Omaha daily bee., 1892-06-22
Opening Proceedings of the National
Democratic Convention.
OWENS is MADE TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN
Cleveland's Forces Did Not Make Fight
Against Him.
EARNEST PLEA FOR PLACE AND HARMONY
Such Was the Burden of His Address II
the Convention.
SYMPATHY FOR Ex-SECRETARY BLAINE
Democracy's Assembled Hosts Join with
the Nation In Its sorrow at MIR. Biaine's
Bereavement - Verbatim Rcport
of the First Days Session.


cratic convention was IN session two hours
today, and during all that time the name Of
but one illustrious American was mentioned
and that name was that of James q.
Blaine, tho great popular leader of the re.
publican party. BY singular coincidence
the name OF Grover Cleveland. the demo-
cratic idol, who is destined to be the nom
inee of the convention, was unmentioned by
either chairman or delegates throughout the
entire session, while that of James q. Blaine
called forth the most enthusiastic demon.
strations of the day.
Honored IN Botn Parties.
II is true the resolution offered TO Blaine
was one of sympathy for his recent bereave-
ment, but before the purport of the resolu-
tion was known. and Immediately upon tho
mention OF the name of Blaine the secretary
was interrupted by that tremendous ovation
which is one of the typical scenes of national
conventions, and which rivalcd the tribute
| accorded to the name of Blaine at tho
national republican convention. That
| human sympathy rises above partisanship
was aptly Illustrated by tho recep-
ton which Congressman Cables resolution
| received and the chivalrous unanimity
| by which IL was adopted by the convention.
| Especially pleasing was the incident which
| followed when e. c. Sweet of Maine, from
| the home of the distinguished republican
| leader, arose and thanked the convention on
behalf of his state for the resolution just
! adopted. "God forbid" said he, "that tho
| democracy should hesitate to tender Its sym"
| pa;hy in the presence of that grim tyrant
| who wipes out all political lines, levels all
ranks and lays the shepherds crook Deside
the sceptre," and the laundering applause
which greeted the speech was evidence that
| the sentiment found an echo in every heart
throughout that vast convention hall.
Tame Proceedings.
Tho indications are that the national con-
| vention of 1892 is not TO be so lnharmonious
as has been generally predicted The pro.
| ceedings of today were unusually tame,
| being OF the duliest routine aud no action
being offered 10 call forth any particular
party enthusiasm. The speech of the tem-
porary chairman was well received but ha
refralned from mentioning any of the popu,
lar leaders whose names usually call forta
loyal enthusiasm in democratic conventions.
| His arraignment of the republican doctrins
of protection was in original and effective
language and the peroration closed with ths
| following sentence:
"Above the ruins of selfish combin ations
we must rear temple to the plain people
and build a shrine SO broad that every lover
of his kind may kneel."
Hardly had the applause which followed
this sentence subsidized bofore another utter
nnce came which was not so pleasing TO the
| Cleveland worshipers. Let US not mis-
take,' said Chairman Owens, "our work,
but begin here" and while on ordinary occa-
sions the sentiment would have been inter-
preted as being Incentive to party lead
ers, the fact that Mr.. Owens was identified
With the anti-Clevoland people caused the ex-
presidents followers TO suspect that this
was covert warning against the nomination
| of the distinguished New Yorker. But
moment later the best of feeling was re-
stored, when Chairman Owens again re-
ferred to the tariff question and aroused tho
enthusiasm of the convention by declaring
that 1.-THE people must know that no task
masters write our tariff bills.n
The Only DIssension.
| The only dissension which occurred in thu
days proceedings was over the attempt OF
several delegates to throw open tho vacant
galleries to the crowds of eager democrats
who were standing outside in tho rain. No
one seems to be able TO explain the my yster-
ious reason, but throughout tho entire
session there were 5000 unoccupied seats in
the galleries of the convention hall. Al
first it was supposed that the vacant seats
were those apportioned TO the Chicago wig
wan committee to defray expenses OF
construction and remaining unsold. Later,
however, when the Chicago people
announced that they had been allowed only
1900 seats, and that about all OF these vera
sold or otherwise disposed of, there was at
once inquiry as to who held the tickets for
the 5000 vacant seats. No one volunteered
any information, but the national committee
came in for most OF tho blame, and it was
generally asserted that the members of the
organization or some OF their favorlte friends
had pocketed these tickets to be used at the
best time and 10 the best advantage in filling
; the galleries with cheerers for some particu.
lar candidate.
Poor Press Accommodations.
; II is probable that never In tho history OF
American national con nyeutions have the
press arrangements been SO wretched, and
tho accommodations for the active workers
so inadequate as on the present occasion. A
| cry OF disappointment went up all along tho
. line when the newspaper men were shown
| their seats ana the narrow desks in the con-
I. ventlon hail today, ana comparisons made
; between the accommodations Of the national
9 republican convention of TWO weeks ago
and those Of today were not 10 the credit OF
the democratic national committee.
; During all this time when there were 5000
+. vacant gallery seats inside the wIgwam.
: there were over 400 representatives OF tho
press 200 OF whom were representatives OF
daily papers, standing on the outside and un'
a able 10 gam admittance TO the hall Most OF
these gentlemen were from western and
i southern states and failed 10 secure the usual
n courtesies because Of the matter being re.
. ferred to the Washington press committee
, which distributed the seats before these
. newspaper men had made their application.
h This committee quito naturally gave the
first preference 10 those papers which