The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-07-04
Fourth of July and a Demo-
cratic National Convention,
Make Warm Scenes In the City
By the Lake.
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION
Is VIII the Gold Men Bolt a
Silver Platform?
Roswell P. Flower Says That
They VIII.

Chicago, July 4.-Patriotism and poll
tics-the Fourth of July and the advent
of a national convention are the two
contending elements at Chicago today
and it is difficult to tell whether the
bursting Of the bombs and cracker, the
crash of bands. the marching of or
ganizations, the swayings of great
crowds along thoroughfares, the har-
ranguing Of orators in the hotel lobbies
and the gaiIy decorated store fronts is
inspired most by love of country or love
of party.
Seldom if ever before has this city
had the national holiday and conven-
tfon come in conjunction and it is
competition calculated to stagger even
Chicago The day was ushered in with
the usual demOnst stratiOns of patriot
ism. At 6 o'clock the guns at Fort
Sheridan doomed an early salute and
this was taken up and continued down
town in one unending cannOnading of
small arms and crackers, until the air
was thick with the fumes of powder
The weather was hot and muggy, but
a lazy breeze off the lake stirred the
air sufficiently to make life more en-
durable among the workers than it has
been during the intense heat of pre-
ceding days. The sun shown through
promised showers and the local wealth.
er predictions for the day held out the
prospect OF showers followed by slight
" cooler weather
The political centers were astir early
in the day; for there had been little rest
for the weary workers after the pat
riOtic artillery of the day began. Storm
centers for the general crowd were as
usual in the lObbies of the Palmer
house, Auditorium, Sherman house,
while in the upper chambers of these
and other hotels the leaders. proceeded
with their conferences obliviOus to the
deafening peals from without. Early
in the day the main lobbies were choS-
ed with boistrous but good natured
throngs who cheered alternately for
Bland. Boies, Matthews and the other
favorites.
The caucuses of the gold and silver
elements last night were the main
themes of discussion and speculation.
The warning notes in some Of the
speeches al the gold meeting We're ex-
pected to be followed by a more def
mite announcement of policy later in the
day. The gold forces met at the Pal
mer house during the morning and pro-
ceeded to map out the lines of battle.
while ex-Secretary Whitney's rooms
at the Auditorium We're the center of
continued conferences. The main in
terest of the day centered in the devel-
opment of the line OF action of the gold
men. While it was conceded that the
silver forces had a majority and pOssi-
bly, under circumstances a tWO-thirds
vote, yet the moral effect of this was in
part dissipated by having the total di-
vided among Bland, Boies, Matthews.
Teller and others, while the gold ranks
We're in a compact body. -' e
The quarters of Chairman Harrity
Sergeant-at alarms Martin and SeCre-
eager to arrange the innumerabIe de-
tails which fall to the lot of these ex-
ecutive chiefs. Mr.. Harrity, in a light
gray serge suit, was SuaNe and un-
ruffied in the midst of a hundred i'm
pOrtunities. Secretary Sheerin had
not only the burdens of his position.
but was actively combating a move
ment in the Indiana delegation to
vote him out of his position on the ma
tiOnal committee owing to his differ
ences with the free silver majority in
the delegation. The meeting for this
and other purposes was set for 3
O'Clock, and promised interesting de-
velOpments unless the contest was put
over until Monday, as some Of the del
egates desired. Sergea t-at-ArmS Mar
tin left for the Coliseum early in the
day and directed the work of prepar-
ing the convention hall The great
force of wOrkmen proceeded without
reference to the holiday and made
form to the vast structure. All the
decorations were in place and the seat
were either in or ready to put in.
Those for the delegates We're excep-
tionally inviting, with large arms and
tufted seats. BY noon much of the
work was done, as the hall was sur
rendered for the rest of the day for
patriotic exercises by the Root NOnu-
ment association, in which a chorus of
1900 adults and 1000 children partici-
pate. 1t will afford an opportunity to
test the capacity and acoustic proper
ties of the hall Mr.. Martin had his
staff of assistant sergeants- alarms,
doOrkeepers, pages, etc, at the hall.
assigning them to positions. They will
be put through a drill tomorrow and
again Monday, 50 that every man Will
know his post of duty.
Quite as iGceresting as the candidates
and bOOms were the several conspicu-
GUS figures who had arrived on the
scene of action Senator Hill. ex-Sec-
retary Whitney and Ex-Governor
Flower came in for marked attention.
Mr. Hill in particular was beseiged by
an eager crowd. for, although the New
York senator has been prominent fr
public life, he has not been a familiar
convention figure, and there was q
general desire to see him. He re-
cetved all cOmers affably.
WILL GOLD MEN BOLT
Thara Are Tr6ioa+so,e Fr1-1-- Try.11