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The Commoner JUNE, 1916 5 m LW- moro than 200 delegates in the Coliseum. Th seats filled slowly. Prayer was offered by Rabbi Leon Harrison of St. Louis. Chairman James called for the report of the platform committee, hut it was hot ready and tho convention settled down to wait. Senator Reed Qf Missouri then made a speech. "America" was played Iy tho band when Senator Reed concluded and while Chairman Stone of the resolutions committee mounted the platform to present the platform. In introducing Senator Stone to present the platform, Chairman James asked order to "hear the democratic declaration of faith." Senator Stone was given prolonged applause. Chairman Stone delegated the reading to Sen ator Walsh of Montana and Senator Hollis of New Hampshire. Senator WalBh took the stand firBt and began reading at 12:36 o'clock. The reading of the platform was finished at 1:20. There were cheers and the band struck up again. Chairman moved the adoption of the plat form as read. A minority resolution on the suffrage ques tion was presented and precipitated a lively dis cussion. Senator Stone demanded a roll call voto on the minority resolution and Chairman James so directed. As defeat of the amendment by a vote of 888 to 181 wa3 announced, there was a demonstration led by the women. Chairman James then ordered a viva voce vote in adoption of the platform. Delegate Lo masney of Massachusetts objected and Chairman James put the question a second time. The roar of ayes approved the party delegation. After Chairman James had declared the plat form adopted, former: Representative Palmer of Pennsylvania presented the resolution providing uniform rules for election of national committeemen.- It was adopted. Palmer then moVed that the convention adjourn sine die and upon a viva voce vote Chairman James at 3:11 p.m. banged his gavel for the final. The delegates rushed for the exits and filed out to the strains of "Onward, Christian Soldiers." WHAT- ARMED PEACE LEADS TO In another part of this issue will be found a selection from Dr. Charles E. Jefferson's new book on "What tho War is Teaching," which is reprinted by kind permission of the publishers, Floming H. Revell, New York and Chicago. This selection, "What Armed Peace Lsads To," i3 one of a series of lectures given by Dr. Charles E. Jefferson, pastor of the Brcadway Taber nacle, New York, under tho auspices of the Merrick foundation at the Ohio We3leyan uni versity, and designated as the 1916 Merrick lectures. Other lectures from this group will be reproduc d in subsequent issues of The Com moner. The entire series of lectures has been published in book form under the title "What the War is Teaching," and may be obtained di rect from the publishers at ?1.00 net. Every reader of The Commoner should read the book and circulate it among his neighbors. The two Chicago conventions drove home anew the truth of the old political adage that the suc cessful leader is the man who knows which way the people are going and hurries out in front. The republican bosses ran the convention, with Smoot, Crane, et al., well in the limelight, but they were forced, to name the man most in the mind of the ranlc and file. Roosevelt was able to get the progressive nomination for himself, but not able to hand it over to the frigid Mr. Lodge. The open "season for republican conventions Henry D. Estabrook came to be a candidate for closed without any explanation of why or how president. It is suspected that Henry D. has a subtler sense of humor than he displayed in his speeches or not. The real relative import? rce of events In "" "ico is shown by the disappearance from the newspaper columns of "News" from that section when anything else big fooms up, like the na tional conventions of the great political parties. "Thy day has come not gone; Thy sun has Tisen not set; Thy life is now beyond the reach of change or death. Not ended, but begun; Oh gentlo soulf hail and' farewell." Mr. Bryan's St Louis Letters - (Continued from Pago Three) In international affairs the administration Am commended;, protection of American rights at homo and abroad is promised and co-operation with other nations in the maintenance of tho se curity upon the highways of tho sea suggested. While some may read into this plank an endorse ment of tho program of the leaguo to enforce peace, that is not a necessary construction. Only a "feasible association" is advocated and no as sociation will bo found feasible that requires this country to entangle itself in the quarrels of Eu rope. Strong endorsement is given to tho President's course in dealing with the Mexican situation. The platform supports him in tho use of force to repel invasion and to protect our border, but intervention is specifically condemned, except as a last resort. The President is commended for his "stubborn resistance" to every demand and suggestion to enter upon intervention. This plank is. one of the most important ones in the platform. Tho republicans assail the -tv's Mexican policy more vigorously than any thing else, but their attacks will not succeed. When they are confronted witL the fact that in tervention is the only alternative, they will find that, the people, irrespective of party, will op pose intervention.' The plank on Americanism is one of tho longest in the platform. It covers overy phase of the subject to which that name has been given. It condemns without reservation tho conduct of any American citizen who individu ally or by association with others attempts to embarrass the government in dealing with in ternational affairs or to aid other governments. No one can find fault with the language em ployed, because no one would defend the things denounced. It is only the application of the plank that would arouse criticism. Whether, therefore, the plank plays an important part in the campaign will largely depend upon the uso made of it by writers and speakers and the language employed in expounding and elaborat ing it. The platform has 'strengthened the party and improved Its chance. It was made to fit the record of the President and congress, and it em bodies the party's plans for the future. The renomlnation of President Wilson and Vice-President Marshall complete'd the work of the convention. The demonstration that greeted the names of the candidates was proof of their popularity and of the unity of purpose that ex isted among the delegates. The party is drawn up in battle array; the fight is on, and the chances of success have been greatly improved within the last two weeks. The action taken bv the two conventions at Chicago held last week aided greatly; the work of this convention aided still more. W. J. B. 00 00000000000000000 009 CLOSING SESSION OF THE CONVENTION St. Louis, June 17. The debate on the wo man suffrage amendment afforded a splendid illustration of the weakness of the opposition. The minority report presented by Governor Fer guson, of Texas, was signed by four members only. Seventeen members of the committee had voted against the plank in tho committee against twenty-six In the affirmative, but thir teen of the seventeen were content to accept the will of the majority and did not join In the mi nority report. Governor Ferguson took upon himself the task of presenting and defending the minority report on the floor of the convention. If he has any enemies, they missed a great deal of pleas ure if they were not present, for they could not have wished him to appear at a poorer advant age. The friends of eaual suffrage ought to have his remarks printed and circulated as an evidence of the inability of the opponents of eaual suffrage to justify their position. .When ppnator Stone. Senator Plttman, and Senator Walsh, who divided between them the time given to the majority report on this subject, fin ished their speeches, the delegates proceeded to defeat their minority subs'tute by a vote of more than 800 to less than 200. A large ma jority of the southern delegation supported the suffrage plank, and the crreat states of New York. Pennsylvania, and Illinois cast the weight of their influence In favor of the platform posi- tIon ' The -democratic convention can be summed up 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 THE AMERICAN FLAG f "Youf flag and my flag, and how it flies today In your land and my land and half a world away; Rose red and blood rod Its stripes for ever gleam, Snow white and soul white, tho good forefathors' dream; Sky blue and true bluo with stars that gleam aright; Tho gloried guidon of tho day, a shelter through tho night. Your flag and ray flag, and, oh, how much it holds! Your land and my land, securo within Its folds; Your heart and my heart beat quicker at tho sight, Sun-kissed and wind-tossoi, tho red and blue and white: , The one flag the groat flaj tho flag for me anu you, Glorifies all else beside, tho red and white and blue." 0 0. .0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 000 in a few words. Measured' by tho speoches de livered it ranks among tho greatest of tho dem ocratic conventions. Referenco has already boon made to the keynote addresses delivered by Temporary Chairman Glynn and Permanent Chairman James. The speech of Judge Wescott of Now Jersey, presenting the name of President Wilson was a masterpiece. It possessed both strength and beauty and was delivered in such a way as to evince tho speaker's heart-felt Interest in tho honorable task which had been dolegated to him. During the closing session, while tho conven tion was waiting for the report of the platform committee, Senator Reed, of Missouri, delivered a powerful address presenting in his character istic style a picture of what tho country would havo boon had the republican party been in power, and followed out such a policy as it must havo followed had it lived up to its denunciation of what has been done. And, hero, it is worth while to note that there has been Just one dominant thought in this convention, namely, that "the President has kept tho country out of war." It has been the themo of every speaker, and it has been tho one theme which, when forcibly presented has in variably brought tho delegates and tho visitors to their feet. The convention was proud of what has been done in the way of economic re forms; the delegates were determined that the party shall continue its onward course and se curo further remedial legislation, but no on forgot for a moment tho world-wide war which is spreading death among men and imposing un deserved burdens upon future generations. No one forgets for a moment the danger which con fronts every neutral nation, the danger of being, sucked into the flame. The horrors of the war have sickened the people while its nearness has alarmed them. They are grateful that peace reigns here in spite of the unspeakable miseries Into which so many nations have been plunged. This is the keynote of the campaign; this Is the tower of strength to the democratic cause: "Th President has kept us out of war" that Is a record upon which tho party can offer him to the voters of tho country. Tho convention grew In enthusiasm as, it pro ceeded. Harmony was evident everywhere, and yet, harmony plus the enthusiasm that usually accompanies a fight. When the convention ad journed everybody was happy. The delegates dispersed with the satisfaction of knowing they had contributed their mite to democratic suc cess, and a mighty mite it was. Tho visitors go home feeling that the convention was well worth attending and wondering when there w'll be an other convention of any party so militant for peace and so peaceful in its militancy. W. J. B. 00 Extra copies of this issue of The C6m- moner will be supplied in bundles! by mail at 2c each If they are desired 'for 0 free distribution. I u 73 0i i; 4 KS 'j 5 1 c:- o