The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-07-24


tion had frittered away. Several dele
gates attempted to move an adjourn
ment until 8 o'clock. but Mr.. Pence re-
fused TO yield the floor for such a motion.
But when Il. A. Coke of Virginia, CHAIR
man OF the committee on permanent or
ganization, came forward to make his
report. a dozen delegates jumped To their
feet and protested that report from
another committee was net In order un-
I'll the report OF the committee on Gre
dentials as a whole, had been agreed to-
Mr.. Washburn of Massachusetts,, who
was temporarily in the chair, ruled the
points not well taken. He also declined
to entertain an appeal.
The report OF the committee on per-
manent organization was then read.
The announcement of the selection of
Senator Allen of Nebraska for perma-
nent chairman was the signal for a wild
Bryan demonstration, which lasted sew
eral minutes. John w. Hayes OF New
Jersey was selected for secretary, and
the other temporary officers were made
permanent. The minority report, nam
ing James Il. Campion of Maine for
permanent chairman. set the Middle of
the Road" men on fire, and bedlam
reigned for two minutes. When order
was restored, the names OF the signers
OF the minority report were read. When
the name OF one Of the Illinois members
OF the committee was read, that dele
gate jumped UP and announced that his
signature was forged. His name was
withdrawn. Delegate Blazer of Texas
then moved that Campfon's name be
substituted for that of Allen for per-
manent chairman.
Much confusion followed, and IL was
evident that the temper of the conven-
ton was for action. Mr.. Pence Bryan
man, moved the previous question. 1t
was ordered amid much confusion. and
the rollcall OF states was called on the
question of adopting the majority or
minority report. The parliamentary
situation puzzled the delegates They
were finally made TO understand that
an aye vote was for Allen, and nay vote
for Campion.
Meantime, night was falling. But the
electric lights were not turned on TO
dispel the gloom, and there was some
apprehension of a repetition Of the ex-
perience of Wednesday night, when the
convention sat for an hour in total dark
ness. Several candles were brought and
placed on the press tables. The excite
ment was intense. There was a realiza-
ton on both sides that the actual test
had come. When alabama, the first
state, was called, row was in progress,
and Alabama was passed. Arkansas
vote was challenged. In the former
state the division showed six more votes
for Allen than were cast I'm the Illinois
contest, on the side OF Bryan, and in
Arkansas four more.
In the gathering gloom there were loud
cries of Turn on the lights" Some one
answered from the platform that the
electric lamp had not been trimmed"
THAT won't do" cried the irate dele
gates, and serious trouble was immi-
nent, when suddenly the electric lights
sizzed, and the hall was flooded with
blaze of light.
The Bryan men gained votes In Cali
fOrnia, in Connecticut Florida !. Geor-
gia 2, Idaho Z. Illinois 6. Indiana 10, Kan
sas 1, kentucky 2l9, Louisiana and
Maine /. While the clerks were figuring
up the tallies. IL became noised about
that the result showed an overwhelming
majority for the Bryan forces. one
delegate shouted Perhaps we misunder-
stood the question"
mo, you didn't" shouted Jerry Simp-
son across the hall. 1--WE knew where we
were at all the time"
A moment later the chairman an
nounced the result as 75s for Allen and
b64 for Campion. The Bryan men.
screamed with JOY. They got on their
chairs and cheered. They whirled their
coats, umbrellas, hats and everything
movable aloft They uprooted their
state guidons, and paraded them about
the aisles. Only the Middle of the
Road" southern delegates sat silently in
their seats during the wild demonstra-
ton. The guidons OF the Bryan states
danced for five minutes, and then In
Indian file they were borne about the
delegates enclosure. The bands played.
but could just be heard. -Four colorcd
men. with banjoes, down near the stage.
sung Bryan song.
The scene. with the exception Of the
fact that the galleries did not partic-
pate in the demonstration. very much
resembled that at the coliseum in Chi
cago when Bryan was nominated. Ii
lasted about Is minutes. After order was
restored. Delegate Williams Of Cali
fornia climbed on the stage. "They
have made a square fight" he shouted,
eve have been suuarely beaten, and I'm
the interest OF peace and harmony. /
move the selection OF William l3. Allen
as permanent chairman be made unani-
nous" His motion was carried with a
hurrah. but there were loud cries Of dis
scnsion in the direction OF the Texas
delegation. ON Mr.. Pence's motion
COMMITTEES. consisting OF himself. "Cy-
clone" Davis and Ignatius Donnelly.
were appointed to escort Senator Allen
To the platform.
The committee was out but n short
time. Cyclone" Davis made a speech,
ia which he said some nice things of the
permanent chairman. Senator Allen
spoke az some length, being listened To
With great deal Of interest. lie spoke
oxtemporancously, not having had time
90 prepare himself IN the senate, he
uever reads speech. and last night his
rtterlnces flowed freely lie was fire.
auentls interrupted with applause. Sen-
atOr Allen compliinented Temporary