AMERICA.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLI, Issue 3, 15 July 1908, Page 9

AMERICA.

The Democratic Convention opened at Denver on July 7, 12,000 being present. In the Dominion House of Commons, tue Old Age Annuities Bill has passed th rough all its stages. l ari Roberts will represent King EdA aid at the celebrations in connection vith the Canadian Tercentenary. • >wing to the United States withdrawing her representative (Mr. Unbil) from aiacas, Venezuela has withdrawn her large d’Affaires from Washington, I ifty-four persons were killed and 115 Q otliers injured by fireworks accidents in connection with the Fourth of July celebrations in America.

Revolution in Paraguay.

A sudden revolution at Asuncion, the capita] of Paraguay, overturned the Government, compelling President Ferreira and the Ministers to take refuge at the Argentine Legation. Senor Gonzales (an ex-President) has formed a Government under Senor Nuvero as President.

Great Fire in Hayti.

A fire ‘which occurred at Port an Prince, the capital of Hayti, destroyed 400 buildings, including the Courthouse, prison, and arsenal, causing an explosion of ammunition.

Reuter’s Agency reports- that three thousand houses, forming the whole of the southern part of Port au Prince, the capital of the negro Republic of Hayti, have been destroyed.

Thousands of the inhabitants are food less and shelterless.

Explosions at the arsenal seriously damaged the French cruiser Chasseloup Loubet.

Deaths from Heat.

Intense heat has been experienced in New York during the last few days. So far twenty-three deaths have been reported as directly attributable to the heat wave.

Khaki and Politics.

A great outcry exists against Mr. Wm. IT. Taft, Republican candidate for the Presidency, for ordering a million and a-half yards of khaki in England for the army and constabulary in the Philippines.

President Roosevelt, fearing the effect of the outcry on Presidential campaign prospects, cancelled the contracts pending investigation.

Defiance to Japan.

At the Denver Convention of the Democratic party, Captain Hobson, of Merrimac fame, and now Congressman for Alabama, urged the committee to include a plank in the party platform insisting on the increase of the navy. America ought to keep a fleet able to control the Atlantic.

When ready, he would tell Japan that America did not care a continental damn what happened, and would advocate an alliance with China.

Captain Hobson created a commotion by declaring that a few weeks since President Roosevelt said in his presence that there was “now a greater probability of a war with Japan."

United States Presidency.

At the Democratic Convention, Mr. Wm. Jeniiings Bryan, twice previously the party’s candidate for the Presidency, received 892 votes at the first ballot, Judge Geo. Gray, of Delaware, received 59 votes, and Governor John A. Johnson, of Minnesota, 46.

Mr. Bryan’s nomination was then made unanimous.

When the nominator described Mr Bryan as the choice of militant democracy, the Convention cheered with the wildest enthusiasm. Innumerable flags were waved, and a white dove was released above the platform. A great portrait of Mr Bryan was then lowered from the roof, and at this there was another outburst of cheering, and more again when banners were grouped around Mr Bryan’s party. The platform unanimously adopted includes a tariff plank, demanding the immediate revision and reduction of ths import duties, and the gradual restoration of the tariff to a revenue basis. It declares that articles competing with trust-controlled products should forthwith be placed on the free list, and the duties on the necessities of life materially reduced. Mr J. W. Kern, an Indianopolis lawyer, was nominated amid acclamation for the Vice-Presidency.

President Roosevelt's Tour.

President Roosevelt has been offered £12,000 by a firm of publishers for a description of his experiences in Africa on his forthcoming tour in search of big game. The offer was declined, and the President has arranged with “Scribner’s” to accept Royalties on the sale of the book.

A Burglar Captured.

Major Cookson, of the First Sussex Regiment, who was staying at Belmont Hotel, New York, overcame an armed burglar after a desperate struggle in a bedroom at dead of night. The burglar, who gave the name of Levine, the son of a wealthy land agent, wag tried on a charge of attempted robbery with violence and was sentenced to ten years’ imprisonment.