The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-07-09
SCENE IN THE GREAT CONVENTION HALL.

mittee on credentials, occupying their
time in listening to the fervid oratory
Of silver champions. The gold men
sat silent and impassive as half
dozen. silver orators were, one after
the other, called to the stage to stir
the blood and fire the imagination of
their supporters They seemed indif
ferent while thousands yelled them
selves hoarse, and at no time took any
part in the demonstration.
Ex-Gov. Hogg, Of Texas; Senator
Blackburn, Of Kentucky; Gov. Over
myer, of Kansas; Gov. Altgeld, of Illi-
nois, and x-Cengressman George Fred
Williams. of Massachusetts,, addressed
the convention. The dashing Black
burn and the pale, nervous but alert
governor of Illinois made deep i'm
preston, but it was the clean-1imber,
college-bred young convert to free sill
yer from the Old Bay State who car
ried off the honOrs of the day. He
argued that free silver was not sec
tional issue, and when he concluded
with plea for financial emancipation
from the money thralldom Of Lombard
street, the greatest demonstration Of
the day occurred A hundred delegates
rushed forward to wiring his hard, and
the wild cheering Of the crowds con-
tinued for several minutes.
The net results Of the days session
was the seating Of the Nebraska dele
cation. This was a signal for q wild
demons tration in honor of BRYAN. the
Boy Orator Of the Platte who is now
everywhere recognized as a formidable
dark horse The sudder. announcement
- H.. -
ton to desert Bland and vote for
Stevenson after the first ballot fell like
a wet blanket on the Missouri candi-
date. The Alabama men changed their
allegiance, but the Bland men still keep
up a brave front. The combination
leaders against the Missourian made
great progress and confidently claimed
before the evening session Of the con-
vention that they had blocked his way
to the nomination
McLean's power in the convention
was manifest everywhere, and the com
bination to nominate Teller grew more
formidable with each development. The
prospects of gold bolt strengthened
the argument of those who favored an
open fusion with the silver RepubIi-
cans and the Populists
The crowds returned to convention
hall. expecting a protracted
NIGHT SESSION
and decisive action on the platform.
There was further delay, however. in
the committee on credentials and In
tie meantime the hand played, and as
the evening advanced myriads of elec-
trio lights added brilliant animation 20
the scene. The Michigan contest, which
had excited sharp division in the conf
mittee, was reported at o'clock, Civ
ing the silver forces a majority of the
delegation and thus permitting them to
swing the % votes of Michigan for sill,
yer. 1t excited warm debate, that gave
evidence of intense personal feeling.
When, after two hours of speech
making, the final vote was taken, il
gave the occasion for the most spon,
taneous and stirring demonstrations
that have occurred. As the New York
delegation cast its solid vote to sus-
tain the Michigan gold delegates, a
great shout went up from the thousands
of spectators as well as delegates,
which grew in intensity as it proceed
ed while men jumped on chairs and
waved hats, canes, handkerchiefs and
shouted themselves hoarse. 1t was 13
minutes before the rapping of the chair
man could bring the convention back
to order. Then, when a moment later
the chair announced that the silver
men had decisive majority, there was
a repetition of the wild demonstration.
this time by the silver men, lasting
twenty minutes. 1t was evident that
the leaders bided their time for council
and they determined not to urge the
platform to a final issue tonight. With
the forcible speech of Senator White
on taking the chair, the permanent or
ganization was perfected, and the con-
yention adjourned