St. Paul daily globe., 1891-05-20
BIG And BOIsTEROUS.
The Cincinnati Convention
Completes It's Temporary
Organization.
Leaders Are Guarded, But
Ohio and Kansas Men Fa-
vor a Third Party.
Donnelly Leads the First
Fight, and Will Write
the Resolutions.
Delegates Enthusiastic and
Sanguine--PefRer and Pow
derly Speak at Night.

CINCINNATI, May 19.-Whatever its
outcome, the big convention that met
here to-day was inaugurated in a fash
ion of which any American citizen
might well be proud.
Fifteen hundred representatives of
the bone and sinew Of the nation,
gathered alike from farm and city toll.
came to order on the very watch-tick
that had months beforehand been agreed
upon; lifted their voices in magnificent
diapason in a hymn to their country,
said together in reverential unison
1.-The Lords Prayer" and then calmly
proceeded to fight out as best their man.
hood directed the question whether or
not great new political party in the
United States should forthwith be
given existence. The convention
met in place where before this
presidents have been made-in the his
toric Cincinnati Music hall, the largest
audience-chamber in the city. The nat
ural grain of the polished wood forming
the roof and walls of the gathering
place shone as il in pleasant harmony
with the weather-bronzed cheeks of the
hardy-looklng hundreds closely packed
in the delegates chair beneath. In the
galleries, among the throng of city
folks, sat many sedate man from the
prairie, come to see husband or son take
part in what honestly seemed to be a
momentous event. From first to last
the developments of the opening day
were strangely impressive. Such an
air of unmistakable sincerity pervaded
q vl1litl 1l<
gates that the recurring humorously
grotesque incidents that marked nearly
every stage of the proceedings were
quickly lost to view.
Every One Laughed
till their sides ached. when, at the very
outset, band of well meaning but in
attentive enthusiasts from far away
Kansas delayed the opening appeal to
the Almighty till they had given three
cheers and tiger for their idolized
hero, "Sockless" Jerry Simpson, who
had just entered the hall. But in the
great hush that fell upon the convention
hall, when, moment later, the 1,500
delegates with bowed heads began with
the words, Our Father,s no one no.
ticed tie peculiar incongruity of the
Kansas just then petitioning with the
others for the forgiveness of trespasses.
place. The newly elected farmer United
States senator from Kansas was seen BY
the reporters to enter the hall from the
rear. Conscious of his fresh well-won
la urelS that metaphorically rested upon
his brow, Senator PETER smiled proudly
as he stepped down the long passage
way to the seat of honor that had been
reserved for him. AS luck would have
1t every newspaper man was instantly
alert to witness an ovation that would
outdo all previous records. However,
the same inattention, or whatever it
was, that led to the untimely outbreak
for Congressman Simpson brought
about exactly an opposite effect in the
case OF Sena tor PETER. The Kansans
were absorbed in the selection of COM
mlttee, or some equally engrOSsing con-
ference, and, as he took his seat abso-
lqtely unrecognized, Senator Peffer's
expansive smile slowly but surely dis
appeared behind his shaggy beard like
a forest sunset in winter. 1t was a
dramatic spectacle when the temporary
chairman called one after another of
the half-doZen different elements COM
posing the convention to stand up and
acknowledge their presence.
Solid Masses of Men
arose in different parts of the hall as
the name of their organization was
called, stood for an instant motionIess
as so many statues, and then broke into
cheers as they and the audience realized
the splendid showing that was made.
Not little surprise was manifested
when practically the entire body of
delegates arose at the call, Farmers
Alliance, North and South" Many of
the spectators felt that there was a hid
den significance in it all that told of an
already disciplined, far-reachiDg body.
instead of the )Oose-jOinted conglomera-
ton that some had expected to see..
The installment or Cunningham, of Ar
single objection, though all the public
talk before hand had pointed to Speak
er Elder, of the Kansas legislature.
or j. 81. Powers, president of
Nebraska Alliance, as the lucky
man. 1t is hinted that Elder gave
way to leave clear path for the ele-
vation of Senator PETER to the dignity
of permanent presiding officer. By long
odds the most interesting moments in
the convention were during the spirited
passage between Ignatius Donnelly and
Gen: Weaver. 1t was like nothing so
much as duet between two skilled
swordsmen, and, when the combatants
were parted, no one in the hall could
say which had the best of it. Both
bralny men, keen and ready as a bowie.
each appeared to feel that he had foe
man worthy of his steel. Donnelly IA
vored third party on the spot. Weaver
would wait at least year. With con-
summate skill, the chairman parted the
fiery pair just when delegates and spec
tators were holding their breaths, ex-
pecting-no one knew what. Adjourn
ment was forced the moment the COM
mittee on resolutions was announced.
the tacit understanding on both sides
being that preliminary scrimmage
behind closed doors was at
this time the better course. To-
Opening Scenes.
To the inspiring strains of the ssStar
Spangied Banner" from the great Or
gan, and with the stars and stripes
looking down from all the walls, the
delegates marched down the aisles in
little knots and took the places assigned
them. Besides the national colors. the
only decorations were the banners of K.
of l.. assemblies and kindred trade or
CARNATIONS. The notices were three in
number, painted in bold black letters,
on huge white canyases. Over the
stage was: limited We Stand, Divid-
ed We FALL" while on either side of the
hall were these significant Inscriptions:
"Nine Million Mortgaged Homes,,
and Opposition to All Monopolies.u
At exactly 2 p. M, the
hour set for assembling, the
conference, stentorian-voiced delegate,
with big red white and hlua hofloa