The Portland daily press., 1896-09-28
POPOCRACY AT THE HUB.
George Fred's Rearing Farce Comedy
Of Saturday.
DELEGATES HOLD MUSIC HALL
ALL NIGHT.

Conventions Held in Several Places But
All Nominate the Dedham Statesman
fog Governor-One Man Killed.
Boston. Mass, September 26-With the
exception Of the memorable Butler cam.
paign in Worcester, when the delegates
sneaked into the hall before daybreak,
the political history of Massachusetts
contains nothing like the Incidents OF
the Democratic convention today. Act
Ing under the advice of their leader, ex-
pressed in the Bryan meeting in Music
hall last night, $50 delegates to the DEM
ocratlo state convention rem aimed in the
hall all night. Mr.. Williams claimed
that this was necessary because the state
committee would not issue credentials
to the silver men in time to allow them
to participate In the organization of
the convention. While thore was no
truth in this report. as the state COM
mfttee had announced that tickets to the
hall would be given out at seven O'Clock
this morning, the subterfuge was resorte d
to In the hope of gaining some distinct
political advantage. The men who re-
mainsd in the hall. with few exceptions,
were there at II o'clock this morning,
the hour called for the opening of the
convention.
Despite the request Of the janitor of
the hall, they refused to 20 out at mid
night, and when Secretary Robinson Of
the state central committee demanded
possession of the building at 7s5 this
morning, under the terms OF a previous
contract, he WAS refused, on the ground
thas the agent for the renting of the hall
was not in q position to comply with the
request. Mr.. Robinson left the halt to
report to a.meeting of the state eantral
committee at the Quincy house, where
tickets were being supplied to delegates
who were on the outside and compelled
TO remain there. Even Mr.. Williams
himself, who came in from Dsdham this
morning, was compelled to join their
ranks OF those who stood in Hamilton
place, and wondered when, if ever, the
doors would be opened.
Many of the delegates looked in the
hall spent the night in
SINGING POPULAR AIRS
until they were tired, and then curling
up In uncomfortab BILE positions for frag-
mentary periods of sleep. An appeal to
the delegates to leave at midnight was
unavailing, and equally fruitless was
petition to The board of police to eject the
people who bad overstayed their period
OF tenancy and had not paid their TENT.
Legal process might be resorted to, but
fok n trzn Ill e.
would be reached.
!, Feeling happy in the possession of the
nall, the delegates made the best OF 1t,
and took the seats in the hall, lest BY
some subterfuge the enemy might gain
entrance and dispossess them. After the
rally OF the night before they were tired
out, but not dispirited. Hunger finally
entrance into the building 1t began to-
look as though they might be starved
out. James Hughes, delegate whe
had left the hall for food, was trying to
regain entrance by means of fire escape
In the area at g. 80 a. M, when his hands
touched live electric light wire and he
fell on the ground dead.
At 4.S0 hundred or more sandwiches
were struggled into the building and
eagerly eaten. Thus refreshed, the delo-
gates were ready for action.
During the morning hours the "outa"
made various attempts to get in but
without success. The crowd was kept
in good humor by listening to several
speakers who mounted the portieoa of
Music hall, one Of them advising the
work1nKmen 10 sell their votes as early
MS possible and then to vote as thew
pleased. The audience was fres in com
menting upon the speakers, and any new
one was greeted with cries Of ''Who is
hep" go it. old man." "Youre all
right" until by order of the agent of
Music hall big policeman appeared on
the balcony and forced the speakers to
and places in the street.
At H. 55 note
FROM MR.. WILLIAMS
was read, advising all those holding tick
cts to the hall to wait at the entrance.
standing firm, without doing anything
illegal. -
At about eleven o'clock the gold men
gave up all idea of being able to gain
access to Music hall, and determined to
hold separate convention. 1t was first
thought that it would be held this after
noon, but as there was some difficulty
about securing. the desired halls, 1t was
determined to let 1t go over until Mon
day. The refusal of Faneuil and Horti-
cultural hall has been secured. and 1t ia
prob that the convention will DO held
in the latter place. Subsequently it was
decided to meet this afternoon in Faneuil
hall
AT noon the silver democrats in possess
sion OF Music hall proceeded to organize
the convention. They did not have the
official call, but such triHes did not dis
tur6 them. and they proceeded to eleot
D. II. Mellen chairman and hold what
they termed the regular state oonyen-
tion."
HON. GEORGE FRED WILLIAMS.
in Winter place and later in Hamilton
place, after a oonferen, e with Hon, II. J.
Gargan. in behalf of the state committee
addressed the crowd as follows:
delegates, Mr.. Williams wants to say
this to you. The state committee has
refused to open the doors. We have
several hundred delegates in the hal;
who have already organized the Demo.
cratic convention. The call has been
read and they are proceeding to carry
h ro mol q M, ~