The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-07-23
TEE LARGEST CIRCULATION OF AMY NORTH GAROlM DAILY.

"Yes;" NO" were the intermingled
cries, while others continued to shout,
Put him out"
The Interruptions became so fire.
quent that Senator Butler, after wav-
ing his arms,appealing to secure quiet,
said that ''whOm the Gods wish to
destroy, they first make mad"
Every time you interrupt me- he
said, you endanger your cause. This
convention has not been crushed by
either of the old parties and viii not
be stampeded."
Mr.. Butler closed amid vigorous APP
plause among those who shouted most
Justify for him, being Congressman
Howard, of Alabama, who had been
shouting for Bryan during the pro-
gress OF the Senator's speech.
Chairman Butler then assumed the
gavel and the States were called for
members of the committee on creden-
tials At the conclusion of the CALL
the convention at 2:1O took a recess
until s tonight.
THE NIGHT SESSION.
When eight o'clock, the hour for the
convention 10 convene, arrived, the
hall was in total darkness. The dele
gates were huddled in the seats in
front Of the platform, while CHASTITY
groups Of faces swayed in the light of
the few candles that fickered on the
press tables.
About this time some shrewd mid
dle-of-the-roader thought he discover
ed that the refusal to turn on the lights
was part of a scheme Of the Bryan
people to prevent the straight-out ele-
mcnt from controlling. This suspicion
that the lights were out in the interest
Of a faction, as they were turned out
at the Cincinnati convention, in 1876,
by the opponents of Mr.. Blaine, aroused
a storm of protests, and themiddle-of-
the-roaders were charging about in
the dark to discover the cause of the
auprecedent situation.
1T is a scheme of the Bryan men,"
the Texas delegation shouted. Some
one mounted the stage and yelled,
The Bryan people have put out the
lights, but if they nominate Bryan
we'll split this convention wide open"
You're a disgrace to the party
came emphaticalIy from the black
cavelnous depths of the hall
BY this time the aisles were choked
with delegates pushing and groping
their way about in the dark. There
began to be some apprehension OF
panic The band, under instructions,
kept up a constant fusilade of airs 10
allay the fears Of any who might be
alarmed.
At S:2O. Cyclone Davis mounted
the stage and tried to secure order,
but the crowd refused to listen until
some one held a lighted candle in
front of his face. He announced that
the electric wires were "disaffected,"
but that they would be all right in
few minutes, whereupon there were
cheers of approval and the band struck
up another tune.
Delegate Webster, of St. Louis, NOV
ed that a committee be appointed to
wait upon the officers of the conven-
tiOn and ascertain why they were not
present. A chorus of voices seconded
the motion, but nobody moved and
no committee was appointed.
Une disgusted delegate yelled: let
! us go to Chicago and hire a hail. This
suggestion also seemed to meet with
approval. Then the band in the GAL
lery broke out with the stirring
strains of Dixie" and the old South
ern song was answered by the roar of
1000 thrOats.
Mrs. Mary f. Lease came TO the stage
ana was appealed to to make speech,
but she declined to talk in the dark
wait until they turn on the lights
said she, land I'll talk to you all
night
At SAB Chairman Butler appeared
ON the stage. Butler called the con-
veEtion to order. He announced that
tn committee on credentials would not
be able to report tonight and that
owing to an accident there was no
light, he declared the convention in re,
cess until 10 o'clock tomorrow morn
ing. The delegates, many of them
with evident reluctance, then quilted
the hall,