The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-06-10

electric light, the magniIcent hall, vast
in it's proportions and with its exauis-
itely simple decorations displayed to
beautiful advantage, presented an inspir-
ing scene. For the tirst tlme, there were
many ladies in the convention hall, and
their pretty light costumes lent to the
picture refreshing coolness that was
much more apparent than real. Every
body sweltered. The dozen windows in
the azure pointed roof were opened. but
not breath of air swept through the
building. There were literally 1900
fans in motion, for an enterprising news
paper had laid fan in every seat with
the warning words: 'sWe wish YOU to
keep cool. Remember November
When. during spirited rendition of old
war songs. the audience kept time to the
the rythm, the waving fans made curl
Gus sight. Three raps of the gavel caused
every fan to disappear and
Chauncey M. Depew to. arise In
characteristically pretty speech,
he referred to the presence of a delegate
VINO had participated in every convention
of the Republican party and voted for
every President during the past sixty
years. Today continued Mr.. Depew,
The celebrates his S3rd birthday. and
while England boasts of Gladstone vigor-
GUS and hearty at 81 the United States
has every reason to be prouder of Col.
Dick Thompson, of Indiana, at S3.'' He
therefore moved that he be invited to
the platform. In the midst of demon
stration that might have stirred the
heart of any man,
The Venerable ex-Secretary
of the Navy arose from his seat in the
Indiana delegation. With firm step he
moved to the platform and stood with
form erect beside the chairman's desk.
Not whit olderrlid he look today than
when years ago he presided over the
navy department in Washington. His
voice filled the hall when he began to
speak and during the fifteen minutes
that he addressed the assemblage there
was no faltering in his tone. He was
applauded when he said that the first
vote he cast for President was for Henry
Clay, the apostle of protection, and when
he coupled to this statement a eulogy
of Gov. Mckinley, the crowd worked
itself up into a greater August
temperature by demonstration that
compelled the speaker to cease
speaking for several moments.
The outburst was as hearty and universal
as any which had yet occurred in the
convention. While it was still in pro-
gress, the electric lights sputtered and
went out and the hall became as black as
night, except for few gaslights that
dimly burned it different intervals. The
throng remained perfectly quiet and
good naturedly applauded when the
electric current was again turned on.
After an appeal for relief from the suf-
ferers from fire and flood at Titusville
and Oil City, Pa, had been presented
and read, Chairman Coggswell, from
The Committee on Credentials,
was recognized to present his report.
His announcement that the committee
had finished its work but the minority
report had not been completed led ex-
Representative Wallace of New York,
who had been selected by the anti -Har-
rison managers to represent them on the
tioor in the fight, to announce that he
had only a partial report prepared.
There was no objection to the submis-
sion of the majority report and MI.
Coggswell, with great deliberation and
much robustness of voice, read it to the
SohfCkAOAOls ~ w d1o ctS 81 uluCI NICch w
the delegates who applauded
but with absolute ignorance
as to the number of Harrison or anti
Harrison delegates it admitted. AS a
matter of fact, it very nearly equally di-
vided the seats in the controversy.
Then the report of the minority was
read. 1t referred only to the cases of
Alabama and Louisiana, and was full of
uninteresting details, to which patient
hearing was given. At its conclusion the
first real skirmish of the convention
opened.
The minority report carried with it an
addition of ten votes to the anti-Harri-
son column from Alabama and Louisiana
The substitution of that portion of the
report for the majority report was
moved.
II move" said Mr.. Coggswell, uttering
his words with marked emphasis and de-
liberation, that the majority report be
adopted as whole The full signifi-
canoe of the situation was at once appre-
ciated by the audience. When Chauncey
I. Filley, minus his Quaker brimmed hat,
arose to protest against the adoption OF
the majority report in the case of Ala
bama, Mr.. Filley occupied ten minutes in
vigorously presenting his side of the case
to the convention and was succeeded by
Delegate Massey, of Delaware, a man OF
marked resemblance to Dewitt Talmage
and with voice resembling the famous
preachers. Mr.. Massey claimed that
the action of the committee was fair and
proper.
Delegate Wright, of California, with
A whirlwind of Gestures
and an impetuous delivery, argued fol
the report of the minority as being JUS
tice for the truest and most loyal Repub.
licans of Alabama.
Mr.. Knight declared that the Moseley
faction, recommended by the majority te
be seated, had, through its federal off
GERS, attempted to thwart the will of the
people of Alabama. 1t was enough thai
the Democratic party suppressed the
will of the people in the South without
an hundred thousand office holders
thwarting the will of the Republicans il
a party convention. He appealed fol
justice for the loyal Republicans of Ala
bama. Loud applause An intensified
interest was lent to Mr.. Knights speecl
by the knowledge among the spectators
and delegates that he was to be the frs
man to second the nomination of Blaine