Convention Highlights

Excerpts from The 1908 Denver Demo Convention, Tom Noel) by PL Canady

Before continuing the Convention Highlights, let me introduce myself. My name is Pat Canady and I am retired from a career in Education and being a Small Business Owner.  My interest in politics led me to becoming a Democratic Party volunteer starting with the JFK Campaign.  Since retiring to Arizona, I have volunteered for a variety of candidates in many capacities. As an Elected Precinct Committee Person, I became a member of the AZ Democratic State Committee. I met Michel at the March 15th Congressional District 8 Caucus where I was campaigning for an Obama Delegate position .  Out of a group of 15 women, I was elected in the sixth round of voting.  Michael was interested in having someone blog to his site from the Democratic Convention in August 2008.  That is why I am posting these articles about Conventions, Candidates, and Delegates. I will continue to research points of interest and eventually share experiences from Denver with you.

Meanwhile back at the Denver Democratic Convention in 1908, the New York Times and East Coast newspapers sniped at Denver’s handling of the Convention. The July 7th edition of the New York Times commented that it was a "populist convention", with whiskers, homespun suits and "riled" shirts and hayseed everywhere. It seems to me that they were paving the way for cable news stations and political pundits of today!

Colorado women received the vote in 1983. The other states giving the women the right to vote were Utah and Wyoming. The women from these states attended the convention and were sorely disappointed that the Democratic Platform did not endorse nationwide women’s suffrage. These women were pioneer female delegates. This makes the West seem far more progressive then the East Coast critics of Western style politics!

Today, the states send an equal amount of women and men delegates to the conventions. Women’s issues still remain on the forefront, however. For example: Violence Against Women at the Senior Round-table for Women’s Justice; A Right to Choose as in Roe VS wade decided in 1973; Discrimination in the Work Place are just some issues unresolved in many states in the USA as well as other countries. These and other issues will be brought up at the convention in Denver 2008.  The pioneers would be both proud of the progress made in 100 years and astonished at the fact that there is so much unfinished business.