Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1896-07-30

repaired and speeches were made in the
gloom for a few hours by Well-knoWn
Populists When it became apparent
that the committee on credentials would
be unable to report that evening the con-
ycntion adjourned.
The Second Day.
The second day, Thursday, July %,
was not productive Of any more definite
results than the first day. Chairman
Butler called the body TO order at 1905
4, H. and the time until noon had to be
filed in with speeches by prominent men
ii The convention and campaign songs
by persons VINO were gifted with good
voices. The delay was due to the fact
that the credentials committee was I'M
able to report. An adjournment was
taken until 3 o'clock in the afternoon.
At the afternoon session the commit
tee on credentials, submitted its report
and the convention seemed to be in
fair way to get down to solid work.
Colorado and Illinois furnished the most
important contests. The convention di-
vided honors in the Illinois case, but the
middle-of-the -road faction claimed the de-
cisioE as g substantial victory. The Col
orado case was settled without difficulty
later and then the convention unseated
Rublee A. Cole, a Wisconsin delegate
whose claims had been tavorably acted
upon by the national committee, and
gave the seat to 1saacs, the contestant.
Then came the first real contest Of the
convention-the selection of a permanent
chairman. The Bryan element was cen.
tered on Senator Allen of Nebraska and
the committee on permanent organiza-
ton had so recommended, but the mid
uIe-o1-1ne-roau people presented the name
of James e. Campion of Maine. The
vote resulted: 75S for Allen and 564
for Campion, and Mr.. Allen thereupon
took the chair. He delivered an address
covering the issues of the campaign and
the work before the convention and then
loving day.
The Third Day.
The convention got down to business
on the third day, Friday, July -: The
regular proceedings were delayed long
enough after the convention had been
called to order for tribute to be paid the
memory of Mrs. E. NJ. Emory of Alich-
who had died a few days before. There
was a decided disposition to indulge in
a round of speeches such as had char
acterized the previous sessions, but
Jerry" Simpson mounted chair and
protested, with good effect, against the
delegates frittering away their time. A
committee to confer with similar COM
mittee from the Silver party, in conven-
ton in a neighboring hall, was appoint
ed, and then the report of the committee
on rules was taken up. The first prepo-
sition to arouse opposition was the rec
dent before the presidential candidate
was selected. The adherents of Mr..
Sewall, Mr.. Bryan's comrade on the
Democratic ticket, considered this an at
tack "a their man, and indeed they were
| not long left in ignorance as to it's pur-
E. rs &I,- Has,
man was not concealed in the speeches
which were then heard on the report.
Finally vote was taken and it result
ed in a victory for the anti-Sewall forces,
| 7S5 delegates voting to nominate vice
president first and 615 voting to preserve
| the customary order in such cases. Then
| the resolutions were reported. There
was minority report, too, and ''Gen.'
| Coxey, who was not even satisfied with
| the dissenting report of the minority,
was permitted to read a couple OF p]anks
of his own drafting, but the majority re-
port, favoring free silver, government
control of railroads and telegraphs, more
liberal homestead laws, an income tax
and several other reforms that were
deemed desirable, was adopted. 1t was
at first thought best to go ahead with
the nominations for vice president, but
| it was getting late and an adjournment
until evening was deemed best
| At 6:32 the convention reassembled and
| Chairman Allen introduced Judge Jeffer-
son Pollard of Missouri, who read the
platform Of the silver convention and
| message about the nomination of Bryan
and SeWall. The reading was repeatedly
| interrupted by delegates III various parts
of the hall, who raised the point of order
that the regular order was nominations
! for yice-president.
The following men were then placed in
nomination for vice-president: Congress
man Skinner Of North Carolina. Thomas
E: Watson of Georgia, Arthur Sewall of
Maize, Frank Burkett of Mississippi
and A. L. Nimms of Tennessee. Prof.
/. C. Bateman of Maine, the Populist
candidate for governor, nominated Mari
on Page of Virginia, president of
! In doing SO, he protested in behalf Of
the entire Maine delegation against Sew
airs nomination. He had nothing against
Mr.. Sewan personally, he said, but he
objected to the nomination of a man who
had not one particle of sympathy with
the principles of the Peoples party save
the one small question of silver. The
speaker declared that the Maine Central
railroad, of which Sewall was presi-
dent had H. re p5i+ wages s I'm the
ask you not to press this bitter chalice to
| our lips.
1t was FIVE minutes of - when the
chair stated that there would be no more
| nominating speeches. He announced
that the roll of states would be called for
a ballot AT exactly II o'clock the roll
call began. Before the ballot was COM
pleted it was evident there was major
ity Tor Watson. Then the lights went
out and the delegates were left in total
! darkness. It was alleged that the lights
were turned out because the Bryan men
wanted the convention adjourned before
the convention named Bryan. Pande-
monium reigned. Men shouted out of
the inky blackness. Others sang and a
| few cursed. Then Mimm withdrew in
! Watson's favor. The Georgian already
had votes enough to nominate, but the
vote of Tennessee was finally added to
his column. Some one made a motion to
make the nomination unanimous and it
was carried with a whoop. Congress
man Howard of Ala bama moved an adj
iournment until 8 o'clock tomorrow
| morning and the motion was carried
Fourth and Last Day.
| There was inextricable confusion on
the floor Of the auditorium before the