Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-06-24
ILLINOIS, SHE'S ALL RIGHT
No Doubt Where Her Delegates
Will Stand.
ANIMATED SCENESAT PEORIA
The Atmosphere, Though, Was Not Conducive
to the Growth of Presidential Preferences,
BUT SEVERAL B0OMS WERE ON HAND
Silver Men Made Gallant Fight on the
Field of Cloth of Gold at Milwaukee.
Two Conventions in Session
at Austin.
ANIMATED SCENESAT PEORIA
BUT SEVERAL BooMs WERE ON HAND

Peoria, ILL.,, June 23-In the commodi-
Gus wooden structure on Hamilton ave-
nue., which was dedicated to political
purposes by Major Mckinley on the oc-
cason of his visit here during the men,
orable congressional campaign of 1892,
representatives of democracy of the
Prairie state assembled today to select
state ticket and to name the delegates
who will represent it at the national con-
vention in Chicago three weeks hence.
An hour before the time set by official
call fully $500 people were packed with
In the rectangular building, and couple
of thousand more were unable to obtain
admittance As the leading spirits ofs
the gathering entered to the strains of
music they were greeted with enthusi-
astic applause. Among those so hon
ored were Governor Atgeld, Ex-Con-
gressmen Fithian, Foreman and Down
ing; Hon. Lambert Tree, ex-minister to
Belgium, and Carter II. Harrison, Jr.,
son and namesake of Chicagos murdered
mayor.
At 1915 Secretary of State Heinrichsen,
by virtue of his position as chairman of
the state central committee, called the
convention to order and introduced the
temporary chairman, Alexander Hamil-
hearty reception and spoke at length.
When the temporary chairman asked
who should lead the people out of bond
age there were great shouts of "Boies!'
followed by cries of Bland" Somebody
yelled Teller" and there was a babel of
cheers, foot stamping and cries of no."
but the greatest demonstration came
when the speaker proceeded to express
the hope that God would forgive them
for their share in the last election of
Croypr Cllua1apd A of nbnarc
came from every part of the great hall,
and it was three times renewed. When
1t subsidized there were yells of Say it
over again" "Hit him again." Tell the
feorters put 1t down." followed by an
other round of applause. The demonstra-
tion of antagonism to the president
lasted for several moments. At a later
stage of the address when reference was
made to Governor Altgeld there was an
enthusiastic burst of applause portion
of the audience rising and waving hats
and canes.
In his concluding paragraph Chairman
Bell said; I'VE are told by some of our
friends that we must have harmony in
the party and that for harmony's sake
we must compromise, we must conciliate,
we must straddle. There will be no
straddling in this Campaign. We cannot
compromise with error. We cannot daily
with sin without pollution. There is no
swerying from a right line that may not
lead eternal1y astray. This great ques-
tion must be settled and settled right.
1t may not be settled this year, but 1t
will be settled. The duty to act fearless
ly is upon us; the result is with the great
God of nations, who doeth all things well.
The great agricultural states of the west
and the south are to be arrayed against
the bondholding, manufacturing east 1t
Is the people against the plutocracy, the
common people against the unfeeling
avarice of organized wealth. 1t is the
golden fields of Illinois against the golden
fetters with which the eastern bondhold-
ers would enslave us. This great ques-
tion cannot be avoided or compromised.
1t must and will be settled"
At the conclusion of the address, which
was vociferousfy applauded at every pc
riod, the usual committees were named.
While the call of districts for members
of the committee was in progress the con-
vention got into terrible disorder, as
result of outsiders crowding hundred or
more delegates from their seats.
A. S. Trude of Chicago vigorously de-
manded that the chair exercise his au-
thority by causing the expulsion of the
tnterlopers, bu. without result, and
number of the delegates failing to get
their seats left the place in disgust.
The only contest developed in the call
of the twenty-five congressional districts
was in the Eleventh, where the support
ers of Governor Afgeld and the comp
trolier of the currency clashed. The
chairman of the delegation insisted that
there was no contest, while member OF
the Eckels faction challenged the accu-
racy of the statement, and protested
against the despotic attempt to usurp the
rights of his associa tes that was being
attempted. The matter finally was re-
ferred to the committee on credentials.
More uproar and confusion resulted upon
a motion that the convention remain in
continuous session until all lis business
was completed. Half a dozen heated
speeches were made on either side, with
the result that the convention at l 30 took
q recess until p. m.
On the early train from the south this
morning was delegation of eight Mis-
sourians, whose eleventh hour mission
was to champion the presidential ambi-
tion of Congressman Bland. The best
known of the party were Norman j. Cole
man, who was Mr.. Clevefand's first secre-
tary of agriculture; Congressman Champ
Clark, Senator Ball and j. F. Farris.
After breakfast they were introduced
to Governor Altgeld, who, while greeting
them warmly and speaking In warm
terms of their candidate. held out no hope
that the convention would adopt any
resolution in. his interest. Afterwards
the delegation endeavored to do some
missionary work among the crowds in
the hotel lobbies. Here they encountered
Secretary Walsh of the Iowa central
committee, Judge Van Wagenan, Sem
ators Brewster and Davis and other
Iowans, who were doing similar service
for Ex-Governor BoieS. AS the delegates
were assembling at the tabernacle 1t was
noticeable that an extremely large num-
ber displayed Boies badges. while those
distributed by the Bland boomers were
not particularly In evidence. Delegates
and visitors alike also wore one or more
badges. with varying Inscriptions. such
as s16 to l." 1--WE want silver" "give us
the poor peoples money" "honest
finance and an honest administration"
1--WE must have silver as well as gold"
"fair play in finance"
Dying to the inability of Temporary
Chairman Bell to hold the convention In
control at the. morning session the COM
mittee on permanent organization over
ruled the programme to make the tenn