The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-07-09
ALTGELD AN IDOL.
Cheered by Friends and Kissed by
Foes.

Foes.
The Democratic governor made his
way into the aisle and stood there, a
pale-faced man. with a black beard
closely cut and close cropped black
hair, and jet black eyes that snapped
and cleaned like sparks while he
stood with lifted arm appealing for at
tention. Few could see him and there
was much crowding and confusion I'M
til he mounted his chair under the IL
linois standard and the the cheer was
redoubled. His opponents, also, when
they spied him from the galleries,
were inf1amed to wrath and they show
cred upon him a sputter of Kisses.
Throughout this scene the delegations
from New York, Massachusetts, and
other Eastern states sat in frozen
silence. There came an end to the up
roar at last, and AItgeld made his
voice heard shouting: "On behalf of the
State of Illinois I suggest that this
convention give to Hon: David B. Hill,
of New York, an opportunity to ad-
dress it,
This stroke brought down another
shower of demands for ''Hilll Hill!
Hillr'
The chairman made himself heard
and said: THE distinguished gentle
man from New York who has been
called for so often is member of the
committee on resolutions and is not
here" Still the convention demanded
Hill until Senator White was driven
to cry appealingly: why will you in
sist upon a man who is not here?"
Then the cry was turned to "Russellv'
by the Eastern men, but the young
Massachusetts ex-governor sat impas-
sively in his chair. Finally ex-Gover-
nor Overmeyer, of Kansas, was brought
to the platform and appeased the appe-
tite of the crowd for several minutes
as he pleaded for the dollar Of the
daddies." For another five minutes the
band held the crowd in check with
stirring music. Then the cries for
Altgeld were renewed and at last with
evident reluctance the Illinois governor
was urged forward to the stage.
Great curiosity existed among thou
sands who had never heard and some
who had never before seen this great
power in this part Of the country.
Some of the delegates crowded to the
foot of the stage; not because his voice
was weak, as his voice reached out to
the furthermost limits Of the hall, but
to get a closer view of the man. With
great elaboration he opened with the
statement that he had not come here
to make a speech but to insist in the
nomination of the next president of the
United States, and the formulation Of
a declaration of principles that would
again offer hope to the party of the
people. This opening sentiment
warmed up the audience and soon the
pale, almost haggard face of the Illi-
nois governor grew flushed. His ges-
lures became quick and vehement and
before he had proceeded far the conven-
ton was
SWAYED AS BY A CYCLONE.
by his oratory
When he declared that hungry men
and children were looking to this con-
vention for relief there was a. great
demonstration. Adroitly he worked on
to his climax. He described the toll
and blood and sweat of the millions
which was being doubled by the
shrinking standard of values. Then he
paused and f1tnging his arms out be-
fore him, asked: viii you let them
continue it?''
No, never" came in laundering
chorus from 10000 threats.
Later, referring to the great strug-
gle against slavery he pointed to an
American flag at his back and secuted
the idea of compromise did the
men," he asked, who gave up their
lives to preserve that flag talk of com
promise? There could be none. There
can be none"
AS he finished he descended from the
platform and he was accorded another
demonstration. The Illinois delegation
mounted their chairs and frantically
waved their banners. Delegates from
other delegations crowded the aisles to
wiring his hand while the galleries
yelled and shouted
After the interlude by the band New
England had her inning when George
Fred Williams, the stalwart, fashion
ably attired, blonde mustached, scol-
ariy-looking young ex-congressman
from Massachusetts, whose conversion
to free silver was recently announced
was called to the platform amid great
enthusiasm. He spoke in a new vein
for the free silver men of New Eng
land, and his speech was by far the
most striking of the day. He made an
impassioned plea against sectionalism.
and made, 1t In such forcible. clear-cut
ringing sentences that every one shot
to the mark like bullet His first SEN
tence. this is not sectional conyen-
t1on, brought the silver men to their
feet like a regiment answering to the
word OF command, and when he de-
clared that ''this is a battle for the
restoration of the union of the states /"
the shout made the roof rattle. Con
tinuing he said: