Evening star., 1896-07-09
BEFORE ASSEMBLING
Delegates Looked Forward for q Ses-
sion Of Speech Making.
SPECULATING ON GOLD MEMS COURSE
Orators Chosen to Present the Can
didates.
STATE OF THE BOOM S


over the city early in the day, indicating
a break in the perfect weather thus far
enjoyed, and suggestive Of the gathering of
the storm within the national democratic
convention hall. The wind had shifted
around to the northwest and did not blow
from the lake, but the air was still cool
and bracinK.
Again the crowds were in motion toward
the convention hall at an early hour as
the time for meeting had been set for 10
O'Clock. There was abatement in the
rush and excitement, but pracuice had per-
fected the arrangements for handling the
great thrCng, and 1t moved through the
doorways with little confusion. The band
began its program some time before the
meeting hour, adding the touch Of gaiety
to the tension among the convention ele-
ments.
The program for the day was the plat
form as the order Of business, when the
question of Presid ent arose. 1t was to be
a battle of great oratory, with the initial
appearance of such figures as Senator Hill
Of New York, Senator Tillman of South
Carolina, Jones of Arkansas, Villas of Wis
consin and Gray # Delaware. They are
the men who have measured strength for
the last year in the United States Senate,
and now their oratory was to. be brought
before a larger forum. The wild shouts
for Hill which have runy contin lously for
the last two days promised an ovation for
the New York Senator. The picturesque
and belligerent Tillman was awaited with
interest He has voice and manner of
speech peculiarly adapted to great popular
crowds. The fact that he would follow
Hill promised a renewal of that memorable
conflict between these two Senators on the
floor of the Senate Aside from these con-
spicuous speakers. it was expected that
many more short speecnes would he made
on the platform. The outlook was for a
vote late in the day. probably about
o'clock, and then a recess until evening.
when the nominating speeches and possibly
the balloting will begin.
DiscOntent of the Gold Men.
The main interest of the day centered in
the action of the gold forces after the
platform had been adopted. The rumble
of discomfort, which had been going on
for many days, was gradually reaching
its climax. No definite line of action had
been agreed on. but individual members of
the New York and other eastern delega-
tions freely expressed the intention Of
either quitting the convention hall when
the silver platform was adopted or Of an
nouncing their purpose not to support the
candidate. 1t had become practically GER
tain that no bolt in a body would occur,
the counseis OF Senator Hill and ex-Secre-
lary Whitney had prevailed toward con-
servative action. Gen. Charles Tracy of
Albany, who for years led the anti-silver
forces in the House of Representatives
against the Bland silver bills, an
nounces his definite purpose to re-
tire as soon as a vote shows that the silver
plank Is incorporated in the platform, or
else to state openly in the convention that
he must decline to support the presiden-
tial ticket. There are others from New
York, Massachusetts, New Jersey and
Pennsylvania deie egations of the same way
OF thinking, but in each case, it is an indi-
vidual sentiment lacking in concentrated
purpose Such Withdrawals as are likely to
occur are not expected to be of that dra-
matte order witnessed when Teller and his
associates bade goodbye to the chairman
OF the st. Louis convention and tearfully
retired.
Chosen to Nominate.
The nomination of candidates Is to bring
forward another opportunity for great ora
tors For Bland, the nominating speech
will be made by the caustic and virile Vest
of Missouri. He has a grace Of language
which is almost classic, and along with
this is a personal association with Bland in
Congress, and in the campaigning of Mis-
souri,, which makes the nominating speech
come from the heart. Governor Overmyer
of Kansas, who will make one of the
speeches, seconding BANDS nomination
has already shown himself to be one Of the
orators of the gathering. There will be
many other speeches representing the SEN
tirnents of the various states loyal to
Bland. and all of them will ring for Silver
Dick and for that inspiring gonfalon of
IL to 1.
1t has been noted that thus far the name
of Bland has not evoked from the con-
Vention crowd any of the wild demonstra-
tlons usually marking the mention of the
name of favorite, but with the presen-
tat1on OF his name today all Of the latent
enthusiasm of his pdmirers and of the sill
yer hosts promises to find expression in
one long, loud wild demonstration eclipsing
the 2O-minute outbreak of last night.
Senator Turpie will make the nominat-
ing speech for Matthews, and although his
voice IL thin, he has a felicity of express
sion giving force to his utterances
White OF Iowa, who will nominate Boies
Is not well known as a convention feature
but 1t Is said his speech will prove one of
the surprises Of the gathering. Several of
the pending speeches are being kept back
owing to the uncertainty as to which way
some Of the states will turn on the first
ballot.
The Candidates.
There is as much uncertainty among the
candidates on the eve Of balloting as there
was at the opening Of the convention. 1t
Is significant fact that no figures or esti-
mates of strength are given by the leaders,
and 1t shows what a large element of
doubt still exists. Although Bland main
tains his lead. the managers Of other can
didates declare positively that Bland Is far
from commanding majority, and is very
far from a two-thirds vote.
A new phase of the two-thirds question
has arisen by the possible course of the
gold element to refrain from voting In
that event, parliamentarians differ as 10
whether the nomination must be made by
two thirds OF the delegates present or two
thirds of those voting It ia regarded hv
&c me OF the leaders as a critical question
They point out that II silence on the part
OF the gold men reduces the voting
strength to about 600. then 400 would give
q two-thirdS vote. and Rland fa donoarS,,
ly near this number.
Another element of doubt which Is per-
picking the managers is as to the delivery
OF tne piock OF gold votes. some 200 or 800
in number. Given to one Of the silver Gov
oidates, on the theory of choosing among
the least OF several evils, it might nrove
decisive. and would give to the gold men
eas aovantase OF debating the nomination.
Senator Turpie and the Matthews mano-