The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-07-06
MANY FOR BLAND
Marching Clubs For the MisSOu-
rian Outnumber All Others.
The Masses of the Visitors at
Chicago
ARE FOR BLAND ONLY.
Work Of the Convention Begins
In Earnest Today.
Visitors Pouring In Largely
Dressed In Crash.


is the tense strain, the bOundless en-
thusissm, the surging Of the crowds
and the hurried arrangement of details
which mark the near approach Of the
crisis.
Convention week opened suspicious
" in point of weather and the veterans
of the national gatherings do not recall
a time when clear skies and cool
breezes contributed more to the com
fort of the convention hosts. A ten
mile breeze comes from the lake, keep
ing the flags swapping and the mer-
curry keeps we'll within the eighties
There is just enough haze in the air
to keep off the tOrrid rays of the sun.
Early in the day the full strength of
the convention crowd began to assert
itself; every train brought political uni
formed clubs, bands of music and fife
and drum corps.
They came in the full regalia OF con-
VentiOns, with that individuality which
the silver movement has given to it's
advocates. Some of the clubs were uni
formed in light crash suits with tall
gray hats, others bore dambeaux, many
carried horns and other Instruments OF
discOrd and all seemed bent on noise
and demonstration.
The third section of the Dick Bland
marching club put in an appearance at
O'Clock, reinforcing the twenty-five
hundred already here. They made an
early attack on the hotels and aroused
the occupants from their slumbers- The
Nebraska silver train arrived with q
ands of silver shouters.
The BOies people were cheered by the
coming of a big delegation from the
heart of Iowa. Louisville contributed
the stylish Blackburn club and later
I'm the day the Duckworth club of Gin
ciunati is scheduled At this time the
streets near the political centers are
practically surrendered to the march
ers and OnlOokers. The same confusion
and excitement reigns in the hotel cor
ridors. where the crowds are so closely
"a ga 1cr0 Tcz
impossible At the Palmer house the
main lobby is packed with shouting
gestfculating men who overflow into
the entreSOI and entrances, and to this
is added at intervals the arrival of
some club with its band and drums and
bfasses. serving to drown the din of
the shouters. At the Auditorium, Sher-
man house and other rendezvous there
are the same scenes of noisy denmOn-
stration.
The real work of the convention be
gan in earnest today with the meeting
of the national committee at 10 o'clock
in the parlOrS at the Palmer house
There was intense interest in the re-
suit of the meeting. as the selection of
a temporary presiding officer promised
to develop a first test of strength be-
tween the gold and silver forces. Chair
man Harrity had divided the commit
tee work so that the formal matter of
distributing tickets and badges would
be done first and at u o'clock the i'm
pOrtant work of choosing the cOnven-
be taken up. The general impression
prevailed that the committee would
name Senator Hill as the temporary
chairman, but there was wide range
for speculation and doubt owing to
the determined attitude of the silver
men not to accept a temporary chair
man opposed to their views. The doubt
was increased by the fact that Senator
Hill had at last broken silence and in
statements which were widely read
during the morning had taken a decid-
ed stand AGAINST the silver men.
The statement attributed to him over
his signature that the New York dele
cation would walk out of the cOnven-
ton if the Michigan delegation was
unseated. was taken as a particular
indication of trouble ahead The sill
yer leaders are to meet at 2 O'Clock to
determine whether the temporary
chairman to be named by the commit
tee is acceptable. Whether he is
not. the committee will nevertheless
make their recommendation to the
convention and the fight of the silver
men will be made as soon as the COM
Iutttee assemblies tomorrow on the
question of accepting the presiding Off
Ger presented by the national COM
n1ittee. The tendency of the silver
men appears to be toward Senator
Daniel of Virginia for temporary chair
man. Aside from this question the
national committee viii hear such
contests as are presented. The only
South Dakota Nebraska and South
Carolina It is understood. however,
that the contestants will await the
appointment of the committee on Gre
dentia1s before urging their contests.
The battle among the candidates is
reaching its critical stage. Today APP
pears to be one of dark horses. A
Telegram from Vice President Steven
son, stating that his election to con-
Rress in 1873 was the result of his adj
Vocacy of the decentralization of sill
yer is attracting much attention. It
came last night in response to an in
curry from ex-COngressman Il W
McNeally. and is regarded as having
an especial significance at this juno
Ex-Congressrnan Sibley of Pennsyl-
vania is due to arrive today, and re-
vival Of his presidential candidacy is
expected to follow in his wake. He
announced himself some months ago.
but of late has not urged his can
didacy. It is said he comes at the
suggestion Of some of the Pennsylva-
MIA delegation, who show signs of sill
yer Infection and who believe that
none Of the candidates in the field
have shown ability to win. Senator
Tillman. the picturesque and terrible,
Is also enjoying a dark horse boom as
a result Of the arrival of the South
Carolina delegation, which is in
structed to vote for him
The Bland followers put on front
Of great eIation over the caucus of their
forces yesterday and are making the
extreme claim that their candidate win
be nominated by exclamation. This is
having the counter effect of concentra-
ting the opposition to Bland and all
other candidates just now are in
trOduced in offseting the Bland move
ment. There appears also to be con-
siderable doubt as to whether several
states reported at the Bland caucus can
be delivered to him as bodies.
California and Louisiana are holding
out although strenuous efforts are be-
ing made to bring them into the Bland
line. The Indiana men say that Mat
thews is in a healthy condition, but are