The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-07-23
PlpCIrST NIGHT SESSION.
No Light I'm the Hal. and Nothing nc
All Fxstssa

s. r.oafs. Jalv es-when c'clccx. the
hear for the convention 70 reassemhie.
arrived the hall was stsIf in darkness.
The delegates were haGdsed IN the seats
IN front Of the platform. while groups
OF faces swaxess in the Hight Of the few
candles that eickersd an the press tables.
About this time some shrewd nsiddle-oE-
the-roaser Thought he discovered that
the refusal 20 turn on the lights was part
OF a scheme OF the Bryan people TO pre-
vent the straigAs-oat element from con-
trolling. This suspicion that the lights
were cut I'm Ehe interests IL . faction -
they were turned cut at the Cincinnati
convention in 1876 by the opponents Of
Mr.. Blaine. aroused storm OF protests.
and the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. were
charging aAoat In the dark TO discover
the cause Of the unprecedented situation.
It's a scheme Of the Rryan men,. the
Texas delegation shouted. Some ons
mounted the stage and yelled: THE
Bryan people have pat out the lights.
bar IL they nominate Bryan We VIII split
this convention wide open" You're n
disgrace to the party came enaphattcaIiy
from Ia. black eAyernous depths or the
hall. By this time the aisles were choked
with delegates pushing and cropping their
way about IN the dark. There began
70 be some apprehension OF some sudden
slarm which might stampede the dele
gates and cause a disaster. aud the lead
ers began discussing the advssahilsty OF
adjournment until tomorrow morning.
The hand. under instructions. kept up a
constant fuSlliade OF airs TO allay the
fears Of any who might be alarmed.
Whenever the hand played q hymn the
Delegates Joined In the chorus. Some OF
the rollickins songs ike "John Browns
Body" and Marching Through Geor-
4aa zara also s4sr.1 ev,- hssst e.
At $50 Cyclone" Davis mounted the
stage and tried 20 secure order. but tha
crowd refused TO listen until some one
held a lighted candle In front OF his face.
AS his tall form and broad. sweeping
somerego came within the narrow ring
of the light from the tallow dip. the dele
gates Immediately recognized him, and
there were shouts OF shut up" Keep
quiet" Listen 60 Cyclone" When he
could make himself heard, he announced
that the electric wires were ''disafTected."
but that they would be all right In q few
minutes. whereupon there were cheers OF
approval. and the band struck up an
other tune.
Delegate Webster, OF St. Louis. moved
that q committee be appointed 10 walt up
an the officers OF the convention and as
certain why they were not present. A
chorus OF voices seconded the motion.
was appointed.
Then tho band In the gallery broke out
with this stirring strains OF Dixie" and
tho old Southern song was answered by
the roar of 100 Threats.
At this 5unctnre Mrs. Mary r. Lease
came 10 the stage. and was appealed 10
10 make a speech, bat she declined 10
talk Ia the dark. Wait until they turn
on the light" said she. 'and I'll talk to
you all night
At SIS Chairman Butler appeared on
tho stage. The band played Pat Ne on
at Buffalo," and then Senator Butler
called the convention 10 order. 1fe an
nounced that the committee on creden-
tials would not be able 10 report tonight.
ard that as, owing TO an accident, there
was no light. he would declare the con-
yention IN recess until 10 o'clock tomor-
row morning. The delegates, many OF
them with evident reluct NAoA then quit
ted the hall.