The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-06-10
THE NIGHT SESSION.


Scenes and Incidents Daring the Great strug-
gle Over the Contested Cases.
MINNEAPoLIs, June 9.-The first evening
session of the Republican convention was
characterized by the same lack of eager in
terest on tho part of the visitors ana dele
gates which has been remarked at she pre-
vious sessions. 1t was not until long after
the hour for opening the session that the gal
leries began to ill with the eXpectant mul-
titude. The evening was warm and pleas
ant, and the conditions, In every way,
promised an agreeable and interesting
evening. The occasion was an excellent
one for testing the lighting facilities of
the auditorium, and amply demonstrates
the excellence of all the arrangements.
The rich, mellow light diffused through
out the hall by the electric orbs enabled
the spectators to view distinctly every por-
tion of the vast building. yet offered no
binding glare to the eyes
Just before tho hour of meeting the re-
port was circulated that the Harrison man.
ayers were discussing the advisability of
forcing ballot at to-night's session. The
reports of the committeos on credentials
and resolutions were supposed to oe ready
for prcsen ton, and. as il was not then
expected there would be any prolonged
discussion over these reports the proposi-
tion to force ballot seemed perfectly
feasible. Besides, the Harrison people felt
that the meeting of the afternoon demon
strated their superiority over the Blaine
forces aud there acemed slight molina
tion to force test vote either on formal
ballot or some preliminary question. AS
there had been several lively discussions
in the committee on credentials over
which of certain Southern contested dele
cations should be seated, it was known an
opportunity could be had at any time to
force test of strength by merely moving
to seat one of the rival eontasting delega-
tions.
WOULD NOT SHOW THEIR HAND.
The Harrison forces were silent as to the
course they intended TO pursue. and, in re-
sponse to inquiries, merely stated that they
did not know whether the convention
would reaNh ballot tonight ornot. They
animated, however, that so much of the
convention's time had been consumed by
the committee on credentials that 1t might
be found eXpedient and advisable to pro-
ceed with the least possible delay to the
selection of the presidential and vice. pres
idential candidates In that event they
lnsinuated that it might be deemed best to
dispense. in great measure. with all the
long nominating and seconding speeches
which had been prepared, limiting these
merely 10 chief nomination speech and to
seconding speeches OF u minnie each, and
then proceeding to the great, decisive ballot.
II n m hn toa <.at I'm
tainty was manifested as to the intentions
Of the Blaine managers regarding the pre-.
sentation of Mr.. Blaine. Some thought 1t
would be better not TO formally present
him TO the convention. and although the
eloquent Ex-Governor Foraker, of Ohio,
had been detailed to this duty, 1t was
stated that he and Mr. Plat were both in.
clined to the belief that il would be wiser
not formally to present Mt. Blaine to the
convention at all. In the event of this de-
cision being adhered to it was obvious
that If the Harrison people decided 20 re-
strict their nominating and sec0nding
speeches, ballot could be reached within
compile OF hours after the opening of the
session. When this condition OF affairs be-
came known, the deepest interest was
manifested by both the galleries and the
delegates as to the uncertainty of the pro-
ceedings, aud every phase of the session
was watched with bTeathless interest
At $50, a half hour after the hour ofmcet-
ing. the convention had not yet been
called to order. Every sent in the great
auditorium appeared now TO be occupied,
and, as some enterprising advertiser had
distributed fans to every individual in tho
vast audience, magnificent sight was pre-
sented bv the twelve Thousand fans wav-
ing In time to the music of the band. All
this time the most inspiring airs known to
martial music had been played by the band
in it's fiag-draped nest near the roof, only
one being excepted, the Southern air Of
Dixie" At this iuncture Chairman Cogs-
we'll, of the credentials committee, made
his appearance on the platform,
most important committee of the
organization had concluded Its lab0rs
the convention burst into Wild applause.
Mr.. Murray. of New York, held hurried
little consultation with Platt Just after the
lattcr's entry, and communicated tho re-
suit to rhe stern-looking politica: veteran
III the next chair-John *. Lawson. Many
hundreds of curious eyes watched the pair
Murray and Lawson. The former is one
OF the brightest appearing OF the younger
New York leaders, while Lawson. grim aud
intent. has been O familiar figure in many
q previous national convention.
TRIBUTE TO A HOosIER.
1.-THE convention will please come to or
der" said Chairman Mckinley at precisely
s:45, and Chauncey NJ. Depew Immediately
demanded recognition, and in felIcitous
6pcoCu uONcQ 10 tuc I1OD.
Richard w. Thompson. of Indiana, on his
eighty third birthday. which occurred to-
day. and to invite him TO the platform.
Prolonged cheers followed Mr.. Depew's
motion, and when the manifestation Ind
subsided Chairman Mckinley said. "All In
favor of the motion say yea" There " as
o storm of yeas. The yeas have it,
said Chairman Mckinley without putin q
the negative vote, and great laughter ana
applause approved this delicate compli.
ment to the great Indienian. It was q
scene of enthusiasm long TO be remembered
that greeted the appearance OF the venera-
BILE ex-Secretary of the Navy. as he alike ed
up the aisle arm in arm with Chauncey NJ.
Depew aud A. L. Dawes of Missouri, and of
course the incident was not complete with
out n speech from Colonel Thompson
While rare old ''D,ck" L hompson was ad-
dressing the convention there sat within a
few feet of hin the most eonspicuous man
i'm the Illinois delegation at the moment.
almost the exact counterpart OF him
.Dick OGelsby, the famous many time
Republican Governor and Senator of the
Prairie Stafa Ogalsbv,a faca NINA =, st nj ~