The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-07-24
Of the National POpuIist Con-
vention Last Evening
BY 75S TO 564 VOTES.
Result Greeted With Cheering
Lasting Many Minutes.
How the Vote Was Taken In
Detail.


was read at the convention hall last
evening. The announcement of the Sc
lection of Allen of Nebraska, for perma-
nent chairman was a signal for DEM
onstration lasting several minutes. J.
w Hayes of New Jersey, was selected
for the secretary and the temporary
officers were made permanent.
The minority report naming James
z. Campion of Maine, for chairman, set
the middle of the road men on fire. The
Texas and Georgia delegates climbed
onto their chairs and yelled like Co
manche Indians. Several large middle
of the road banners were paraded
through the aisles. The western dele
gates as a rule took no part in the
demonstration. One of the Georgia
delegates pulled up his state standard
banner which was held aloft by two
members of the delegation, one white
and one colored.
The standards of Texas, Arkansas,
Ohio. Mississippi, Missouri and several
other states joined the procession.
In a scuff1e for the possession of the
Alabama guidon the staff was broken
and a free fight almost precipitated.
Bedlam reigned for ten minutes When
order was at last restored the names of
the signers of the minority report were
read. When the name of the Illinois
member of the committee was read
that delegate jumped up and announced
that his signature was forged. His
name was withdrawn.
Delegate Blazer of Texas, then moved
that Campions name be substituted
for that of Allen for permanent chair
man. E. Gerry. Brown of Massachu-
sets, moved to lay both majority and
minority reports on the table pending
the report of the committee on rules
He said he made this motion in the in
terest of a compromise candidate. There
We're cries of no no." from all parts
of the hall. It was evident the tenn
per of the convention was for action.
Lafe Pence of the New York delega-
ton, Bryan man, moved the previous
question. 1t was ordered amid much
confusion and the roll of states was
called on the question of adopting the
majority or minority report. The par
hamentary situation puzzled the dele
gates. They We're finally made to IN
derstand that an aye vote was for AL
len and a nay vote for Campion.
Meantime night was falling but the
electric lights We're not turned on to
dispel the gloom and there was some
apprehension of a repetition of the ex-
perience of the past night when the con
vention sat an hour in total darkness.
Several candles were brought in and
placed on. the press ia b1es.
The excitement was intense. There
was a realization on both sides that an
actual test had come. When Ala bama,
the first state, was called, a row was in
progress and Alabama was passed.
Arkansas vote was challenged. In the
former state the division showed six
more votes for Allen than We're cast
in the Illinois contest on the side of
Bryan and in Arkansas four more. In
the gathering gloom there We're loud
cries of turn on the lights" Some one
announced from the platform that the
electric light lamps had not been trim
med"
THAT won't do cried the irate dele
gates, and serious trouble was immi-
nent, when suddenly the electric lamps
sizzled and the hall was flooded with
blaze of light. The Bryan men gained
eight votes in California five in Con
necticut, Florida one. Georgia two, Ida
no seven, Illinois six, Indiana nineteen,
Kansas 1, Kentucky two and a half
louisiana six and Maine one.
The constant gain made the Bryan
men enthusiastic and they cheered lus-
tfly at every announcement The mid
die of the road men did not make
gain until Mississippi was reached.
when gain of two was made recl1oned
on the former vote They got a good
chance to cheer, however, when North
Carolina, which divided seven to TWEEN
ty on the first vote divided her vote
equally between Allen and CamDfon.
While the clerks were figuring up the
tallies it became noised about that the
result showed an overwhelming ma
jority for the Bryan forces. and the
middle of the readers were very much
downcast- One of the Texas delegates
shouted: Perhaps we misunderstood
the question"
Mo. you did not" shouted Jerry
Simpson across the hall. we knew
where we were at all the time
The Bryan people laughed with glee
at this rejoinder.
A moment later the chairman an
nounced the result as 75S for Allen and
564 for Canplon- The Bryan men
screamed with joy. They got on their
chairs and cheered- They whirled their
coats, umbrellas, hats and everything
movable, aloft. They uprOOted their
state guidons and paraded them about
the aisles.
Another row occurred over the Dos
session OF the Alabama standard. bur
the Bryan men at last carried it off vic
toriOEsly- Only the Texas and other
middle of the road southern delegates
sat silently in their seats during the
wild demonstration. The guidons of
the Bryan states danced for five min
utes about Nebraska, and then Indian
file they were borne about the 6eIegates'
inclosure- The band played, but it
could just be heard. Four colored men
with ban1OS got near the stage and /!
sang 4 Efyan song The scene with !
the exception of the fact that the gal
ler1eS did not participate in the demon
stration very much resembIed that at
the Coliseum in Chicago when Mr..
Bryan was nominated. It lasted about
IS minutes. After order was restored, +
Delegate wilkins of California climbed .
onto the stage. We have made a
square fight he said. and we have /
been fairly beaten and in the interest +
of peace and harmony, ! move that. the i
election of Mr.. Allen as permanent T
chairman be made unanimous
His motion was carried with a huT- =
rah, but there were loud cries Of dis