The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-08-26
National Convention of Republi-
can League Clubs Opens
at Milwaukee.
The First Session Devoted to
Speeches and Campaign
Songs.
Annual Address of General Nc
Alpin, President of the
League.

MILWAUKEE, Aug. 26.-"he delegates
10 the Republican National League con-
vention were slow in assembling at Ex-
position hall and it was nearly noon
before President McAlpin called the
convention to order.
The delegates began to straggle in as
early as 10 10, and from that time on,
the crowd slowly augmented, much to
the impatience of spectators who were
on hand for the opening which was
scheduled for 10 o'clock The first dis
tinguished parsonage to arrive was L.
E. Byrnes, who was sergeant alarms
Of the St. Louis convention, who came
in and took a seat with the Minnesota
delegation. The New York delegation
came in carrying at their head banner
awarded to the Buffalo club for the
largest attendance at the Cleveland
meeting, and singing campaign song.
The orchestra saluted them with
medley of airs The handsome banner
and the Stars and Stripes also carried
by the delegation, were taken upon the
stage and arranged on the side Of Nc.
Kinley and Hobart's pictures, amid the
applause of the New Workers, who were
the first to awaken enthusiasm in the
gathering.
The band played THE Old Kentucky
Home" and my Maryland,' but
Dixie brought forth the first yell.
Secretary Bowling came in at II
o'clock, and was greeted with applause
when he appeared upon the stage. The
New Workers kept up the excitement by
shouting fer McAlpin. The Gordon
people called their bluff by shouting
What's the matter with Gordon?
He's all right" The Wisconsin boys
gave the university yell, and then some
body wanted to know what was the
matter with Milwaukee, and the crowd
yelled "She's all right, you bet"
Amphion Quartette of Company A,
"Boys in Blue" of Rochester, N. Y,
sung a campaign song which was loudly
applauded. They responded to an
encore, taking the platform. Their
second song made even a greater hit
than the first.
Secretary Bowling swung two beauti-
full banners bearing the pictures Of Nc
Kinley and Hobart on the front Of the
speakers platform, and great shout
went up from the delegates, who by
that time numbered several hundred.
' At lO:10 General McAlpin took his
seat on the platform, and was given a
great ovation.
Convention Called to Order.
AS soon as the uproar subsidized, Pres
ident McAlpin said:
The convention will be in order.
The delegates will be seated. Divine
blessing will be asked by the Rev. DR..
Hunsberger of Milwaukee"
After the prayer, General McAlpin
introduced Mayor Rauschenberger. who
made brief speech Of welcome.
When the mayor finished the crowd
cheered him, and gave a rousing cheer
for the City of Milwaukee.
Samuel A. Harper, president Of the
Wisconsin State League of Republican
clubs, was then introduced, and was
greeted by the Wisconsin university yell
from the Wisconsin delegation. He
made speech of welcome in behalf OF
the Wisconsin State League. Mr.
Harper was frequently interrupted by
applause.
At the close of Mr.. Harper's speech
President McAlpin presented Captain
l. M. Bean of Milwaukee, who vel
coined the delegates on behalf of the
general committee.
Bert Morphy, the celebrated English
baritone. who has created furort
wherever he has appeared and who i.
now under the direction of the nationa
committee, rendered stirring cam
paign song, accompanied by the orches
ira, and at the conclusion Of each vers,
of the patriotic political song, the au
dience went wild with enthusiasm.
Mr.. woodmansees Remarks.
General McAlpin introduced d. d
Woodmansee of Ohio to respond to th'
addresses of welcome. He was cheeret
and began his speech by thanking tn,
convention for his reception. On be
half of the young Republicans Of th'
United States he thanked the Wiscon
San people for their welcome. Th
party. he said, was entering OH tn
great campaign. The greatest sine
the boys went out i'll 1860 to save tn
country. Reputation and anarch,
went hand III hand. and w. j. Bryal
represented these principles. 1t woul
be worse, he said, t , open our fac:orie
to foreign labor than to open our mint
to the silver Of the world Who was
that rejoiced in the nomination o
William Mckinley: he asked II wa
the patriots OF the land, the fathers an
cons who felt that their homes needle,
protection. and as certain a
November came. William McKinle