The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-07-23

cans 10 gold ana the democrats TO Sill
yer. To be swallowed up by the Demo-
Gratis. he said, would be danger only
equalled by the danger of being made
the indirect allies Of the Republicans In
the present campaign. He gave both
| factions a chance to rend the air with
| shouts, but when. in conclusion. ne sug-
gested a middle course, the purport OF
which all understood, both sides were
| irresponsive. The Bryan men on the
| Whole, however, considered that tho
| victory, so far as there was one. lay with
| them. There were INSTRUMENTATION at
the day session. The delegates, save
| those from Texas, were unusually quiet.
| although. after they had been once
| aroused by the display OF Lincoln's pic
| ture, they applauded with enthusiasm
| everything which suited their fancy.
There was no night session, owing to
an accident which destroyed the electric
| light connections A severe storm had
passed over the city about 6 o'clock, and
| the wires were blown down. Despite
| this fact the delegates assembled in the
| hall and waited for over an hour in
total darkness for the lights 10 be turned
on. About a dozen candles were brought
In for the use Of the newspaper men.
| one was placed on the chairmans table
and another stuck on the top of guidon
In the middle OF the pit. The effect was
| weirdly picturesque. CHASTITY faces
| fiuttered In and out Of the ring Of feeble
! light which the tallow dips cast.
The band played and the crowd sang.
| Speeches were made In the dark, and tho
| delegates appeared ready TO stay all
night IL there was any prospect OF light
| later on. There was naturally copsid
cradle apprehension that panic might
seize the crowd and a dire calamity re-
| suit In the rush for the entrances. The
Middle OF the Road" people became
possessed OF the idea that the Bryan
men had put up Job on them and that
the hall was not lighted because they
| feared that the straight-outs would run
away with the convention. They de-
nounced 1t all as a trick, and vowed
vengeance long and deep. The incident
recalled a similar one at the Cincinnati
I Republican convention of 1876. when the
lights were shut off at a critical stage,
Just as Blaine's nomination seemed as
sured.
At S.45, Chairman Butler declared the
convention adjourned until morning.
Within a half hour after the last dele
gate had left the hall. all the electric
lights were turned on, much to the as
tonishment OF the few newspaper men
and policemen, who fingered In the
building. Quite a number Of delegates
had stopped on neighboring street cor
ners to discuss the all-absorbing ques-
tions, and II was suggested that they
return, but they did not. as 1t was
pointed ouUthat the doors were guarded,
and admission would be denied, besides
the officers having gone, nothing that
might be done would receive their sane
tion, and it would therefore be inef-
fectual.
"MiddIe OF the Road" Suspicious.
The Middle OF the Road" men held
az informal meeting after they left the
convention hall last night, and there
were many expressions of suspicion re-
garding the failure to have IL lighted.
They pointed out that they had arranged
for an adjourned meeting Ia hours pre-
vious to the time set for the convention
to reconvene, and that they would not
have interfered with the convention as
the business they had to transact could
have been disposed Of very easily. 1t
was also pointed out by several dele
gates that none OF the officers OF the
convention and no member OF the exec
utive committee. except one, Davis, ap-
peered until within q few minutes OF the
time when Mr.. Butler declared the con-
vcation in recess. Tho Texas men were
very bitter In their denunciation OF tho
manner In which the Middle OF the
Road" men had been treated, although
Mr.. Davis had made an explanation Of
the reason why there were no lights.
The wire connection which lights the
hall had been damaged by the rain, and
II was said that il was the only wire that
had been damaged. 1t was impossible
for the linemen OF tho company 20 fix IL.
as few men dared to fool with electric
light wires. This explanation was not
at all satisfactory to the steering COM
mittee Of the Middle Of the Road" men.
Members OF the Donnelly contingent
asserted that the Bryan men wanted
delay In order to secure men from the
anti Bryan ranks. They claimed the
Bryan men were sending delegates to
see Senator Jones. and that these dele.
gates, who were slightly wavering were
being fixed" for Bryan at the Demo-
cratic headquarters.
Another ching was noticed by some or
the alert Middle OF the Roae" men.
When Mary Ellen Lease was about TO
talk 20 the meeting, General weaver
rushed down ana said that she must not
do so. He held q whispered consulta-
ton with her. and she then stated that
she would not talk until the hall was
lighted. All OF these things. taken In
connection with tho fact that the hall
was lighted within % minutes after
Chairman Butler adjourned the convcn-
tlon. and after every delegate had left
The building. had created a deal OF sus-
picion in the minds OF the Middle of the
Road" men. that they were not getting
a fair deal" The Impression prevails
among a large number OF them that they
are practically defeated, and that nom
iaation will be rendered TO Bryan, and
t1e talk among them is to the effect that
they viii rot stand IL. They do not say
that they will bolt, but talk about men
holting to the Democratic party, which