Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1896-07-24
TWO CONVENTIONS.
THE SILVER MEN WILL EN-
DORSE BRYAN AND SEWALL.
The Populists Organize BY Electing
senator Butler--Nothing Done
Yet

to-day but neither made much head.
way, the programme of the silver con.
vention was all arranged in advance.
1t included simply the adoption Of
l6 to ] platform and the nomination
OF Bryan and Sewall, but those in
charge of it deemed it a good policy
to go slowly in the belief that they
might, by remaining in session, be
able to exercise and influence in
shaping things in the populist con.
vention. To this end they appointed
a committee Of seven, headed by
James Scott, of California, to meet
with similar committee from the
Populists for the purpose Of reaching
a common plan Of action.
The idea was perhaps well conceiv-
ed, although it is doubtful whether
the course will be fruitful of results.
The anti.Bryan Populists believe that
all outside influences which are being
brought to bear upon them 10 induce
them to accept the nominees of the
Democratic convention are part Of the
same plot to drive the party into the
Democratic trap and destroy and an
initiate its identity. They are deaf
to suggestions, appeals and warnings.
"The future has no terrors for the
middle Of the road men," is the reply
to every argument, their answer to
every foreboding. They have con-
vinced themselves that if they go
marching on in four years more the
two old parties will be shattered, dis
rupted and discredited and they will
come "into their own"
WAS A DISAPPOINTMENT.
The first session Of the Populist
convention to. day was disappoint-
ment to those who anticipated relent.
less, bitter war from the drop of the
gavel. And it was a disappointment
to those who imagined that the gal
leries would swarm with people,
drawn thither by curiosity or sym.
pathy with the deliberations of the
convention. There was no wild cat
fighting and the galleries which will
hold 1900 people, were practically
an empty waste.
Not over 600 spectators were in the
balconies. The floor, where the dele
gates were gathered, was in some re-
spects crowded with as unique an as.
semblage as was ever massed under
one roof A single glance showed
that they represented the common
people-a term in which they glory
that they came from the farm. the
mine, the workshop and the factory.
They discarded conventionalities.
Fully half Of them sat in their SKIRT
sleeves with their coats slung over
the backs of their chairs, Among
them were many picturesque person,
alities-men who have been agitators
and reformers for many years were
there, but there was also many whose
ability and force of character have
given them rank in high station.
There was no night session, owing
to an accident which destroyed the
electric light connections. A severe
storm had passed over the city about
6 o'clock and the wires were blown
down, Despite this fact the delegates
assembled in the hall and awaited for
over an hour in total darkness for the
lights to be turned on. About
dozen candles were brought in for
the use of the newspaper men. One
was placed on the chairman's table
and another stuck in the top of
guide in the middle of the pit. The
effect was wierdly picturesque.
Ghastly faces fitted in and out of
the ring of feeble light which the
tallow dips cast. The band played
and the crowds sang. Speeches were
made in the dark, and the delegates
ready to stay all night if
there was any pospect of light later
on. There was naturally considerable
that a panic might
seize the crowd, and a dire calamity
result in the rush for entrances.
The middle. of the road people be-
came possessed of the idea that the
Bryan men had put up a job on
Luen; anu VIC udII was LOU uSDIeQ
because they feared that the straight
puts would run away with the con
Vention. They denounced it all as a |
rick and vowed vengeance long and |
leep. The incident recalled a SINH. |
ar one at the Cincinnati Republican |
Convention of 1876, when the lights
we're shut off at critical stage, just
when Blaine's nomination seemed |
assured.
At S:45 Chairman Butler declared |
he convention adjourned until to-
morrow morning Within a half |
hour after the last delegate had left
he hall, all the electric lights were
urned on, much to the astonishment
If the few newspaper men and police.
men who fingered in the building