Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1896-07-16

On the fifth day of the Chicago conven-
ton and on the fifth ballot, Arthur Sew
all Of Maine was named as the Democrat
ic candidate for Vice-President. A few
minor motions were speedily disposed Of,
the gavel fell announcing adjournment
and one of the most noted political con-
ventions ever held in this country had
passed into history. The end was like the
beginning. 1t was the South and West
against the North and East on the first
day, when Chairman Harrity raped fox
order. 1t was the Sou. I and West against
the North and East through four long,
toilsome days over committee reports,
platforms and nominations. And Satur-
day afternoon ii was the South and West
against themselves to placate the North
and East in the nomination of a candi-
date for Vice-President. Geography
made Sewall the nominee. 1t was the
most remarkable political gathering of a
generation and it laid the foundation for
a new volume of history. The national
anthem, rolling through the great amphi-
theater, pronounced its benediction.
The convention did not decide Friday
night who would be placed on the ticket
with Bryan. The body had hardly been
brought to order before motion to ad-
journ was offered, and the delegates glad
ly postponed the task of completing the
ticket to the fifth day.
The convention met Saturday for its
last days work depleted in members, tired
in body and mind and listless in spirit.
There were no eager thousands in the
galleries to encourage ambitious speak
ers with applause Among the delegates
there was no desire to punctuate the day 5
proceedings with pyrotechnics. The con-
vention did not get under way until after
IL O'clock. The delegates were slow in
arriving and the public apparently had
had a sufiiciency of convention amuse-
ment. The smallest crowd of the week,
probably less than 5000, was ranged on
the shelving sides of the amphitheater.
Sound money delegates from the East
nearly all had departed. Silver delegates
were absent by the score, leaving the del
egations to pick for them vice-presiden-
tial candidate out of the mass of uncer-
tainty. The small attendance was due to
lack of interest. There was no limitation
on admission to the hall. Before the con-
vention began business Senator Ben Till
|
doors with his famous pitchfork and al
lowed all who wished to enter. In detail,
he offered a motion, which was passed.
that the hall he opened to the public with
out restriction. This was received with
much enthusiasm.
Despite an apparent lack of enthusiasm
the contest for second place would have
stood out as a notable convention strug-
gle had it not been oversbadowed by
what had been done before. Thirteen can
didatcs were placed in nomination.: VIII
liams of Massachusetts, Mclean of Ohio,
Clark of North Carolina, Fithian of Hi
nois, Pennoyer of Oregon, Sewall Of
Maine, Sibley of Pennsylvania, Bland Of
Missouri, Daniel of Virginia, Boies of
Iowa. Blackburn of Kentucky. Harrity
of New York and Pattison of Pennsylva'
MIA. Nominations scarcely were COM
pleted when Withdrawals began and the
contest finally narrowed down to Sewall
and Mclean. Everybody expected a
nomination on the fifth ballot, but before
roll-call was finished telegram was read
announcing McLean's withdrawal and the
proposition was made that Sewall be de-
clared the nominee by acclamation, and ii
was done. The chairman laid down his
gavel and the Democratic national con-
vention OF 1876 was over.