Omaha daily bee., 1896-07-09
Democratic Convention is Now in Shape TO
Do Business,
SILVER MEN ARE IN COMPLETE CONTROL
Free Coinage Delegations Seated from Ne.
braska and Michigan.
ROLL CALL TAKEN ON BADGER CONTEST
By the Use of the Unit Rule the Gold Mems
Rout is Thorough,
SENATOR WHITE INSTALLED AS CHAIRMAN
Permanent Orgnnizntion Effected and
the Platform Ready to lie Pre-
scntcd-Day's session Occu-
pied with silver Speeches.

CHICAGO, July S.-The battle OF giants
was waged all along the line today with the
silver men in control in the committee
rooms and in the convention. No quarter
was shown. The committee on resolutions,
where they had a majority OF twenty,
crushed the opposition and, with a few
notifications, adopted the platform adopted
by the subcommittee late last night and
telegraphed to the country by the Associated
press. Senator Hill, GLOWING the biblical
injunction to turn the other cheek, after tho
resolutions which inferentially condemned
the president at three distinct points had
been adopted by the committee, offered a
plank commenting the administration for
its honesty, fidelity and courage. BY a vote
of % to II it was defeated.
Everywhere today there was talk of a gold
bolt and 1t seems now very probable there
may be definite action of at least q portion
of the minority, The leaders, however. are
still! exercising their influence to restrain
their followers. The New York delegation
decided not to withdraw. Ex-Governor
Flower, who at first advocated a bolt,
changed front today, but Colonel G. r. Me-
Clellan and Perry Belmont were for radical
action. The course of the committee on
resolutions last night in deciding to unseat
the Michigan gold delegation had the effect.
in an indirect way, of staying the strong
hand of the silver leaders. 1t precipitated
n storm OF protests from the gold men, who
SAID they considered 1t simply an exercise
of force. The Massachusetts and Connecti-
cut delegations were especially incensed and
they threatened to either withdraw from the
convention or decline participation in it's
action If the Michigan delegation was I'M
seated. Coupled with this was the intima-
tiOn that Senator White whp ;s ,oI,o+,l -.
permanent chairman, would rule that a
nomination could be made by two-thirds Of
the delegates voting in the convention. 1t
was this latter threat more than the other
which decided the credentials to
reconsider the Michigan case. II such a
ruling were made the Bland men, with their
big lead, could perhaps compass his nomina-
tion II the gold men declined to vote. The
friends OF the other candidates became
alarmed at the possibility and, with swift
combination against the Missourian, made
haste to reconsider their action.
For over three hours the convention
awaited the end of the struggle in the COM
mittee on credentials, occupying it's time
III listening to the fervid oratory of silver
champions. Ex-Governor Hogg of Texas.
Senator Blackburn of Kentucky, ex-Gov-
ernor Overneyer of Kansas, Governor Alt
geld of Illinois and ex-Congressman Will
liams Of Massachusetts, addressed the con-
%vention. The dashing Blackburn and the
pale but alert governor OF Illinois made
d u'ep IMPRESSION on the convention, but
1t was the clean-limbed, college-bred young
convert to free silver from the Old Bay
state who carried off the honors of the day.
BRYAN AS A DARK HORSE.
The net result of the days session was
the seating of the Nebraska silver dele
cation. This was the signal for a wild
demonstration in honor of Bryan, the "Boy
Orator of the Platte who is now every
where recognized as a formidable dark
horse. The sudden announcement of the
determination of the Illinois delegation to
desert Bland and vote for Stevenson after
the first ballot fell like a wet blanket on
the Missouri candidate. The Alabama
Bland men also changed their allegiance,
but the Bland men still keep a brave
front. The combination against the Misi
sourian made great progress and confidently
claimed before the evening session OF the
convention that it had blocked his way
to the nomination. McLean's power was
manifest everywhere and the desire to
nominate Teller grew more formidable with
each development. The prospects of a gold
bolt strengthened the argument of those
who favored an opening Of the session
with the silver republicans and the popu-
lists adopted the politics of the situation.
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 the meantime the
band played, and, as the evening advanced.
III llduS VI tlttlTlc llBHtS huueu DT1llldlL
illumination to the scene. The Michigan
contest, which had excited sharp divisions
in committee, was reported at 6 o'clock, CIV
ing the silver forces a majority of the
delegation and thus permitting them to
swing the twenty-eight votes of Michigan
for silver. 1t excited a warm debate that
gave evidence of the intense personal feel
ing aroused. When, after two hours'
speechmaking, the final vote was taken, 1t
gave the occasion for the most spontaneous
| and uIfTrfuD apnpngtratfo n, ,In. Io,,o -.
CURED. As the New York delegation cast
it's vote to sustain the Michigan gold dele
gates, a great shout went up from the dele
gates ana spectators, which grew In in
tensity as it proceeded, while men jumped
on chairs and waved hats, coats, handker-
chiefs and shouted themselves hoarse. It
was eighteen minutes before the rapping
Of the chairman could bring the convention
back to order. Then, a moment later, the
chairman announced that the silver men
had a decisive majority. and there was a
repetition of the wild demonstration, this
time by the silver men, lasting close upon
twenty minutes. 1t was evident that the
leaders bidcd their time for council, and
they to urge the platform to an
issue tonight. With the forcible speech OF
Senator White on taking the chair, the
permanent organization was perfected, and,
at $50. the convention adjourned until
10 o'clock tomorrow.
SILVER FORCES SCARED.
The prolonged demonstration which took
place IN the convention tonight, beginning
with the announcement of New York's vote
on the Michigan contest, was construed by
the silver men as prearranged. Some OF
them regarded 1t as an effort to stampede
the convention and nominate Senator Hill.
They Immediately Jumped TO that conclu-
sion. and declared that the hall had been
packed, and many schemes were hurTledly
discussed looking to the prevention OF any
future demonstration Of the same character.
Several OF the silver delegates mounted the
platform during the first period of the demr
onstratlon and demonstrated with Senator
Daniel, who was presiding. over the mild
ness Of his manner. 1t was. however. boz
yOnd the power Of any presiding officer to
check the exhibition, and the Virginia sen.
ator. while feeling as keenly as any man
thusiasm. could do nothing 70 in any degree
diminish its force. Gestures and speech