The Nome Nugget

Oratory Runs to Cliches at Demo Convention

By SAUL PETT

LOS ANGELES, (AP) It is clear who won individual honors at the opening session of the Democratic national convention.

To Paul Ziffern, chairman of the California convention committee, went the distinction of being the first orator to refer to "the last syllable of recorded time."

This occurred at 6:18 p.m. He also became the first speaker to mention "our rendezvous with destiny," a phrase which hasn't failed the Democrats in 27 years.

Paul M. Butler, retiring national chairman, was the first to the wire with "the whole world is watching us" and "peace is our business."

Butler also was the only speaker of the evening to excite applause with a promise of non-appearances in the future. He got the hand by saying. "This is the last time I shall address you as national chairman."

In his 51/4-year term, Butler has proved one of the most controversial party chairmen of the century, a fact referred to with something less than obliqueness.

He said "If the National Committee has taken a stand on issues, it has not taken a stand on men."

He denied again Harry Truman's charge by insisting the convention has had "no rigging whatsoever."

Butler won other honors. He was the first speaker to mention Franklin D. Roosevelt, and he easily ran off with the Oscar for the best alliteration by blasting the enemy for "eight years of golfing and goofing."

Gov. Edmund Brown of California was the first to declare. "We are here to nominate the next President of the United States" - a statement of hope likely to be repeated 86 times before the week is out.

The Oscar for the most literal gestures of the evening went without contest to Frank Church, 35, the youngest member of the United States Senate and convention keynoter. In his blue suit and white shirt and carefully timed pauses and studied modulations and memorized speech, he reminded many of a promising prep school orator.