West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1896-07-16
NATIONAL DEMOCRACY.
VOICE OF THE PEOPLE. FOR The
PEOPLE AND BY THE
PEOPLE.
Work OF the Silver Hosts at Chicago
Captured Everything In Sight.

It was the greatest Convention
ever held on the face OF the earth.
TO describe it is utterly beyond
the power of words and limited
space like ours. The big dulles
have devoted hundreds of columns
and whole editions to it for the past
two weeks. 1t has been the all alb
sorbiug topic of conversation and
created moro interest than the re-
turns of a Presidential election.
We will only give some of the
main features in this issue and
publish more from time to time.
The Convention was held in the
Coliseum at the Worlds Fair
grounds. The building is the larg-
est assembly hall in the world and
covers over five acres of ground,
and will hold forty thousand people.
! The Convention was called to
order about one o'clock Tuesday,
July 9TH, by Hon. w. +. Harrity,
Chairman of the National Demo-
cratic Committee. He announced
that the Committee had selected
Senator David Bennett Hill, of
New York, for tenn porary chairman.
This started the fight between the
gold bugs and silyerites at once,
ss HUI was there leading the gold
standard forces, and with big
speech to deliver in their favor.
The majority of the National Com
mittee were gold men. and they
were determined to capture the
Convention at the start if possible,
but the silver forces were equally as
determined that they should not,
aud nominated Senator John w.
Daniel, of Virginia, for temporary
chairman. A number Of eloquent
speeches were made in favor of both
sides, and on a call of the roll by
States, Daniel was elected by vote
of $50 to $40. Three OF the West
Virginia delegates, Johu a. How
ard, E. D. Talbot and Col. J. W.
st. Clair, voting for Hill, and Che
others for Daniel. Silver had won
in the first round, and kept il up
all the way through. The Virginia
Senator made an eloquent speech
upon taking the chair. The various
committees were appointed and the
Convention adjourned till ten
O'Clock next day.
Wednesday was taken up with
committee work and flood OF ora
tory. Eloquent speeches were made
by men of national reputation and
1 the Credential Committee caused
considerable delay, as it had big
job on Its hands, but finally nd
mitted the silver delegates from
Michigan, South Dakota aud Ne
braska and allowed all the terrific
ries six delegates instead of two;
this gave the silver forces more than
the two-thirds majority. There was
a big fight over the Michigan dele
CATION and regular fireworks
display of oratory was the result,
but the silver men got the seats.
The following names were re-
ported as the permanent officers of
the Convention
Permanent Chairman-StephcD
NJ. White, of California.
Sergeant-at-Arms--John /. Mar
tin, of Missouri.
Secretary-Thomas j. Cogan, Of
Cincinnati.
Assistant Secretary-Louis d.
Hersheimer, of Chicago.
Reading Clerk-E. B. Wade, Of
Tennessee.
Assistant Reading Clerks-N. r.
Walker of Florida, Charles Nickel
OF Oregon, JEFF Pollard Of Missouri.
and Lincoln Dixon of Indiana.
However, Congressman Richard.
son, OF Tennessee, presided most Of
the time aud made a very good OFF.
Ger.
| Thursday was spent i'm adopting
a platform, and here tho greatest
struggle took place. Senator Hill
made a great speech in opposition
to free coinage, aud was listened to
( with marked attention. Tllman,
Of South Carolina, made O strong
I and fierce speech against Hill and
the Administration in favor Uf free
silver, but the greatest speech Of all
was made bycx Congressman BRYAN
Of Nebraska, in favor OF tho plat.