The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-07-28

vention of Populists and Democrats in
Grand Forks. The planning on the
governor in Minnesota is to endeavor
to unite on Lind and of course on
Towne. in the Sixth district, while Dom
nelly is talked of as being conferred on
in the Third district. AS Heatwole only
had 280 majority over the Democrat
and Populist candidate two years ago,
while Cleveland and Weaver had thirty
six hundred in that district over Har-
r1son four years ago. the Populists think
they could win and are hoping to make
union with the Democratic silver
forces This convention will doubtless
encourage similar movements in other
portions of the country
CHAMPION NOISE MAKERS.
OF the many national conventions T
have attended 1 have never seen the
equal of this one for noise, turbulence
and disrespect Of everything and every
body While 1t was unWieldy. there
was no occasion for the many turbulent
scenes which occurred The large
delegation from Texas was rebellious
and disorderly from the start and their
example seemed to be contagious with
many others. Many of them were
armed with deadly weapons, and in
view Of the excitement which occurred
at times, 1t is really surprising that
some hot head did not fire shot or
use knife, which would have brought
on a bloody encounter. In the fight
over the Missouri state standard. when
the Bryan applause was in progress, a
Middle of the Road woman en-
deavored to aid in retaining it and
tainted away in the attempt, while
several men were knocked down during
the affair In recalling this and
numerous other outbursts. which it
would be tedious to recount. wonder
that everybody left that hall alive
The later portion of the proceedings
were somewhat aided by A. A. Wors-
ley, of Wisconsin, who volunteered to
aid the chairman by mounting a chair
on the platform and repeating the mo-
tons or announcements. His voice was
something phenomenal and he used it
with such ease that he seemed to be
speaking in an ordinary tone of voice.
There was no apparent effort or strain,
and he would bring down the house by
facing the Texas steers and speaking
as though it was to the chairman at
his elbow and say, Does Texas hear
me?" in a tone which penetrated every
nook and Granny of the great building.
AS If to invite attention, he would oc-
casionally interject did somebody say
lCuder?" But there was no such call
upon Mr.. Worsley. He bears off the
palm as q convention annunciator.
In other conventions good deal of
the noise and disturbance comes from
the galleries and they can usually be
held in partial check, because they are
there as spectators and are not per-
mitted to participate in the proceed
ings. In this convention the galleries
consisted chiefly of empty chairs, from
two to five hundred being an average
attendance, though possibly there may
have been at times a thousand. The
Pops are, as in other things, law I'M
to themselves in the matter of issuing
tickets. The old party conventions give
each delegate six tickets for his friends,
which provides an audience of at least
six thousand. Then the national COM
mittee manages to get good many
more, sometimes running into the
thousands, which each member uses
among his friends or sometimes adds
to the regular allotment of the dele
gates. Here, the Populists did not al
low themselves any extra tickets at all
for their friends, but everyone who
wanted to go could buy a ticket of adj
mission for one dollar. AS rule it was
a better show than the ordinary dollar
entertainments, but it did not success
fully appeal to the amusement goers
of ST. Louis, and about all the Populists
who could afford to come were dele
gates, so there was very little Of an out
side crowd to be cared for, even Ii they
had given themselves tickets. The con-
sequence was that 1t was the conven-
ton itself which was disorderly, and
that made 1t all the more difficult to
hold in check, for there everyone of the
fourteen hundred at least had a right
to yell MIR Chairman" and often
times twenty-five or more would be en-
gagged In that occupation at the same
moment while several hundred more
would be yelling: "Sit down" 1--WE can't
hear over here" What was that mo-
04o Ito fho fc- of
would be adding to the confusion by
rushing wildly around in undress cos
tune waving their hands and shout
ing for quiet The mercury approximate
ed ninety in the building goodly port
ion Of the time, and undrses costume
was really eXcuSable. Coats and vests
were DOTTED and shirt collars were at
decided discount during the week. If
they couldn't be comfortable, they pro-
posed to be as comfortable as
they could, and toilet appearance cut
no figure.
There was, too, that intolerant spirit
I have already alluded to by many
members from the South Such a thing
as free speech was not considered.
but when they did not want to hear
anyone, he was simply yelled down.
I do not know but that he would
have been knocked down If he had not
consented to have been yelled down,
DUH the same result WAS T0dCn0u, dS
If the act had been physical instead Of
vocal.
THE WHY AND WHEREFORE.
Notwithstanding my criticisms, I
consider it a very remarkable conven-
ton, perhaps the most remarkable OF
the fourteen previous ones I have at
tended. There were no marching clubs,
no brass bands. no champagne or
registering festivals, no increasing Of
bartenders or frightening of bars or
any Of the paraphernalia of
the old party convention. say
this to their credit. Outside of
the convention all was orderly
and decent. The only band was the
one furnished in the Auditorium by the
citizens, and that only for three days,
though the convention lasted four. The
delegates who came were nearly all
men of moderate means, many abso-
lutely poor, and many were sent by con-
tributions taken up in their neighbour
hoods because they could not afford to
bear the burden themselves. Very few
stopped at first-class hotels, and for
the most part second, third, fourth
class and boarding houses were used,
but they were all very much in earnest
and for the most part above the aver
age in intelligence, while many were
men of marked ability Hundreds
came long distances in day coaches,
because they did not have the means
to pay for sleeping cars, but they were
there discussing and comforting with
each other They must have constit-
uency or they would not come. 1t was
notable, too, in looking over that gath