The record-union., 1896-10-04
The National Association Meets In Con-
YentiOn at the City Of st. Louis.
Not as Large a Gathering as Had Been
Anticipated.
ViCe-PreSident Stevenson Temporar-
lily PreSides Over the Assemblaxe
Governor Stone of Missouri
Meets With a Hearty Reception
as He Enters the Hall.


ST. LOUIS, Oct. 3.-Beautiful autumn
weather greeted the delegates and visi-
tors to the second Quadrennial conven-
| ton of the National Association Of Dem
ocratic Clubs, which assembled in the
Auditorium Building this morning The
| spacious structure was profusely dec
Grated with flags, banners and bunting,
| interspersed with pictures of men cele-
! brated in the history of Democracy. A
notable exception in the gallery of por-
traits was the absence of President
| Cleveland's well known photograph.
| Early this morning the members Of the
Executive Committee, who are in at
! tendance at the convention, met infor-
mally and ratified the programme of the
| proceedings as arranged by Secretary
| Mexican.
At 11:15 not NOR than 1000 people
We're in the building, and the orders were
| given to throw open the galleries to
whom might desire to enter
| At 11:15 not more than 1000 people
entered the hall leaning on the arm of
Ex-Governor Black of Pennsylvania.
Mr.. Stevenson limped perceptibly, and
| showed the effects of the injuries re-
ceived at the collapse of the platform at
Burlington, Iowa.
AT 11:45 o'clock Secretary Mexican
called the convention to order, and the
Jefferson Glee Club, accompanied by the
| band, rendered the national anthem.
! Ex-Governor Black was greeted with
| applause
! President Black said that the cause
they We're supporting was that of no
section and no class, but Of the whole
! people. Only one class, he declared, was
not represented at the convention, and
4 that was the few who represented the
syndicats, trusts and othr combinations.
Mr. Bryan" said the speaker,
stands for the republic, for the con-
tinued rule of the people, for independ
ence of our country, for the right of man
| to live and labor for himself and for his
! children. We therefore all propose to
stand shoulder to shoulder with all men
who will stand with u.s. and never was a
welcome more heartfelt than that which
we extend to our silver brethren and our
Populist brethren, who have magnani-
mously imperiled many things most dear
| to them that they might come with US to
| save our common country and rescue
| humanity itself from the fate which our
powerful opponents have prepared for
1 1t. With the election of Mr.. Bryan and
| a peoples Congress we can look for
4 ward to the dawn of a new country
! under brighter auspices and approach
! ing another golden age Of peace, plenty
and prosperity, like that which followed
the election of Jefferson"
At the conclusion of Mr.. Blacks
speech Vice President Stevenson was
! introduced. He spoke in part as fol-
/ lows:
ri fully appreciate the honor of hav-
ing been selected by your committee to
preside over the opening session of this
i Convention Of Democratic clubs For
/ the great work you have accomplished
and are yet to accomplish in bringing
victory to our standard, you will have
the gratitude of the Democrats every
where. The gravity of the issues in
volved in the pending political struggle
cannot be overestimated.
Their supreme importance to the
masses Of our people cannot be meas
ured by words. / make no question
as to the honest convictions of those
| who give their support to the ticket
nominated at the Indianapolis Conven-
| ton. The fact remains, however, that
| the contest for the Presidency rests
solely between Bryan and Mckinley.
1t cannot be claimed that any other
candidate has a semblance Of chance
for success, or even that he will receive
a single electoral vote 1t will avail
nothing to close our eyes to the fact
| that the gentlemen I have named are
the real candidates before the people. 1t
must be remembered that during the
thirty-two years Immediately preced-
/ ing the Inauguration of President
| Cleveland on the 4th Of March, 1893,
there was no single moment that the
Democratic party controlled the Presi-
dency and both houses Of Congress:
never moment that it could place a
single law upon the statute books. For
all Of the legislation during that period,
which brought in it's train financial
| disaster, 'monopolies' and trusts the
Republican party is alone responsible.
| During the period / have indicated the
monetary policy Of the founders Of our
| Government was abandoned and silver
| demonetiZed."
In conclusion Mr.. Stevenson said: II
am firmly persuaded that in all the
| present contest the interests of all the
people are bound up in the success of
| the Democratic party, whose creed
upon the pending vital issue was the
! living faith Of the founders Of our Gov
] ernment Now, as in the struggles Of
the past, it's appeal is to the judgment,
the patriotism, the sense Of justice Of
the American people. It's candidate
| for the Presidency is the able and elo-
quent statesman, whose words have
| cheered the respondent, given hope
and inspiration to his countrymen and
whose Inauguration will be the earnest
of better days to the republic"
At the conclusion of Vice President
| Stevenson's address Governor Stone
| came down the aisle toward the Chair
mans desk. The convention threw
| their hats in the air, while the band
| played Dixie" Governor Stone in a
| few appropriate words addressed the
| convention
Secretary Gardiner read a. number Of
| letters from Secretaries of Democratic
1 clubs throughout the Middle and West
ern and Southern States, in which It
| was stated that the free silver element
was predominant in their localities.