Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1896-07-30

lids OF SILVER gna one OF gold. and II
was made Of walnut, oak and ash
woods collected from II states-l6
southern and western and one eastern
state.
The states were then called for Nom.
bers Of the committee on credentials
and at the conclusion the convention
at 2:lO o'clock took recess until eight
o'clock at night
When eight o'clock, the hour for the
convention TO convene, arrived, the
hall WAS still In darkness. The dele
gates were huddled In the seats in
front Of the platform, while groups Of
faces swayed in the light Of the few
candles that fickered on the press
tables About this time, some shrewd
middle.of.the.roader thought he dis
covered that the refusal to turn on the
lights was part Of . scheme Of the
Bryan people TO prevent the straight
out element from controlling. This
suspicion that the lights were out In
the interest OF faction, as they were
turned out at the Cincinnati conven-
ton in 1876 by the opponents OF Mr.
Blaine, aroused storm OF pro-
tests, and the middle-of.the-road-
ers were charging about in the
dark to discover the cause of
the unprecedented situation. TITS .
scheme Of the Bryan men," the Texas
delegation shouted. BY this time the
aisles were chokcd with delegates,
pushing and cropping their way about
in the dark. There began to be some
apprehension Of some sudden alarm
which might stampede the delegates
and cause q disaster, and the leaders
began discussing the advisa bility Of
sdjourning the convention until this
morning. The band, under instruc-
tons, kept up constant fusillade OF
airs to allay the fears Of any who
might be alarmed. Whenever the
band p.syed q hymn, the delegates
Joined In the choruA Some OF the
other rollicking songs, like John
Browns Body" and Marching
Through Georgia" were also sung en-
Enthusiastically.
At $50, "Cyclone" Davis mounted to
the stage and tried to secure order, but
the crowd refused to listen until some
one held lighted candle In front OF
his face As his tall form and broad,
sweeping sombrero came within the
narrow ring Of the light from the tai
low dip, the delegates Immediately
recognized him and there were shouts
Of "Shut up!" Keep quietl" Listen
to Cycloner' When he could make
himself heard he announced that the
electric wires were ''dissffected," but
that they would be all right in few
minutes, whereupon there were cheers
Of approval and the band struck up an
other tune.
Mrs. Mary E. Lease came to the
stage and was appealed to to make a
speech, but she declined to talk in the
dark. swat until they turn on the
lights" said she, land I'll talk to you
all night"
At s.45 Chairman Butler appeared on
the stage. The band played "Put Me
OF at Buffalo, and then Senator But
Ter called the convention to order. He
announced that the committee on Gre
dentials would not be able to report
that night, and that, as. owing to an
accident there was no light, he would
declare the convention In recess until
ten o'clock Thursday morning. The
delegates, many Of them with evident
reluctance, then Quilted the hall.
.s-----
ST. LOUIS, July 24-The populists
began assembling for the second
day OF their national convention
shortly after nine o'clock yesterday
morning. About ten o'clock Senators
Stewart, OF Nevada; Kyle, Of North
Dakota, and Allen, Of Nebraska, took
seats on the platform. At 1905 SEN
ator Butler, the temporary chairman,
appeared. Five minutes later Chair
man Butler called the convention to
order and Rev. Mr.. Smith offered the
invocation. The report Of the commit
tee on credentials was called for, but
no one responded, and the states were
called for members of the committees
on permanent organization and reso-
lutions After the announcement OF
the committee on permanent organiza-
ton the members retired.
While other announcements were be-
ing made squad Of middle-of-the-
readers, headed by Delegate Branch,
OF Georgia, suddenly plunged into the
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