Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-07-08
CHICAGOCONVENTION
Continued from Second Page.)


section to the chairman's right led an
enthusiastic cheer, which was taken up
by other delegations and chorused by the
galleries.
Curiosity was rife to see the man whom
the delegates had heard SO much about
and few had ever seen, so many mounted
their chairs and faced toward Illinois. The
democratic governor made his way into
the aisle and stood there. pale-faced
man, with a black beard closely cut and
close-cropped black hair, and jet eyes that
snapped and cleaned like sparks while
he stood with uplifted arm appealing for
attention
Few could see him. and there was much
crowding and confusion while he mounted
his chair under the Illinois standard, and
then the cheer was redoubled. His OPP
the galleries. were infiamed to wrath, and
they showered upon him a shower of
Kisses.
Throughout this scene the delegations
from New York, Massachusetts and other
eastern states sat In frozen silence, and
there came an end to the uproar at last
and Altgeld made his voice heard shouting:
'On behalf of the state of Illinois 1 sug-
gest that this convention give to Hon.
David B. Hill of New York an opportunity
to address it,
This stroke brought down another show
er of demands for Hill, Hill, Hill"
The chairman made himself heard and
said: THE distinguished gentleman from
New York who has been called for so Otter
lutions. and is not here"
Still the convention demanded Hill, until
Senator White was driven to cry appeal
ingly, Why will you insist on man who
is rot here?''
Then the cry was turned to Russell" by
the eastern men, but the young Massachu-
sets ex-governor sat impassively in his
chair in the first row, and his friends gave
him up. Finally, Ex-Governor Overmyer of
Kansas was brought to the platform and
appeased the appetite of the crowd for sew
eral minutes as he pleaded for the Dollar
of the Daddies." orr another five minutes
the band held them in check with stirring
music.
Then the cries for Altgeld were renewed,
ard at last. with evident reluctance, the
Illinois governor was urged forward to the
stage. Great curiosity existed among thou
sands who had never heard, and some who
had never before seen this great power in
iris part of the country. Some of the dele
gates crowded to the foot of the stage; not
because his voice was weak, as his clear
voice to furthermost the limits of the hall,
but to get view of the man. With great
deliberation he opened with the statement
that he had not come here to make a
speech, but to assist in the nomination of
the next President of the United States and
to formulate a declaration Of principles
that would again offer hope to the party of
the people. This opening sentiment warmed
up the audience, and soon the pale, almost
haggard face of the Illinois governor grew
flushed. His gestures became quick and
vehement, and before he had proc eeded far
the convention was swayed as by a cyclone,
by his oratory.
When he declared that hungry men and
children were looking to this convention
for relief there was a great demonstration.
Adroitiy he worked on to his climax. He
described the toll and blood and sweat of
the millions who are being doubled by the
shrinking standard OF values. Then he
paused. and fiinging his arms out before
him asked:
Will you let them continue it?"
in hmm rfvcr
chorus from 10000 throats.
Later, referring to the great struggle
against slavery. he pointed to an at his
back and secuted the idea of COMPROMISE
Did the men," he asked, who gave up
their lives to preserve that flag talk of
CO compromise? There could be none. There
can be none"
As he finished and descended from the
platform he was accorded another great
demonstration. The Illinois delegation
mounted their chairs and frantically wav-
ed their banners Delegates from other
delegations crowded the aisles to wiring his
| hand. while the terraced galleries yelled
and shouted.
After the interlude by the band New
England had her inning. when George
Fred. Williams, the stalwart fashionably
atured, blondemustached scholarly look
ing young ex-Congressman from Massa-
chusetts. whose conversion to free silver
was recently announced. was called to the
platform amid great enthusiasm. He spoke
for the silver men of New England and
his speech was by far the most striking
incident of the day. he made an mpas-
stoned plea against sectionalism. and made
1t in such forcible, clear-cut, ringing SEN
fences that every senteI ce went to the
mark like a bullet.
His first sentence, This is not a sec
tlonal convention" brought the silver men
to their feet like regiment at the word
OF command, and when he declared that
this is a battle for the restoration Of the
| MON of the States" the shouts were ter
l,-ifl IL =
honest capital of New England, in behalf
OF the capitalists, the men who earned
what capital they could by honest toll. and
IN behalf of the millions of spindles now
silent
Mr.. Williams speech was the most ef
fective of the day. He was congratulated
efusively by Senators Daniel and Black
burn. and received a distinct ovation
Mr.. Williams closed his vigorous silver
speech amid great applause. and a partial
report of committee on credentials cover
ing all contests except Michigan contest
was presented to the convention
Nebraska gold delegation retres from
floor in body in the hall to the seats in the
audience.
Convention AdJourns.
Governor Altgeld moved recess until
) o'clock. and. amid cries of NO" the
chair announced that the committee on
credentials could not report much before
that time. The convention then adjourned.
BUILDING THE PLATFORM.
Report of the subcommittee on the
Revolutions.
CHICAGO. July S.-The subcommittee of
the committee on resolutions met again at
$50 o'clock this morning to make a final
revision of the platform before its presen-
tation to the general committee. Senator
George made good many suggestions in
the way of minor verbal changes, a num-
Der of which were adopted. There was no
trouble about reaching an agreement upon
all points save two or three.
First among the subjects upon which there
was difference was. of course, the money
question. But there were other topics on
which there was wide divergence. as, for
instance the declarations against presi-
Dental third term and federal interference
In cases of labor disturbance Senators
Jones, Cockrell, George and Tillman with
Mr. Owen Of Indian territory, presented