Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-06-24
SMALLER HALL NEXT TIME.
Collins Answers the Question: "Where
Is This Thing Going to Stop?"

Collins Answers the Question: "where
Is This Thing Going to Stop?"
After the cheers and applause which
greeted the nomination had subsided, the
national committee was authorized to fix
the place of holding the next national con-
vention, and the usual resolutions of
thanks were adopted, one being to the
chairman, who vacated his functions long
enough to permit Collins of Massachusetts
to put the question in that particular case.
But Collins had something else on his
mind, too, and after seeing the chairman
duly thanked he unburdened himself.
The Committee on Sense.
He said: 81 propose to address myself to
the committee on sense and good judg-
ment and experience of 900 men collected
here. Twelve years ago presented res
olution authorizing the national commit
tee to provide accommodations for the
next convention. The time was not ripe
for the adoption of that resolution then.
Without disparagement to our national
committee feel free to say in the presence
of a small fraction of the American public
that mistake has been made and the
time has come when the national conven-
tion should be deliberative body, not
subject to outside influence. If we could
be on exhibition to 1000, OO0 of Democrats,
well and good, but what is the use of hav-
ing l5, 600 people, who can hardly see and
cannot hear, controlling the proceedings
of a Democratic convention and preventing
it from being deliberative. [Cries of
good
Suggests a Radical Change.
at is not the discomfort and inconveni-
ence but it is the danger of wrecking the
convention that moves me. / therefor
move that the Democratic national COM
mittee be instructed to provide for the
next convention Accommodations for the
delegates, alternates, members of the
press, national committee and none
Others" All of the delegates were stand
ing during the remarks of Collins. They
listened to him attentively and cries of
"good" reached him from all parts of the
hall. But at the end there were Kisses
and jeers from the galleries.
Interrupted by a Panic
Collins called for the roll of states, and
the chairman called on the delegates to
resume their seats. Just as he ceased
speaking the rope holding one of the cleo
trio lights just over the center of the con-
vention floor gave way, and the big iron
frame with its glowing arc came down
with crash right in the middle of the
New York delegation. Women sprang to
their feet and started for the exits. The
delegates fled from the suffering arc light
in all directions, falling over chairs and
pIshing each other into the aisies a panic
threatening thousands seemed almost in
evitaIle.
Rescue of the Damaged Lamp.
Cries of NO danger" "Sit down." were
heard all over the house Cooler people
grasped the fleeing women and queted
them. a policeman rushed forward and
grabbed the rope of the electric lamp, a
fireman aiding him. In the onslaught
they knocked several of the New York
and New Jersey delegates right and left,
landing one OF them on his back in the
aisle, but their object was accomplished.
They hauled up the lamp, broken, but
still burning, and as they did so the dele
gates cheered and the vast crowd b came
seated and quiet.
Couldn't Secure Roll Call.
1t was evident that roll call was i'm
possible. There was too much confusion
and Hensel of Pennsylvania moved that
Collins resolution be referred TO the ma
tional committee with favorable recon-
mendation. This was carried, only few
voting, and after the chairman had made
a short speech thank ng the delegates for
their forbearance etc, he declared the con-
adjourned without day and the second
great political gathering of 1892 was at an
ani