The Crockett Courier (Crockett, Tex.), Vol. 23, No. 23, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 4, 1912 Page: 3 of 8
eight pages : ill. ; page 19 x 12 in. Digitized from 35 mm. microfilm.View a full description of this newspaper.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
EARLY SESSIONS OF
THE DEMOCRATIC
OPENING DAY ONE OF QUIET AND
DELEGATES GATHERED SLOW-
LY—LITTLE INTEREST.
MANA POWER IN CONVENTION
iThe Second Day Was One of Much
Excitement for Delegates and
Visitors—There Were Nu-
merous Debates, Etc.
Baltimore, Md.—The doors of the
convention opened at 10 o'clock Tues-
day morning, and a heavy rain was
falling at the time.
The crowd came slowly, and when
the band began to play at 11 o'clock
the galleries and the guests's section
held only a scattered few. The dele-
gates, as usual on the opening day of
the convention, were slow in making
their appearance. A pouring rain and
a -scarcity of vehicles made progress
from the hotels to the armory a some-
what serious problem.
Every one was expecting a great
demonstration when Mr. Bryan ap-
peared iu the hall, and all was quiet in
anticipation. Word came to the con-
vention that Mr. Bryan was continu-
ing his conference right up to the
hour of convening.
Cardinal Gibbons entered the hall at
11:46 a. m., accompanied by Chairman
Robert C. Rain of the local committee
and a number of convention officials.
The first wave of applause came
when the Texas delegation entered
•waving a Wilson banner.
A
U*' J|P Jlcf ««W?IY
Tnnnnni
HE Goat eootny
Club
i'm nt
vfctv uH u<K ,
ufttv vtooOiarl
The committee in charge of the con
ventlon arrangements had given the
most prominent places on the floor to
the states having avowed presidential
candidates. To the right of the main
aisle and directly in front of the state
was Missouri, the home • state of
Speaker Clark. To the left was New
Jersey, with Woodrow Wilson as a
favorite son.
Indiana Does Not Fare So Well.
Back of Missouri came Ohio, with
Governor Harmon in the field. Back
of New Jersey was Alabama, home of
Representative Oscar Underwood. In-
diana did not fare so well, but the
members of that delegation did not re-
gard this as in any way prejudicial to
the chances of Governor Marshall.
Connecticut was close to Ohio, the
delegation in support of Governor
Baldwin. North Dakota, supporting
vSovernor Burke of that state, was no
more favorably located than Indiana,
both being in fourth or fifth positions
from the front.
At 11:35 a. m. it was discovered that
the slow arrival of the delegates was
•due in part to the close scrutiny of
tickets and credentials by. the door-
keepers, a long line of delegates and
others being held up outside the build-
ing. Senator Johft Sharp Williams of
Mississippi had a great deal of diffi-
culty getting in.
The first cheer of the convention
went to Governor Wilson. As the dele-
gates' seats began to fill up a stand-
ard bearer marched up the center
ataje carrying a big white silk banner
bearing a golden star and the Inscrip-
tion: "Grand Old Texas—Forty Votes
fo¥ Woodrow Wilson, the People's
Choice."
As the banner appeared a cheer
swept through the scattered crowds in
the galleries.
Mr Bryan first nominated Senator
Kern to oppose Parker. The latter de-
clined the honor, and named Mr.
Bryan to make the fight. The Ne-
braskan made an eloquent plea "for
the cause he had represented for six-
teen years," but it was unavailing.
The debate preceding «the roll call
threw the convention into wild dis-
order
A last desperate attempt to avert a
bitter rational fight was mad* by the
Bryan forces when the convention
took up the problem of selecting a
temporary chairman. So sharp was
the cleavage of the factions that Mr.
Bryan himself became a candidate for
the temporary chairmanship.
Kern Asks Parker to Withdraw.
After Bryan ljad made a speech
nominating Senator Kern of Indiana
and attacking Alton B. Parker, Kern
toQk the stand. He made a plea for
harmony, asked Parker to join him in
withdrawing from the contest for tem-
porary chairman and substituting any
one of several men. After waiting in
vain for a reply from Parker, Kern
himself withdrew and nominated
Bryan. butv Bryan was defeated.
VdttVeM V>
aw TcHf
NU
poo*-
HMwM Ripeen
or w yont^
tUMJlllttR MtVL
Jr«uw( evwincK
A rapid-fire session closed^the first
day of the convention Tuesday, which
began with the defeat of W. J. Bryan
for temporary chairman. Scenes of
disorder on the floor which made fur-
ther progress impossible forced a
night session and compelled Alton B.
Parker to suspend his keynote speech
until the evening session.
Second Day of Convention.
Baltimore.—Delegates filed slowly
into the hall Wednesday. With a scat-
tered attendance on the floor at 11:30
a. in., a scattered haze of heat seemed
to fill the big building and give prom-
ise of a sweltering day.
Coats were stripped off just as soon
as the delegates struck the close at-
mospheer of the hall. Hundreds of
fans fluttered throughout the building
Galleries and floors filled up very
slowly, but the sergeant at arms and
the police had trouble keeping the
aisles clear. Policemen posted in the
galleries had orders to eject any who
created a disturbance.
At 12 o'clock the galleries were less
than half filled. The delegates' seats
were gradually filling up, however,
and the floor was in confusion. Chair
man Parker had not yet appeared, but
National Chairman Mack was on the
platform. The heat grew more intense
as the big hail filled.
At 12:21 p. m. Chairman Parker
pounded on his desk, and the sergeant
at arms, added by the police, set out
to clear the aisles.
Slowly the confusion subsided and
the convention got under way. Bishop
Murray offered prayer.
Credentials Committee Vote.
When the prayer was concluded
former Governor Blanchard of Louis
iana reported that the credentials
committee would not be ready until 8
p. m. He said he would not make a
motion to adjourn until that time,
however, as he was sure the delegates
would like "a little oratory."
Former Governor Joseph W. Folk of
Missouri was introduced as the first
orator.
"The nominee of this convention
will be the. next president," said Folk.
He eulogized Bryan at length.
The delegates grew restless in the
course of Folk's speech, and Chairman
Parker was forced to admonish them
to be quiet Senator Rayner of Mary-
land next was called upon He pre-
dicted success for the nominee and
discussed the^division in the repu-
blican party. He declared that the
mottof of the Taft faction would be
"We will react and retrograde."
The motto of the Roosevelt party he
quoted as "Thou Shalt not steal."
"Our motto in this campaign will
be, 'We shall progress,'" shouted
Rayner, and the crOwd cheered.
Congressman Clayton Introduced.
When Rayner concluded. Chairman
Parker asked for more speakers A
shout for Congressman Tom Heflin of
Alabama went up from the floor
But Parker introduced Congressman
Henry D Clayton of Alabama, chair-
man of the house judiciary committee.
The delegates seemed to enjoy what
one of them termed "a 6pel I pf spell-
binding."
After he had spoken for several
minutes in denunciation of republican
principles and predatory wealth. Mr
Clayton turned to democratic pros-
pects. v
"I do not know upon whom the nom-
ination of this convention will fall,'
he said.
"Underwood." shouted an Alabama
delegate.
"Clark," shouted a man from Mis-
souri. '
"Wilson," came in answering chorus
from "New Jersey.
"Harmon," called the Ohio answer.
In a moment the entire hall was
swept by the shouts and cheers and
songs of the different candidates' ad-
herents. The band joined in the dem-
onstrations.
Chairman Parker made little effort
to quiet the enthusiasts Mr. Clayton
stood smiling as a melody of Southern
airs from the band brought out in-
creasing cheers.
Police Head Off Rampage.
Some of the delegates attempted to
uproot the state standards, but the po-
licemen. by quick work, prevented.
The aisles became choked with dele-
gates and It seemed that many spec-
tators had invaded the delegate sec-
tion.
One man opened a big umbrella and
started a parade, but he was headed
off.
By this time Chairman Parker and
the sergeant at arms were making
frantic but vain efforts to restore
quiet.
"New Jersey, please sit down," call-
ed a deputy sergeant at arms.
"Missouri, please give the speaker
a chance," called another.
Mr. Clayton at last m^de himself
heard above the din. He declared that
whoever the candidate was, he would
be the next president of the United
States.
State Chairman Reilly of Massachu-
setts spoke briefly on gea«ral issues,
making a plea for legislation for the
betterment of labor and concluding
with an indorsement of Champ Clark.
A round of cheers greeted Senator
Gore of Oklahoma, who was next in-
troduced. The blind statesman was
unable to proceed with his speech for
some time because of the uproar.
"Let us have peace," said Senator
Gore, ir the couree of the talk. "Let
us have peace at any price, at any
sacrifice, save that of honor. Let us
here put every democrat under bond
to keep the peace."
A burst of applause greeted this
sentiment.
Only Salvation for Republican Party.
"Nothing can save the republican
party from self-slaughter except dem-
ocratic suicide," declared Mr. Gore.
"We can not live half progressive and
half reactionary. Theodore Roosevelt
endeavored to breathe the breath of
life, of modern progress into the petri-
fied remains of the republican party.
He failed. The mummy would not
move."
Senator Gore closed with a plea for
harmony, which called out much en-
thusiasm. "Fellow democrats," he
said, "let the candidate of the conven
tion be your candidate."
John Temple Graves of Georgia and
New York came next on the long list
of orators.
Denounces the Republicans.
Former Governor Campbell of Tex-
as denounced the republican party in
no uncertain terms. He was the last
speaker.
*
yjxDuapHf
The Night Session.
A sweltering atmosphere charged
with humidity greeted the delegates
as they filed in for the night session
just before 8 o'clock.
A thunderstorm that had been
threatening for an hour kept the gal-
lery attendance down. The delegates^,
too, were slow in arriving. National
Chairman Mack appeared on the scene
shortly after 8 o'clock. At. that time
many of the delegates' seats on the
floor were vacant, and the meager gal-
lery crowd was entertainsd with a
series of ragtime selections by the
band. When Chairman Parker appear
ed there was a scattered round of ap
plause He greeted Rev. T. O. Crouse
of the Mount Royal Avenue Methodist
Episcopal church, who was the chap
lain of the meeting,, and had a talk
with Chairman Mack.
Parliamentary Conference.
Chairman Parker, Parliamentarian
Crisp, Representative Henry, chair
man of the house rules committee, and
Representative Covington of Maryland
spent some time in conference Thev
frequently consulted a book ol par
liamentary law and evidently wert
pondering over an "Impending parlia
mentary situation.
At 8:32 p. m Chairman Parker drop
ped his gavel, the sergeant at arm."
cleared the aisles and secured ordei
while the Rev. Mr Crouse began tht
prayer.
Immediately after the prayer Rep
resentative Covington of Maryland
chairman of the committee on rules
presented the committee's report
The report as read by Mr. Coving
ton would place the nomination ol
president and vice president on the
program of the convention immediate-
ly after the report of the committee
on credentials and before the adoption
of the platform.
"This is contrary to the usual cus-
tom," said Mr. Covington. "But while
the committee on rules was in session
three distinguished members of the
committee on resolutions, Senatot
Rayner, Governor Vardaman and an-
other distinguished. member of the
resolution committee came into oui
confertnce. They informed the ruler
committee that the resolutions com-
mittee by a vote of 41 to 11 had de-
termine dthat the exigencies of the
prosent democratic situation made it
wise to have this convention pioceed
to the nominations before the adop-
tion of the platform. Iu recognition
of the distinguished members of the
resolutions committee, the committee
on rules has embodied it in the report
of the rules committee. I now move
the adoption of that report."
Report Is Adopted.
The report, much to the surprise of
the convention generally, was adopted
by a viva voce vote without opposi-
tion. Mr. Covingtou then presented
the majority supplemental report of
the rules committee making the "unit
WIU
at * ^7
19
IM.
rule" a rule of the convention. As
reported, the rule would make a unit
instruction by a state convention bind-
ing on a delegation if a majority of
the delegation favored any particular
candidate.
Representative Henry of Texas pre-
sented a minority report which would
except from the operations of this
rule such delegations as are elected
under state primary rules by congres-
sional districts.
After both reports had been present-
ed Chairman Covington opened the
debate in favor of the majority report.
He argued that as the two-thirds rule
was true Jeffersonian democracy, and
as without the uait rule the two-thirds
rule would not be practicable, the con-
vention should maintain the unit rule
despite the popular primary in con
gressional districts.
While Mr. Ctfvington was speaking,
the thunderstorm, which had been
threatening all evening, broke A
heavy downpour of rain clattered
noisily on the roof of the big armory.
Mr. Covington's argument, was brief
and at its conclusion he was greeted
by scattered applause.
New Jersey Delegation Roars.
The New Jersey delegation began
an uproar. A dozen pictures of Wil-
son appeared and were scattered
through the hall. Senator John Sharp
Williams of Mississippi, who was on
the platform, swung his hat above his
head as he led cheers for Wilson. A
big white Texas banner inscribed
"Forty for Wilson," with a- Wilson
lithograph attached, appeared and an
attempt was made to start a parade
through the aisles, it did not ma
terialize.
From the galleries a shower of Wil
son lithographs fell upon the dele
gates. Galleries and floor joined in
the cheering, delegates and spectators
climbing upon chairs. In the center
of the hall, however, the big block of
New York delegates sat calm and un
moved.
An enormous orange and black ban-
ner over thirty feet long and in-
scribed, "Staunton, Va., Woodrow Wil-
son's birthplace,"' was-carried through
the galleries.
A black and white banner inscribed,
"Give us Wilson and We'll Give You
Pennsylvania," appeared over the
Pennsylvania delegation and it started
another cheer.
"Let the band play!" shouted an ex-
cited New Jersey delegate, dashing to
the foot of the platform. The band
did play and the cheering increased
lor a time. Finally the band swung
into the "Star Spangled Banner," and
out of the roar emerged a murmur as
many of the delegates stopped cheer-
ing to sing. But when the song was
over, the shouting was resumed and
the band played "Maryland, My Mary-
land," bringing the Baltirooreans in
the galleries to their feet with shouts
and cheers.
Wilson-Bryan Forces Win.
The majority report from the com
mittee on rules proposed to recognize
the right of state conventions so as to
apply the unit rule The minority re
port urged by the Wilson people pro
posed to abrogate the rule.
The vote was on the substitution ol
the minority or pro-Wilson report for
the majority report.
The result of the roll call as an-
nounced showed that the Wilson-
Bryan forcea had won the test. The
figures secured by the tally clerks
varied widely on the final result, how-
ever.
The vote was announced as ayes
555%. noes 496 2-3. This was later
amended to 466% ayes. A careful un-
official count gave ayes BfiyVfc, noes
4911-3.
The Wilson delegates began a dem-
onstration It wa* abort-lived, and
Chairman Parker, seizing a mega-
phone, put the question or adopting
the amended report. It was adopted
by a viva voce vote.
The convention then adjourned.
Proceedings of Thursday's Convention
Baltimore. Md.-*-I)elegates to th
convention filed into the convention
hall Thursday prepared for a long and
excited sfesaiou? It was expected to
be the cllttiatic day, the end of the
long campaign waged by the presi-
dential aspirants.
Long before the presiding officer
made any effort to call the convention
to order, Robert F. Crain, chairman
of the Baltimore committee, an-
nounced at the platform that the door*
were being ruHhed, that the usher*
and doorkeepers were helpless by rea-
son of lack of organization, and that
the situation was dangerous. The po-
lice were unable to cope with the sit-
uation, because the convention author
ities would^ not consent to the closing
of any entrance.
Mr. Crain estimated that thousands
crowded into the hall who were not
entitled to admission. Ticket holders
who had not arrived at the hall early,
found their seats occupied.
A Missouri delegate, with a bundle
of Champ Clark lithographs, went
around the floor tacking the pictures
to the states' standards. He placard-
ed California, Colorado, Wyoming and
Arkansas. When he reached this
point a shout of "Tear it down; take
it away!" broke from rows of dele-
gates. In a flash the pictures had
been stripped from the Arkansas and
Wyoming standards.
The anti^Clarkites raised a yell of'
triumph.
Boom for Henry.
A vice presidential boom for Repre-
sentative Henry of Texas appeared on
the floor. Henry has been a vigorous
Wilson-Bryan supporter, and he was
mentioned by those forces as a pos-
sible running mate for the New Jer-
sey governor.
W. J. Bryan led the democrats
into a declaration of progressiveness
unheard of in political history.
A resolution introduced by him.
which was passed by a two-thirds ma-
jority, declared the convention • op-
posed to the nomination of any candi-,
date for president under obligation toi
J. P. Morgan, Thomas F. Ryan, Au-
gust Belmore, or "any privilege-seek-
ing class."
The convention was' thrown into a
furor by' the proposition, which, as
originally introduced, called for the
withdrawal of Ryan and Belmont, del-
egates from Virginia and New York,
respectively. This part of the resolu-
tion was resented as invading the
rights of sovereign states, and when
its full import became known boos
and cat call, jeers and hisses were
mingled with hand-clapping, cheers
and stamping of feet in the galleries
and on the floor.
Says the Proposition Is Insolent.
Representative H. D. Flood of Vir-
ginia dramatically characterized the
proposition as insolent, and said it
came from "the only man who desired
to destroy the democratic party."
Former Governor McCorkle of West
Virginia called it foolish. Mr. Bryan
made the situation even more dra-
matic by asking Virginia and New
York to require a modificatioii of the
resolution, and when they scorned the
suggestion he took the course him-
self. ■
From that moment sentiment
changed, and the voting indicated that
Mr. Bryan, as the exponent of prog-
ress, retained his hold upon democ-
racy.
After disposing of the Bryan resolu-
tion the convention proceeded with
nominating speeches for a candidate
for president, the indications being
that a ballot would not be reached
until Friday.
Wilson Delegates Are Seated.
The Bryan-Wilson progressives won
another victory in the convention
when the delegates overturned the re-
port of the credentials committee and
seated the Wilson delegates from
South Dakota
The Wilson supporters claimed that
the vote made the nomination of
Woodrow Wilson a practical certain
ty.
Gvj S.TvCKfift.
fiftKAAWfó
QKGttttttt.
IHMO
r
5
New York's aiBéty votes, which
Wednesday went to th* Clark-Harmon
combination, were Thursday cast for
Wilson. The announcement of New
York's vote was hailed with cheers
from the Wilson delegates.
Tumult interrupted the convention
during the debate on the report of the
credentials committee involving th*
seating of contested Clark and Wilson
delegates from South Dakota.
The WilHon adherents started th*
demonstration, and the Clark, Under-
wood and other factions, not to be
outdone, at once took it up. Th* up-
roar became general, floor and gal-
leries standing on chairs and yelling
madly.
•>.
I®
- rá&Sj
ÜS
wr**rT
i it&jk 1;
;r. *1
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Aiken, W. W. The Crockett Courier (Crockett, Tex.), Vol. 23, No. 23, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 4, 1912, newspaper, July 4, 1912; Crockett, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth177666/m1/3/: accessed April 30, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.