guffoy. Surely tho world does
move.
Tho Baltimore convention has presented a
platform and a ticket that will appeal to tho
country. To tho democracy It Is progressive
democracy, pure and undefllcd; to progressive
republicans it is denatured Rooseveltism,
Texas has reason to be prond of her dele
gation's conduct at Baltimore. It was a great
body of men there was no stronger group In
tho convention.
Massachusetts led the progressive fight for
New England bless her and she had two
allies in Connecticut and several In Maine.
Wisconsin's delegation was on of the re
liable ones. No one could doubt that tho state
was progressive. Hall to Wisconsin!
Kansas will not have reason to complain of
her delegation. The delegation voted on tho
right aide every time.
,
As a floor leader. Senator Luke Lea has few
equals. Keep your eye on Lea. Ho will soon
be thirty-five.
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Oklahoma was divided on candidates but on
Issues the delegation was a unit for progressiva
democracy,
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DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM BRIEFS
Downward rovlslon of tho present
tariff duties, especially upon necessaries
of life, and a gradual reduction, so as
not to intorforo with or destroy legiti
mate industries.
President Taft nrralgnod for vetoing
tariff bills of tho last congress.
Blame for high cost of living put upon
tho tariff.
Need for enforcement of criminal
features of anti-trust law.
Additional legislation to crush private
monopoly.
Prohibition of holding companies, In
terlocking directors and stock watering.
Republican administration condemned
for "compromising with Standard Oil
company and tobacco trust."
Presidential preference primaries and
diroct election of national committee.
Party pledged to onactmont of law
prohibiting campaign contributions by
corporations and unreasonablo contribu
tions by individuals.
A single presidential term of six
years.
Extravagance of republicans de
nounced and call mado for economy.
Efllcient supervision and rate regula
tion of railroads, express companies,
telegraph and telephone lines and a
valuation of thoso companies by tho in
terstate commerce commission and also
legislation against overissuanco of stocks
of theso corporations.
Revision of the banking laws as will
give temporary relief In case of financial
distress and denunciation of tho Aldrich
bill prepared by the raonotary commis
sion. Method of depositing government
funds condemned and the party pledged
to tho onactmont of a law for tho deposit
of such funds by competitive bidding in
state or national banks without discrimi
nation as to locality.
An investigation of agricultural credit
In Europe to ascertain whether a system
of rural credits may bo devised suitable
to conditions in the United States.
Party pledged to the enactment of
legislation to prevent devastation of tho
lower Mississippi valley by floods and
tho control of the Mississippi is declared
to bo a national rather than a state
problem.
Maintenance of a navigablo channel
recommonded.
Employes' compensation law.
Encouragement of agriculture, and
legislation to suppress gambling in agri
cultural products.
Fostering growth of merchant marine
and speedy enactment of laws for safety.
Pure food and public health demands.
Reorganization of tho civil syrvlco
laws.
Law reform legislation.
Russian treaty and citizenship abroad. ,0
marcels-post and extension of rural 0
delivery.
Generous pension policy favored. 3
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BACK TO THEIR WALLOW
Tho Hearst papers are attacking Mr. Bryaa
almost fiercely now as they did in 1908 when
they helped to elect Mr. Taft by supporting a
so-called independent ticket. Ono might sup
pose from their protestations of loyalty to the
people that they would indorse Mr. Bryan's
fight against Parker, his resolution against
Morgan, Ryan and Belmont, and his protest
against Mr. Murphy's nominating tfep candi
date hut they do not.
"Think twlco boforo you speak and then tal
to yourself," is the way a witty motto puts 1L
"Soma talk twlco before they think and them
nobody listens," is tho way a delegate at Baltic
more paraphrases it after observing Judgo Par
ker's effort to forco a meaningless speech dm
an unwilling audience In xwo installments. - '
It was a relief to have Minnesota called the
delegation never faltered "style all the while.".
Delaware could riot offset New York's vole
but she did her best to furnish an antidote.
The Baltimore convention swallowed a bottle
of Dr. Parker's solution of political arsenic witk
suicidal Intent but it was an overdose and the
patient recovered.
iMtkft. VJUJMUMIflMw..rr:V-
