New-York tribune., 1896-08-26
THE OPENING SESSION.
OF THE CONVENTION Al
SARATOGA
PRELIMINARY WORK RUSHED THRorGH-cON-
GRESHAM BLACKS SPEECH STRIKES
RESPONSIVE cHoRD-sc
AND INCIDENTS
AND IN-TDENTS.
rBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrBUSE.l

Saratoga, Aug. % Freed, temporarily AT
least from the benumbing shadow OF Mr
Platt's stampede" candidacy. the delegates to
the Republican State Convention assembled at
noon to-day in somewhat liveller and more
buoyant spirits than have been visible since the
Tioga statesman first began 10 play his role OF
Caesar rejecting the proffered crown. The other
candidates for the Governorship and their re-
spective followlngs quickly emerged from the
gloom into which they had been cast by the
sudden obstruction Of all booms but the Tioga
cheftain's. The various canvasses so gro
tesquely interrupted Saturday night. and since
then exhibiting ever, sign Of suspended anima-
ton. took or new life. and the shouting sup
porters OF the rival Organization" aspirants
for the coveted nomination. whose camor had
been stilled by the hypnotic influences at work
Sunday and yesterday. began once more to
demonstrate what they were here for"
MORE THAN ROUTINE DULNEss.
Yet. in spite of the natural reaction Of the
feeling. the opening scenes OF the convention
marked by more than routine dulness
The delegates were slow in getting to the Con-
vention Hall and the preliminary work of-Hhs
organization war rushed through with
smoothness and monotony which did entire
credit to the authors of the cut-and-dried pro-
gramme which was followed BY noon. the
hour set for assembling. probably half Of the
delegations were in their places and crowd
of spectators. visitors at the hotels and VII
layers comfortably filed the galleries. While
waiting for the absentees to appear three brass
bands quartered in the galleries took turns In
divertng the convention with "Oh. Mr.. Austin
when was in Boston," and similar popular
airs from the minstrel and variety stages.
GREETING TO PLATT AND sAXTON.
Mr. Plat was the first OF the late comers &c
excite demonstration He was seen walking
down the aisle behind the protecting form OF
ex-Unted States Senator Frank Hiscock. and
the Organization" force in the Convention
and a large share of the gallery spectators
joined in greeting him with three cheers. while
the three bands struck ny The Conquerina
Hero Comes"
The uproar caused by Mr.. Platts arrival wa.
repeated if not intensified. when Lieutenant
Governor Saxton came on the scene a few min
utes later Wayne County delegation in th'
gallery started the cry. "Saxton. Saxton w
want Saxton" and the delegates and spectators
generally contributed to swell the volume Of thu
greeting to the popular Lieutenant-Governor.
DELEGATES CALLED TO ORDER
Rockland- Sullivan district called the conver
ton 10 order as chairman Of the state corr
mittee. and after prayer by Bishop John >
Newman a number of substitutions and cor
rections in the roll of membership were pro
posed and accepted. An amusing incident 90
Cured when one Of the New-York Assemhl!
districts was called sol" Berliner. VINO hat
rushed down TO rhe foot Of the stage presented
the name of a delegate to act in General DAME
Rutterield's absence Another delegate from
the same district challenged Mr. Berners righ
70 act as spokesman for the delegation and pre-
sented a second name.
The substitution has already been mace.
said Chairman Odell suavely.
."rhank vou." exclaimed Mr. Beriner, wit
effuson.
what substitution has been made?" de
manded Berners opponent glaring at IN
smiling sol"
Your man is on the roll" replied Mr.. Odel
TO the questioner.
Rerliner was already halfway back to his seat
Rushing TO the front again. red with anger an
excitement lie exclaimed: Mr.. Chairman.
move"-
The gentleman is out OF order" rejoine
Representative Odel coldly. and Mr.. Berline'
though he continued the struggle bravely. coul
not get the floor again.
SURPRISE FROM MR. BLACK.
Representative Frank :. Black. Of Troy. wh
was installed as temporary chairman OF IN
Convention treated his hearers i'm his speec
on accepting the gavel to Oratorical sur
prise Mr. Black does not look like An orator
nor has he the bearing or manners OF one fe
his 81 eech scored striking success with m
delegates and the galleries. II was replete VII
clever phrases and brilliant with frequen
flashes Of Wit. no matter II some criticlsr
might properly be aimed at its extreme partisa
temper and the savagcness Of its attacks upo
the Democratic voter IN year when party line
cannot nroftablv be drawn with old time rigoi
Nr Black who is a candidate for Governo
himself went out OF his way. perhaps
strengthen mis- canvass by launching som
pointed and ingratiating compliments at Nj
Platt and he certainly made little history on
hand when he declared that the Republican Ne
tional Convention at st. Louis did its work ur
der the leadership Of Lodge Hanna and Platt.
John s Kenyon the temporary secretary
the Convention. created a good deal Of amuss
ment by q bit Of absent -mindedness which pu
the Committee on Permanent Organization In
.udicrous light Having been instructed by n
Chair to read the committee lists he called o
the names Of the members Of the Permaner
organization Committee and then carelessl
dipped into report selecting permanent of
GERS which had thougntfully been prepared b,
forehand and attached 10 the committee II,
itself. BY the time the laugh over this
dent had subsded. Senator Coggeshall move
a recess till > o'clock TO enable the Commits
on Credentials 10 pass on the Oneida. Herkms
Onondaga. Westchester and other election COZ
tests. and he Convention speedily adjourned.
MORNING PROCEEDINGS IN DETAIL.
For a n hour before the time for the Convex
ion be called order the different Organization
paraded on Broadway. The procession extends
over mile and the width OF the street permits
lines to march in both directions. There were
zen bands i'm line and about two thousand mel