The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-07-23
MET I'm DARKNESS.
Lack OF Light Compelled the Popu-
lists to Adjourn.


When O'Clock, the hour for the con-
vention to convene. arrived, the hall
was in total darkness. The delegates
We're huddled In the seats in front Of
the platform, while CHASTITY groups of
faces swayed in the light Of the few
candles that f1ickered on the press
tables. About this time some shrewd
middle of the roader thought he dis
covered that the refusal to turn on
the light, was part of q scheme of the
Bryan people to prevent the straight
out element from controlling. This
suspicion that the lights were out, in
the interest Of faction, as they were
turned out at the Cincinnati conven-
ton in 1876, by the opponents of Mr..
Blaine. arouseds.a storm of protests,
and the middle Of the readers went
charging about in the dark to discover
the cause Of the unprecedented situa-
ton. ~
Its a scheme of the Bryan men,
the Texas delegation shouted. Some
one mounted the stage and yelled:
The Bryan people have put out the
lights, but If they nominate Bryan
Well split this convention wide open.''
You're a disgrace to the party
came emphatically from the black
cavernous depths of the hall
By this time the aisles were choked
with delegates, pushing and grouping
their way about In the dark There
began to be apprehension of some sud
den alarm which might stampede the
crowd and cause: a disaster and the
leaders began discussing the advisable
ity of adjourning the convention until
tomorrow morning.
The band, under Instructions, kept up
constant fusilade Of airs to ailay the
fears of any one who might be alarmed
Whenever the band played "a hymn the
delegates Joined in the chorus. Some
Of the other rolIfcking songs like John
Browns Body" and Marching Through
Georgia" were also sung enthusiastieal-
ly. At 500 Cyclone" Davis mounted
to the stage and tried to secure order
but the crowd refused TO listen, until
someone held a lighted candle in front
of his face. AS his tall form and
broad: sweeping sombrero came within
the narrow range of light from the
tallow dip, the delegates Immediately
recognized him and there were shouts.
Shut up Keep quiet" Listen to
Cyclone" When he could make him
self heard ne announced that the
electric light wires were dis
affected but that they would
be all right In a few minutes,
whereupon there were cheers of ap-
pFOyat, ana the DanQ struck UP another
tune.
Delegate Webster, of ST. Louis,
moved that a committee be appointed
to wait upon the officers of the conven-
ton and ascertain why they were not
present A chorus of voices seconded
the motion, but nobody moved and no
committee was appointed. One disgust
ed delegate yelled: LET us go to Chi
cago and hire hail." This suggestion
seemed to meet with approval Then
the band in the gallery broke out with
the stirring strains of Dixie and the
old Southern song was answered by the
roar Of thousand throats.
Mrs. Mary E. Lease came to the stage
and was appealed to to make speech,
but she declined to talk in the dark
'Wait until they turn on the lights"
she said. land ! will talk to you all
night" At S:45, Chairman Butler ap-
peared On the stage. The band played
Put Me Off At Buffalo" and then
Senator Butler called the convention to
order. He announced that the commit
tee on credentials would not be able to
report tonight and that as, owing to
an accident, there was no light, he
would declare the convention In recess
until 10 o'clock tomorrow morning. The
delegates, many of them with evident
reluctance, then quilted the hall
At 9:15 the lights flashed in the con-
venticn hall but it was deserted except
for a few officers. The convention had
emily been adjourned Is minutes when
the lights were turned on. but every
delegate had gone before there was
glimmer.