The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-07-10
THE CONVENTION PROCEEDINGS
A Stubborn Fight Made by Gold Men
on the Platform.

A Stubborn Fight Made by Gold Men
on the Platform.
Chicago, H., July 9.-As the doors
to the mammoth coliseum in Jackson
Park were thrown open this morning
and the black streams of people welled
up through the entrances and broke
like a cascade over the galleries, the
band struck up "Massa's in the Cold,
Cold Ground"
The silver leaders entered with light
and buoyant step. The faces Of the
gold leaders were grim and grave. In
some cases they were defiant.
The preliminary scenes were largely
a repetition of those of the two pre-
ceding days.
At 1852 Chairman White dropped
the gavel The indescribable buzz of
thousands of voices gradually subsid-
ed and the delegates took their seats,
| while vacant spaces in the black pit
| marked off with almost definite accur-
acv the location of the New England
delegations which had not, with the
exception of a few stragglers, as yet
arrived The New York delegation
however, headed by Whitney and Hill
were in their places. The bulky form
of Bissell of Buffalo, was, however,
absent.
At five minutes before eleven, DIR.
Green, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the
Episcopalian clergyman who had
made the opening prayer on yester-
day, again rose for the same office. He
prayed that the choice of the conven-
tion might be a man whose work
would rebound to the glory of his
country and his God.
THE PLATFORM READ.
|. Senator White handed the gavel
over to Congressman Richardson, of
Tennessee, a tall, slender man with
black moustache and a scholarly stoop
of the shoulders, who announced that
the committee on resolutions was
ready to report and called to the plat
form Senator Jones, of Arkansas, to
make the committees report. Sena-
tor Jones adjusted pair of gold spec
tacles and began to read the financial
plank of the platform which Col. Chas.
Fl. Jones, the st. Louis journalist, had
written. The effect of the reading
would have been greater had the
Southern Senator controlled a stronger
NoISEs Il lit SlifGI LktIlhS IdiSttt d EilRPT
when some of them heard the words
1--WE demand tie free and unlimited
coinage of both gold and silver" and
one enthusiast demanded that the
passage be re-read, which was done.
Senator Jones declared that he was
hoarse and indeed his voice broke
two or three times and nearly failed
him. AS the delegates could not hear
much Of the platform most of its
points fell uncheered, but the denun-
citation of government by injunction,
which is taken as an indirect approval
of Gov. Altgeld's course during the
Chicago strike, met with recognition.
When the plank expressing sympa-
thy with Cuba had been read, flag of
the new republic appeared in the aisle
in front of the delegates chairs and
was carried along the aisle. 1T did not
arouse the demonstration which the
partisans of Cuba had hoped for, in
deed the applause was very moderate
and Mr.. Richardson raped on the
desk and cried "put down that flag"
so it quickly sunk from sight. 1t was
evidently a tired convention. The
strain of the two preceding days Of
convention work and the earlier days
of candidate-making had worn out the
rank and file as well as the generals
1t seemed to be impossible to stir the
concourse to enthusiasm.
The platform was concluded without
any marked applause. Then the re-
port for the minority was read by J.
Fl. Wade, of Ohio, a former reading
clerk of the House of Representatives
The gold people rose and cheered, but
after their outbreaks on yesterday
these efforts were faint. The endorse
ment of the Democratic administra-
ton, which Senator Hill had made a
losing fight for in the committee on
resolutions, brought down a yell from
the galleries. Several New York dele
gates stood and waved their hats, but
they did not include Hill, Whitney or
Flower. Over on the far right the
stalwart frame of Senator Gray, of
Delaware, stood alone, and silence per-
vaded most of the delegations.
TILLMAN TAKES THE STAND.
The issue was drawn Senator Ben
Tillman, of South Carolina. mounted
the stage to open the great debate in
behalf Of free coinage. striking fig
ure he was, as he faced his audience.
With no pretensions in dress, shabby
coated, wearing a heavy silver chain
across his breast, he instantly drew
the eyes of the twenty thousand peo-
pie present. They turned toward
him as if he were an antagonist. His
thick set, commanding form was full
of defiance. His head, Thrown back, |
was round and compact. The features
strong and powerful were cast in a
classical mould. The nose was straight |
square and pugnacious, but the |
the lips thin and compressed, the jaw |
heavy, square and determined, the |
sunken cavity which marked his left |
eye gave to his face a sinister express |
sion. 1t was a face, once seen never to |
be forgotten. On one lapel of his
coat he wore a Cuban flag, on the other
a pitchforll. One moment the 10000 |
people held their breath as they gazed.
Then they broke forth. Cheers, min
gled with Kisses, rent the air. Mr..
Richardson, who was welding the CAV
pI with fine aid of tho |