Birmingham state herald., 1896-07-23
THE LIGHT THAT FAILED Unique Spectacle at a National
 Convention. DELEGATES IN DARKNESS The Night Session of the Populist Convention
 Roaring Farce. PROCEEDINGS OF THE MORNING SESSION No Fight Made on Senator Butler-Tone of the Speeches and Undercurrent So
 Far Not Very Favorable to
 Endorsement.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE MORNING SESSION

St. Louis, July 22-The middle of the road" delegates, who followed the lead of the Texas people and joined with them in their opposition to Senator Butler, the choice of the national committee for tenn porary chairman of the populist conven- ton, held a meeting this morning and reconsidered the action taken last night at a late hour. The decision to run Judge O. D. Jones of Missouri against Senator Butler for temporary chairman was re- scinded, and it was agreed to make no opposition to the election of Senator But Ter for the temporary presiding officer.
 Last night the delegates, led by few hot heads and believing that they had a safe majority of the total number of delegates in favor of an independent tick ct, would not listen to the more conserv- ative delegates, who preferred that the fight be made against the nomination of Bryan instead of complicating matters by attempting to overthrow the action of the national committee in selecting Senator Butler, whose views on making the ticket did not coincide with the views of the middle of the road" people.
 This morning California and several western states suggested, in the interest of harmony, that no contest should be made against Senator Butler and after short but turbulent session in the Tex as headquarters the decision was arriv- ed at to make no fight on temporary chairman The delegates who favored the straightout populist ticket declare that this action was not due to any lack of strength, but was solely in the inter est of harmony. They claim to be able to control the convention, and express themselves as positive that Bryan will not be nominated or indorsed.
 Uncertainty as to the Hour.
 The same uncertainty and confusion prevailed about the hour of meeting of the peoples party (populisD convention as about the various matters connected with it. Ten o'clock, il and noon had been publicly given out as the hour, with more or less apparent authority. At the earliest of these points of time there were not fifteen delegates in the hall, and few solitary figures were to be seen scat tered here and there through the specta- tors galleries. An hour later the access sions about doubled the number of peo- pie on the floor and the galleries. The hall was practically in the same condi- tion as to arrangements and decorations that it was in when the republican con- vention assembled in it five weeks ago, except that the pictures of Washington, Grant, Sherman and aothers had been taken away, and that the places reserved for the chairman, secretaries and other officials on the stage were absolutely un- provided with tables, chairs or any other part of the necessary outfit The reason for this nakedneSs in the most important and conspicuous part of the hall was past finding out. The absencesof brass bands as an almost necessary adjunct to all political gatherings has been par ticularly noticeable in connection With the pOpulists. There was an exception made today, however, band being lo- cated in the gallery back of the chair mans stand, which filled up the long waiting time.
 Sat in Their Shirt Sleeves.
 Many of the delegates setting scere- mony and dignity aside as unbeftting the weather and the occasion, divested themselves of coats and sat in their shirt sleeves, flaming themselves assid- uouSly. The unceremoniousness of the whole affair was further indicated by the presence of-Some ladies in the seats of delegates and by the carrying around of the youngest Coxey child baptised by the name of Legal Tender The ladies, however, sat on the right of the entrance, being delegates from the state of Colo rado, five in number, and every one of them an orator.
 At 80 the first motion was made in the line of providing accommodations for the chairman and officers Soon after this some workmen hung over the rail ing of one of the galleries fair sized picture of Abraham Lincoln. draped in the American flag, and the sight of it drew out the first manifestation of ap- plause or interest that the convention had yet given out.
 Other occasional cheers went up from thessame quarter of the hall, and 1t was ascertained that the provocation for them came from the receipt of successive telegrams to the Texas delegates from their home constituencies, urging them not to turn to the right or turn to the left, but keep to the middle of the road"
 There were only three col0red dele gates present. These were: From Col orado, O. w. Burford from Georgia, s. D. Walton, and from Kansas. James Breck.
 At 12 o'clock there was still no sign of an organization of the convention. The portion of the hall reserved for delegates was then about two-thirds filled. and there were not 100 spectators in the gal ries Probably third of the delegates were in their shirt sleeves and many women not delegates were seated among them-
 Spasmodic Applause.
 The appearance of two American flags, borne by members of the Mississippi del- egation, with the motto. No compro- mise" attracted attention and some lit- tie applause.
 When the Massachusetts delegation en- tered the hall bearing on their banner the inscription, "The Spirit of '76," there were a few cheers, and in the meantime there was hung over the gallery railing behind their stand picture, apparently that of Peter Cooper. the New York mill honaire and philanthropist, with the motto, from one of his letters or speeches. National prosperity cannot be restored by enforced idleness on a large portion of the people,"
 Then also the members of the populist national committee and several promi- nent delegates took seats on the plat form.
 All this time there was much commo- ton in the Texas end of the hall. where several delegates harangued their col- leagues
 At 12:sS o'clock the convention was called to order by Mir. Taubeneck chair man of the national committee. and Rev.