Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-04-16
LIVELY CONVENTION.
BLAND FOR THE PRESIDENCY.
y..o,u,ions Calling for the Indepen-
dent Free Coinage of silver nj
10 10 IA Scoring OF Cieve-
land.

Ter Hon. w. NJ. Hatch was named as
...,,orary chairman, and made speech
d, the interest OF free silver. Ills reier-
80 10 the speeches OF Congressman
p,.ck was received with tumuituous
cheers.
The first business OF the convention was
-. calling Of delegates by congressional
,,.,,,c,s The call showed that the only
....,,,,i. money delegates were from St
,,,is and the convention began an anil
.o.,es discussion as to whether their ere-
'..,,i,ls should be recognized. The con-
,.s,o8 delegations were referred TO the
committee on Credentials. After the APP
continent Of the usual committees the
invention took recess until 2:30 p. M.
SENSATIONAL SCENE.
While the Committee ON Resolutions
vas being appointed one Of the most
.o,eational scenes ever witnessed on a
,,,hiic platform was enacted. OF the
erteen members Of the committee only
,s,s,, I.yonberger. OF ST. Louis. was found
n be tainted with gold-bugism. on
cotton that the committee be ratified by
,r, convention, Delegates Lyonberger,
n.vov and Frost pleaded for Lyonber-
- recognition. Delegate Dewey read a
-, ,rsrriment in behalf of Lyonberger.
warned the convention that they
...,rf not afford TO trample upon the mi
.,r.tv He warned them that they could
,ot arord TO lose many more Demo-
aatic votes. ,,.,
storm Of Kisses followed his implied
at Cat-calls echoed and re-echOeu al
,ysr the house. During this scene
ioz.n men we're on their feet Colonel
,ioholas ~ Bell was among them. lie
l,nanded TO be allowed TO be heard.
Nafntt who was sitting on the stage
hiring Bells efforts 10 be heard, yelled:
.St down. Keep cool!' Bell shouted
ick go.
MaTtrs blood was up. He shook his fist
II the silver leader. and said: You turn
,Odt you
I'm an impassioned speech Colonel Bell
reclaimed the manner in which the free
liver delegates were elected in st.
ouis. From his view of the case Dele
rate L.yonberger had no right on the com
nittee.
WATER IN THE FACE.
fi,s, after Mr.. Bell had finished speak
ne he stepped up along the press tables
20 get a glass Of water. Maiiitt walked
,yer 10 the edge Of the platform, and
Gaming over. said something to him.
Commissioner Bell had the glass In his
7ani II was full Of water. He let fly
u A.smtts face The latter said no
hing. but wiped his face with
7is handkerchief. and moved back. Some
4 the water hit Chairman Hatch and
secretary Punard and the latter's re-
cords.
After this scene Bell left the hall. He
was followed by some friends, who en-
deayored TO smooth out the ruffied feel
lngs of the Colonel, while others en-
1evored 70 perform a similar Office with
Chairman Maffitt. Their efforts, how
ever, were fruitless.
The cOnveuf ion Teassembled at AIS 7.
Nj. \ number Of resolutions of instruc-
ton 10 the Platform Committee were
offered. bat the Chair ruled that they
could not be offered regularly until
permanent organization was effected
Short addresses were made by silver
tongued" orators. At $50 o'clock the
Committee on Credentials had not agreed,
and asked FOR more time, and another
recess was taken until =. NJ.
When the convention reassembled the
Committee on Credentials was reported
ready. and Dr. Shields. Of Hannibal, read
the report. The only contests were in the
Fifth and Tenth districts. These the re-
port settled in favor OF the silver contest
ants. and the convention approved II,
much 10 the disgust of the small but ac-
tive gold contingent from ST. Louis.
CLEVELAND SCORED.
NJ T. Fenton was made permanent
chairman on taking the gavel he scored
president Cleveland in a savage manner,
and put the free silverites in a good hui
nor
IL was $50 o'clock before the convention
got down TO work and the Committee on
Resolutions was ready 10 report. Then
Thomas Shackelford, chairman OF the
committee. appeared and said the report
had been signed by every member but
ut-Lyonberger. a gold man Of 81. Louis.
The committee stood Ia to l. The plat
form was read by the secretary or the
committee.
Before the report could be adopted Ed.
p,yery. OF ST. Louis, offered the follow
ing amendment. which, after some discus
son. was referred TO the Committee on
Resolutions. as the only means of killing
g. TIE amendment is: I'VE pledge our
selves and instruct the delegation 20 be
selected By this convention TO abide by
ana support the platform and nominees
Of the Democratic party in national con-
yentlon."
BLAND FOR PRESIDENT.
Governor Stone came forward at this
moment with set Of resolutions endors-
Ing Richard l.. Bland for President. The
Governor was received with tumultuous
toars.
He hoped and believed H. free-silver
delegates would organize the Chicago con-
vention. and nominate Bland, ''the fore
most free-silver advocate In America"
FOR President
A rising vote was taken, and every
one rose. except Graham Frost of st.
louis and one or two others. Showal- |
ter Of Lafayette. offered resolution |
msiructng the Missouri member Of the !
national committee 10 vote for no man |
Tor temporary chairman OF the Chicago |
convention not known 10 be a ffee-silver |
man This was aimed at Ex-Governor |
ID r. Francis. who is said TO have been |
slated FOR the place named. There !
were but Ave votes against the resolu- |
uon-all being from St. Louis,
DELEGATES AT LARGE.
When the chairman announced that the |
order was the selection OF four delegates |
- large to the national convention. Mr.. |
Bland came to the. platform. lie said |
NAT the convention. In its Partially. had !
seen III 10 honor him with an indorse-
ment for the nomination for President, |
and that. IN yielding, against his judg- |
ment TO the win OF the people OF the |
state. he would make the fight for the |
domination. and that II would there
Tore be impossible for him TO serve as
"a national delegate.
va, Cockrell. and Stone were then |
hamed as delegates az large by acclama-
ion and George w. Allen. ex-Mayor OF /
81 Louis. was chosen the fourth dele 1