The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-07-23
WIRES FAULTY.
So the Great Convention Hall
Was Dark.
The Middle Readers Thought Tt
A Bryan Trick
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Cyclone Davis Finally Quieted
Their Fears.
The Convention Adjourned I'm
til Morning.

st. Louis, July 2S-When 8 o'clock,
the hour for the convention to con-
vene last night, arrived the hall was
still in darkness. The delegates were
huddled in the seats in front of the
platform. while groups of faces swayed
in the light OF the few candles that
hickered on the press tables.
About this time some shrewd mid
| die of the reader thought he discov-
cred that the refusal to turn on the
lights was part of a scheme of the
Bryan people to prevent the straight
out element from controlling. This
suspicion that the lights were out in
the interest of a faction, as they were
turned out at the Cincinnati conven-
ton in 1876 by the opponents of Mr..
Blaine, aroused a storm of protests
and the middle of the readers went
charging about in the dark to discover
the cause of the unprecedented situa-
ton. 1T is a scheme of the Bryan
men," the Texas delegation shouted.
Some one mounted the stage and yelled:
THE Bryan men have put out the
lights. but if they nominate Bryan we
will split this convention wide OPEN
You're disgrace to the party, came
emphatically from the black cavern
Gus depths of the hall By this time
the aisles were choked with delegates
pushing and cropping their way about
in the dark. There began to be appre-
henSfOn Of some sudden alarm which
might stampede the delegates and cause
a disaster, and the leaders began dis
cussing the ACCESSIBILITY of adjOurning
the convention until the morning. The
band under instructions kept up a con-
slant fusildae Oh airs to allay the fears
of any who might be alarmed. When
ever the band played a hymn the dele
gates joined in the chorus Some of
the other rOllicking songs like John
Browns Body and Marching Through
Georgia were also sung enthusiastic
ally.
At 500 "CycIone' Davis mounted to
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 As his tall form and broad
sweeping sOmbrerO came within the
narrow ring of the light from the tallOw
dip, the delegates Immediately recOg-
nized him and there were shouts of
Shut up Keep quiet" Listen to
Cyclone" When he could make him
self heard he announced that the cleo
tTic wires were ''diSafected, but that
they would be all right in a few min
utes, wnereupon there were cheers of
approval and the band struck up an
other tune. Delegate Webster of St
Louis moved that a committee be ap-
pointed to wait upon the officers of the
convention and ascertain why they
were not present. A chorus OF voices
seconded the motion, but nobody moved
and no committee was appointed Then
the band in the gallery broke out with
the stirring strains of Dixie, and the
old southern song was answered by the
roar of 1000 threats. At this 5Uncture
Mrs Mary z. Lease came to the stage
and was appealed to to make speech,
but she declined to talk in the dark.
Wait until they turn on the lights
said she, and I'll talk to you all night"
At S:45 Chairman Butler appeared on
the stage The band played Put Me
Off at Buffalo and then Senator But
Ter called the convention to order. He
announced that the committee on ere
dentials would not be able to report
and that as owing to an accident there
was no light, he would declare the
convention in recess until 10 O'Clock to-
morrow morning. The delegates, many
of them with evident reluctance, then
Quilted the hall