Birmingham state herald., 1896-06-18
AFTERNOON SESSION.

the convention adjourned until 2 p. m.
 AFTERNOON SESSION.
 There was the usual delay in calling the convention to order for the afternoon session, but the waiting time was pleas antly whiled away by strains of sweet music. There was great pressure in all parts of. the immense hall; the galleries were packed, and there, as well as on the floor, palm leaf fans were in ceaseless agitation. The heat was very oppres- sive.
 It was 2:45 when the chairman's (Mr. Thurston's) hammer knocked for order and announced that the afternoon ses- sion would be opended with prayer by Bishop Arnett of Wilberforce college, Ohio. The bishop invoked blessings on the convention and on the country and gave thanks for an assembling of repre- sentatives of the culture, the wealth and the refinement of more than forty cen tures.
 He prayed that the victory to be gained in the future through the work of the convention might rebound to the blessings of every section, and that pro- tection and liberty and civil. political rights may be secured to every man, woman and child from the lakes of the north to the gulf of the south.
 Gavels of Historic Wood.
 MT. Madden of Chicago was recognized by the chair for a speceal purpose. MT. Madden then, in appropriate terms, pre- scented a gavel made from portion of the house in which Lincoln once lived. The chairman in accepting it expressed the hope. that the inspiration of the im- mortal Lincoln might fire the hearts of the convention to higher patriotism.
 Judge Denny of Kentucky presented a second gavei made from the wood which formed a part of the homestead of Hen ry Clay, the father of protection.
 Temporary Chairman Fairbanks re- sponded, expressing his qualification that the state of Henry Clay had en- tered the republican fold, and trusted 1t would be found true to the standard bearer of this convention in November next.
 A voice in the hall exclaimed: By 25,- 000.'
 ' Mir Lorrence of Minnesota then pre- sented, in the name of that state, to the chairman of the convention the table which stood in front of the presiding off, cer in 1892
 In accepting the table, the president sent back word to the boys of Minnesota that even as the fathers of the republic handed the union down, so would the re- publican party of today hand down the government under republican institu- tions with all the rights and privileges and opportunities for the boys to come. (Cheers)
 Credentials Committee Reports.
 The report of the committee on creden- tials was then presented by its chairman, MT. Fort, of New Jersey.
 The report was in favor of seating the Higgins delegates from Delaware and the delegates at large from Texas on the list headed by John Grant.
 The rest of the report read by the sec- retary recommended that the delegates and alternates of the convention from wal Q fnc tot t~ta tarn pared by the national committee for the temporary organization be approved as the permanent roll of this convention.
 MT. Hepburn of Iowa was recognized to present the minority report from the com mittee on credentials. It recommended the seating of the Addicks delegation from Delaware and of the Cuney delega- tion from Texas, and that the other con- tested cases acted upon by the national committee be referred to the credentials committee for full investigation. The minority report was signed by nineteen members of the committee.
 MT. Fort, chairman of the committee, was recognized and moved the previous question on the report of the committee down to the final vote under the rules of the house of representatives. This motion was seconded by MT. J. Doyle of Georgia and by an unidentified delegate from Ohio.
 MT. Mudd of Maryland asked for sep arate vote on the Delaware report and was seconded by the states of Delaware, California and Maine.
 The question being now on the order of the previous question the delegation from Maine, seconded by Massachusetts, Maryland and Iowa, demanded a roll coll. i Previous Question Ordered. The roll of states was then called and resulted as follows: Yeas 545k, nays 359k, so the previous question was or dered. .....
 The chairman of the committee on res olutions was recognized and reported that the platform would be ready at 8 D. m. z..s [
 Discussion was then commenced under the previous question on the majority and minority reports, each side being al- lowed twenty minutes.
 MT. Fort of New Jersey opened the dis cussion. He said that the minority of that committee made three propositions, first, to open all the contested cases; sec ond,, to seat the Addicks delegates from Delaware, and third, to seat the Cuney delegates from Texas.
 He opposed all the propositions. The committee on credentials had, by vote of 31 to IA, determined to accept the roll as made up by the national committee with the exception of Delaware and Texas (on which the national committee. had taken no action). One hundred and sixty men, he said, had appeared before the national committee by counsel or otherwise and had asked to be heard longer time than the committee on~cre- dentials could give them unless it stayed in session for a full week. If they got all the time they wanted the committee would be in session for three months Sob that the committee on credentials had a right to gay that the temporary roll
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