Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-07-09
EARLY IN THE DAY.
Scenes and Incidents Which Came Before
the Big Convention Opened

Scenes and Incidents Which Came Before
the Big Convention Opened.
Chicago. July S.-The second day of
Ehe convention opened bright and cool
with the continuance of that refreshing
breeze which has made the work by day
endurable and has given delegates
chance to sleep with comfort under
blankets during the scan( hours allotted
to rest.
/, has been ideal weather since the
advance guards arrived last week and
the weather predictions give no indica-
ton of a change. The crowds down
Gown and about the convention hall
showed no diminution to-day, but the.
was less furore and demonstration than
there had been. The personal element
surrounding candidates had given place
TO that tense feeling over the issue be-
tween the sold and silver forcs, as it
neared its eliminating point More
over there appeared TO be the lack Of taht
personal magnetism among candidates
which inspires convention crowds to
genuine enthusiasm. The shouters
seemed to rest content with the showing
already made and are allowing the
workers TO settle down to serious bust
ness.
The crowds were moving towards the
coliseum early in the day, as the time
Of meeting was 10 o'clock, and the ex-
perieuce Of yesterday warned people
chat time and patience were required in
gaining admission. Sergeant-at-Arms
Martin promised an improvement on yes
terday's arrangements. He has been
the most abused man in Chicago sirce
the wild rush appeared at the opening
and reports were current that he would
be superseded when the permanent or
ganizatiOn was perfected. There was the
prospect, also, of a coup d'main by the
superiors in throwing open the conven-
ton doors to the public. This had been
SERIOUSLY DISCUSSED
at the meeting of the committee on rules
last night, when it was pointed out that
hundreds of seats in the rear of the
faain floor and the galleries were unoc-
cupied yesterday. although IN silver
leaders had s,Tiven vainly to secure
quota of tickets commensurate with
their strength in the convention. The
committee appointed Senator Money and
Gen. St. Clair to confer with Chairman
Harrity early to-day and the threat was
made that if liberal distribution of
tickets did not follow the doors of the
convention hall would be thrown open
TO the Democracy.
The day promised to be one to bring
the crisis on the floor of the convention
which all have so long anticipated. All
of the events of last night and extend
ing far into the early hours to-day
marked the near approach of the cul-
minating point. The order of business
adopted by the rules committee was
such that after the inductions of the
permanent presiding officer. Senator
Stephen NJ. w. White, Of California,
the first business would be the report
OF the credentials committee, embrac-
ing the bitter contest over Michigan;
then the repor, of the platform, next
the speeches placing candidates in NOM
inaticn and finally the balloting. The
choice of Senator White gave univer-
sal satisfaction, even the gold men con-
ceding his fitness as a presiding officer
He has voice of that vibrant timber
which carries without the slightest Ell
fort. He is not demonstrative or ora
torical, but his diction is choice, and he
has a command Of parliamentary pro-
cedure which gives lucidity to his de-
cisions He is in the vigor of middle
life with the robust physique which
adds force to his other attainments.
The report on the Michigan case was
to be the signal for opening the conflict
to-day. Two reports were ready. That
from the majority seated eight of
THE SILVER CONTESTANTS,
thereby giving 4 total of twenty silver
men out of the twenty-eight in the
Michigan delegation, and under tbs
unit rule swinging the entire twenty
eight into the silver column. The mi
nority report favored the retention of
the eight god delegates who had thus
far held the balance of power under the
unit rule in keeping the twenty-eight
votes of Michigan in the gold column.
The issue on the two reports involved
intense personal feeling in which
charges were made that federal offices
had been bartered in order to control
the Michigan State Convention. There
was every indication that this personal
element would be aired on the floor of
the COW ntion, and that the question
CT federal influence would be brought
in for that severe criticism which has
thus far proceeded behind closely
guarded doors. Such was the feeling
over this contest, that it promised to
take much time and possibly to crowd
other business late into the day II
was also regarded by many as furnish
ing the opportunity to the gold men to
leave the convention on the grounds
that the silver forcss were riding over
them rough shod.
The contest Oh the platform also
promised another heated debate. There
had never been a doubt that the silver
men uld>injecJ 10 to l into the plat
form. but aS>&he result of the meeting
Of the committee on platform last night
there was now added several new per-
sonal elements. This included decla-
ration against the issue of bonds in time
of peace and an arraignment of selling
bonds TO foreign purchasers. The ma
tional bank question was also involved
in the proposal of the majority to limit
the right Of national banks to issue
notes. Add to this was the proposal
Gov q constitutional ameudmen+ rrbior