Omaha daily bee., 1896-07-08

d
the belief that IL there were any withdraw
ais they would coms early. The clash be
! tween Senators Hun and Daniel over the
! temporary chHirmsnsbip was awaited with
/ eager interest Ii was a strange coincidence
| showing the shifts Of politics that four
/ years ago. when the democratic convention
met here, Senator Daniel wRs the only one
/ to place Senator Hill in nomination for the
| presidency.
Among the presidential candidates. the
/ most that is being said is that Bland
| maintained the lead. but he was not the
| one commanding certain majority, much
| less a two-thirds vote ana the delegates
| looked for deadlocks and dark horses.
In front Of the convention hail the army
/ OF subordinate officials contributed largely
/ TO the disorder. They formed in a long
I line, four abreast, 10 gain admission al
! single entrance, where several excited men
were distributing the badges and emblems
Of authority. Meanwhile the doors were
barred 10 the public with stalwart police
I men on guard and no one would be admitted
until the last officer was az his post within.
/ At best the four big entrances could not
[ receive more than 250 persons a minute or
$1,000 an hour. The capacity OF the hall
1 is Just $4,000 so that ii would take fun
hour with perfect discipline to pass the
great crowd through the doors. The belated
stationing Of the officers promised 10 make
/ II impossible to get the people inside the
I hall by the time the convention meets. At
I II O'Clock the line stretched four abreast
. lOr lVV ieet ana advanced al & snail pace.
The women holding admission tickets were
particularly indignant at not getting in.
They stood in the street hosting their UNI
brellas TO keep of the shower Of cinders
! which filtered from the elevated road every
time q train Numbered overhead.
ALTGELD TRIES THREATS.
Governor Altgeld at the head Of the nil
nois delegation approached a burly police
man who guarded one Of the doors. Even
threats failed to shake the sturdy officer
who was under ironclad orders from the
serEeant-at-arns. There was almost a riot
among the crowds. and If the angry popu-
lace could have placed their hands on the
sergeant-at-arrns they would have made
short work of him. When at last the
I entrances were thrown open the delegates
and crowds swept through in wide streams
" hich separated and ran in rivulets
through the wilderness Of seats and filled
them in few minutes Five minutes
after the doors were opened the band on
the speakers stand struck up 4 lively med
ley Of southern airs, prominent among
which was the stirring Dixie but only
a few Of the spectators who were rushing
breathlessly in stopped 10 applaud it.
One Of the first leaders to enter was
Senator Jones Of Arkansas- He stood al
the staff Of his state, greeting all who ap-
! preached him cordially and sood-naturedly
seemingly cool and unrufhed as be surveyed
the field and viewed the first clash of the
battle which was soon To begin. Governor
Altgeld came over and held an earnest
consultation with the leader Of the silver
forces. Senator Cockrell Of Missouri, one
: Of the managers of the Bland boom, who
looks like an animated Uncle Sam and who
is afectionstely known in his own state
as "Old Garden Sass tie poorest man in
the United States senate. with his colles que,
Senator White OF California, were the next
prominent arrivals. Senator Harris. the
famous Tennessee octogenarian, who rules
the senate with rod cf iron and who has
! been the most conspicuous man in Tennes-
see for forty years. came in hot and per-
spring after his tussle with the minions
Of the law at the entrance
There were many reports Of minor acci-
dents rs the result Of the crush at the
doors. Senator Harris Of Tennessee was
handled roughly. and it said was
knocked down by the surging mob. Senator
Berry OF Arkansas who has but one leg and
! walks with a crutch, was !aInmed against
; r wall and his crutch wrenched from his
; hand 1T is about time" said Senator
Jones Of Arkansas. that We had for a per-
! manent official sergeant-at-arIns who could
prevent such outrsees."
2 At 1880 ore of the Bland bands entered
the south entrance playing Dixie" This
s caused the first burst of enthusiasm and the
! air was filled with cheers. The air was
t changed TO Columbia" and the huzzas
J were renewed. The pit was partly filed
but it was generally remarked that the
eastern delegates were extremely slow in
{ arriving. 1t was just noon when the first
I Empire State delegate took his seat in the
: persons of Frederic Coudert and ex-Mayor
Grant, combination Of the reform and
! Tammany democracy.
Among the silver republicans and populist
leaders who were in places of advantage to
watch the proceedings was Jerry Simpson
The Sage Of Medicine Ledge
NO CHEERS FOR BOIES
, The large number of women present was
. very noticeable. Their bright dresses aided
, largely TO the brilIiancy Of the animated
scene which stretched away from the
: speakers stand. An enthusiastic Boies mar
! carried a Boies banner through the aisle
in the delegates pit. bot there no
} answer for this invitation trr 4 demonstra-
tion in favor Of the Iowa candidate.
Shortly after u O'Clock Mr.. Whitney and
Mr.. Hill walked up the center aisle. followed
by most of the New York delegation. but the
great Empire state delegation, which IL
usually received with salvos Of cheers in 4
? democratic convention. TOOK their places in
silence. Governor Russell and the Mas
sachusets delegation. in which was George
? Fred Williams. the free silver defender. fol-
lowed, and like the New York contingent
did not raise a cry.
The members Of the national committee
and the distinguished guests took posses
E sion OF the platform early The most con
p spiCuous Of the latter Senator Stewart
( Of Nevada, whose long, patriarchal beard
made him easily recognizable TO those who
were made familiar with his face in the
? illustrated papers. DR.. Everett Of Boston
the son Of Edward O Everett who turned
] his back on the republican party when
] Cleveland was first nominated in this city
was also present He has announced his
intention 10 bolt. that the limit OF his
2 connection with the democratic party is al
t ready fixed. Senator Lindsay of Kentucky
? whose gold views will possibly keep him
from public life, and Senator Bate, who
lost a leg in the confederate service and
] who is l6 TO / man, sat SIDE by side.
+ The silver leaders during the silent
? watches Of the night had arranged fixed
! program and were confident that they
: would be able 10 pui il through The gold
: men were plainly nervous and Mr.. Whit
] ney, Chairman Hsrrity, Don NJ. Dickinson
and Delegate-at-tHrge Mcl,ermott of New
Jersey, who has announced his intention
! of boiling, held final conference jus: be-
! fore the convention was called 10 order.
Senator Hill received the first demon
stration Of the convention. His well
known figure was the signal for en-
: thuslbstic ovation from the gold delegates
who recognized in him their champion and
they stood upon chairs Ent waved their
hats and many rushed forward and i'm
peded his progress as he walked up 'he
aisle. In the demonstration 4 number Cf
= radical silver men with whom Mr., Hill is
{ popular, despite his money views joined.
I This was followed by q counter demonstra-
tion from the silver men, when dashing
D Mr., Blackburn OF Kentucky, whose famous
. - oh ha rT.