Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1896-10-30

Organized Disturbance by silver Men
nj n sound MnncN McctInE.

NORFOLK, Va. oct. 29.-Grcat prepare
tions were made today for the speech OF
Bourke Cochran, Armory hall had put ON
gala dress A stand had been erected on
the west side OF the hall drapcd with Amer
lean nags. as was also the western gallery
front. the flags being borrowed from the
navy yard for this and other like occasions
OF this campaign. By o'clock the time set
for the speaking, 1000 people were IN the
hall many being drawn by curiosity, and oil
these a great number were silverites, pro
claimed so by the wearing OF buttons ana
badges. At p. m, amid the strains OF
"Eail to the Chief" from the navy post
band. stationed in the north gallery, Mr..
Cochran entered the hall, escorted by the
gold standard leaders in this city. He was
greeted with cheers followed by cheers for
Bryan and Scwall, and for Young and Nc
Kinley. As Mr. Cochran moved to the front
OF the staEc he was greeted with mingled
cheers and. misses. The latter demonstration
Mr. Cochran made use Of, and he remarked:
81 never object to populistic arguments and
these shouts are among the best OF them
have heard. Popuists can't wait for sue
cess before they begin their establishment
OF disorder. 81 stand here to oppose the
wrong done our party by these men"
Here he was again interrupted by cheers
for Bryan and some one cried: Put him
out"
NO" said Mr.. Cochran, leave him as an
object lesson"
Later. asking: what do the. popullsts
propose to do?" he waved his hand toward
the door, where the crowd that now filled
tho hall probably numbering fully 5000
was most dense, and Remarked THE dis
| orderly attempts to suppress free speech
in this campaign. as shown by the rufllans,
is an Indication"
Kisses. groans and cheers greeted this
sentiment. The hostile demonstration had
become so strong that he could not go on
further Mr.. Cochran added fuel to the fire
\ by interspersing the statements he made,
many of which met with derision. by ref
erences like these: Bryan and the crowd
of lunatics and ruffians who follow him -
every laborer will understand me; no pop
ulist cam" let them alone; they are simply
illustrating their platform, which stands for
anarchy and riot"
Here the uproar became deafening and
from all sides were heard "What of slave.
holders?" How about that Madison Square
speech?" Mr. Cochran said he had been
misrepresented by the press as to his Mad-
son Square Garden speech and that only
few lines of what he said had been quoted
in the papers The speaker said he had
voted in congress to repeal the election law.
Continuing. he said During few years
past the south has been disgraced by num-
Der Of wrctches who have pretended to rep
resent her. but Tillman no more represents
the south than do the ruffans out there in
the audience who have disturbed me-"
Again the uproar stopped him and the
voice of Hon. w. r. Mayo, mayor of the
city. was heard commanding order. While
the latter was speaking Mr.. Cochran waited.
Mayor Mayo was Cheered to the echo for
his defense OF good order and made his
way to the platform, where he apologized
for the Interruptions
NJ. Cochran accepted his apology but
stated that there was no need for his ac-
tion, as the people recognized the source
from which the disturbance came. The
meeting then went on smoothly and MIR
Cochran ended his speech.
Mr. Cochran left for New York tonight