The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-07-23
BOTH CONVENTIONS IN SESSION
Senator Allen Presiding Over the Populists.
While VIM. P. St. John is Chairman
of the Silver Mems Meeting.

was the same In which the national re-
publican convention met. There were
the same arrangements as to seats.
State delegations were located In the
pit. The platform in front was fianked
by the press benches. The decorations
were practically the same as those Of
the republican convention. Delegates
began to straggle In before 10 O'clock
but the delegations were slow to ar
rive When the pit was filled there
were not 200 people In the galleries.
Among the first to arrive were the
Kansas delegates with long yellow rib
bons on their heads and sunflowers in
their lapels. Ignatius Donnelly OF
Minnesota, good humored bearing.
came in early and talked with Ser
geant-at-Arms Mcdowell Congress
man Howard of Alabama. who wrote
IF Christ Came to Congress" was a
striking figure in his delegation. Gen
eral Coxey and his son-in-law. Colonel
Brown. came together with their wives.
Mrs. Coxey bore in her arms her young
son whom Colonel Coxey christened
Legal Tender" as a perpetual remind
er Of his march.
Some In Their Shirt s'ecves.
As the air in the hall grew oppressive
the delegates did not hesitate to throw
off their coats. Many delegates wore
negligee shirts and some wore neither
collar nor cravat. The band stationed
about the speakers stand kept up a
continuous fusillade of popular airs,
but not one wrung round Of applause
from the delegates. When the assist
ant sergeant-at-arms hung a portrait
of Lincoln over the front galleries the
delegates gave three cheers. The ice
being broken they began to be more
demonstrative and cheered the bands
rendition of Columbia the Gem of the
Ocean,"
Ladies' in Attendance.
There were several women delegates
on the floor. among them Mrs. j. ID. A.
Bush of Prescott, Arizona, Mrs. Jennie
B. Atherhold and Mrs. lies Of Colora-
da. Senator Allen received the great
est personal ovation. The Texas dele
cation grew demonstrative. A woman
posed with a middle of the road"
streamer pinned to her gown and they
cheered wildly. She waved her hand
kerchief frantically and the enthusiast
tic Texans crowded around to shake
her hand. She proved to be Mrs. Jones
of Chicago A Lone Star delegate
mounted a chair and read kilograms
from Texas populists admonishing
them to keep In the middle Of the road
and bolt II necessary. Stuart Ashley.
one of the delegates. made a speech
and ii looked as II Texas intended to
hold little convention all by herself.
Paul Vandervoort, the most prominent
candidate Of the middle Of the road"
men for president, took a seat on the
platform.
Middle-of-th he r oaders.
Shortly before 12 o'clock the Missis-
sippi delegation marched down the
aisle with banners bearing the slogan.
mo compromise" There was an an
swering yell of Joy from the Texas
delegation. General Weaver moved
over to the Texas delegation and made
a short speech In favor Of holding the
ans said II was impracticable. The
middle of the road" leaders. after
comforting. decided not to make an or
ganlzed fight against the selection Of
Butler as temporary chairman.
At 1925 p. m. Senator Butler mount
ed the platform. Three minutes later
the platform. Senators Allen and Pef-
fer were cheered as they ascended the
stage. At this time there were over
1000 delegates and attendants In the
pit, but on liberal estimate not over
600 spectators were In the galleries.
Governor Stone of Missouri sat among
the distinguished guests on the plat
form.
At 12:37 Chairman Taubeneck called
the convention to order. The Illinois
delegation rose and cheered. Rev. w.
L. Smith, Baptist, of this city. delivered
the invocation. The delegates stood
reverently as he appealed to God to
drive out all sectionalism from the de-
liberations Of the convention and bring
in all good.
tones Address Of Welcome.
The chairman introduced Governor
Stone Of Missouri to make the welcom-
ing address. His welcome was most
cordial and couched in choice words.
He ventured upon few general re-
marks upon the propriety Of freedom
of opinion. press, speech and ballot,
which must. he said, amid applause. be
preserved at all hazards. 1t would be
considered not improper. he said. for
him to express the hope that every
thing that should be done would be
done with an eye single to the felicity
of the people and public influence. He
expressed the hope that the day would
soon come when the national flag
would be the emblem not only of ma
tional unity, but of national prosperity.
While Governor Stone was speaking
the Texas delegation raised an immense
national flag.
ar DonncIly's Reply.
Ignatius Donnelly of Minnesota re-
sponded to Governor Stones speech.
Donnelly spoke gracefully, paying high
compliments to st. Louis and the vast
country tributary to IL. but avoiding
adroitly any illusion to the subjects
upon which the delegates below him
were divided. The movement this con-
vention represented. he said. was the
growth Of the farm. II had been con-
ceived in the distress that prevailed
among the producers. The people had
felt the effects of misgovernment. IL
there was any movement on the face
of the earth called up by the veritab BILE
hand of God, IL was the peoples party.
He declared the spirits of Washington.
jefferson. Jackson and Abraham Lin
coin were floating above this conven-
tion. The delegates cheered Justify.
God save the people," said he, upon
that we stand. We are devoted 10 their
cause. Let us never forget In our work
that we are band OF brothers waging
war against the enemies of mankind.
We must stand together whatever We
Ia ha tts1,f ~.