Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-07-23

gates.
ST. Louis. July 22.-The hall in which
the Populists met was the same in which
the National Republican Convention
was held last month. There were the
same arrangements to seats. The GAL
lerles reared themselves above the pit
on all sides. The platform in front
was flanked by the press benches. The
decorations were not elaborate.
They were practically the same as
those of the Republican Convention.
The bunting that swathed the front OF
the galleries had been taken down, and
some of the flags that flew from the Roof
we're faded and weather beaten. There
was not a picture in the hall.
The faces of the POpulists idols grac-
ed the walls. The only counterfeit pre-
sentation in the building was a large
bust Of Gen. Grant, which faced the
platform across the heads OF the dele
gates. Il occupied the same position in
the Republican Convention. The speak
ers stand had not been placed on the
platform an hour before the hour for
convening. TAe delegates began to
stIaggle in before zen o'clock, but the
spectators were slow in arriving. when
the pit was half filied there were not
200 people in the galleries. In this re-
sDect the usual order Of things at con-
ventions OF the old parties was rev RS
ed Among the first TO arrive were tle
Kansas delegations with long yellow
ribbons on their hearts and many OK
tneil with sun flowers in the lapeis.
Ignatius DOnneliy, of Minnesota, short
and round with his small blue eyes
tw.nkling and his good humored face
beaming. came in early and talked
awhile with sergeant-at-arms Mellow
ell. who stood on the platform, silver
baton in hand, surveying the final ar
rangements.
Congressman Howard, CT Alabama,
who wrote If Christ Came to Chicago"
WAS A STRIKING FIGURE
in his delegation. He is call, powerful
ly built, with a swarthy complexion and
long straight black hair that gives him
almos. the appearance OF an Indian.
Buffalo" Jones, OF Oklahoma, sat
with his delegation stol.diy reading
newspaper. Here and there was dark
face. There was one colored delegate
each from Colorado and Georgia. Cen
eral Coxey, of the famous commonwea1
army, and his sonin-law, Carl Brown,
came in together with their resp ctiye
wives. Mrs CoXey bore in her arms
her young son, whom Cen. COXey chris
tened Legal Tender as a perpetual
reminder of his march across the noun
tains in 1894. As the air in the hall
grew oppressive the delegates did not
hesitate to sled their coats. Some OF
them came to the hall with their coats
on their arms Others removed coat
and vest and hung them on the back OF
their chairs. Many Of the delegates
wore negltgee shirts and quite a num-
Der wore neither collar nor cravat.
Although some of the delegates have
been very noisy during the preliminary
skirmishing before the convention they
were very quiet while assembling. The
band stationed above the speakers
stand. kept up a continuous fus.lade Of
popular airs. But not one Of them
wrung a round of applause from the
delegates. The first thing 10 wake them
from their lethargy was the action or
an assistant sergeant-at-arms when he
hung a portrait of Lincoln over one OF
the front galleries. The delegates an
-plauded. and some one shouted for
three cheers, which were given. The
ice being thus broken they began to
be more demOns-rative and cheered the
bands rend ton Of Columbia, Gem or
the Ocean," There were several wo-
men delegates on the floor, among them
Mrs. J. O. A. Bush. of Prescott, Arizona;
Mrs. Jennie B. AtherhO.d. and Mrs. les,
of Colorado. Senator Allen received
the first personal ovation. The Texas
delegation grew demonstrat.ye. 4 Wo-
man posed with q Middle OF the Road
streamer pinned TO her gown and they
cheered wildly. She waved her manu-
kerchief frantically in response ana Ihe
enthusiastic Texans crowded about 10
shake her hand. She proved TO De
Mrs. Jones, Of Chicago.
THEN A LONE STAR DELEGATE
mounted a chair and read q number
of telegrams from Texas Popul-sts ad-
monishing them 10 keep IN the middle
of the road and bolt If necessary.
Stewart Asphypy. one Of the delegates,
made a speech and il looked as II
Texas intended to hold little conyen-
tion all by herself Gen. Weaver, the
last Populis- candidate for President,
and Senator PETER came together. Paul
Vandervoort. OF Nebraska. the most
prominen; candidate Of the Middle or
the Road" men for President, took one
OF the seats on the platform reserved
for distingu shed guests. On MS coat
he wore the badge Of his faction. Short
" before y o'clock the cha.rmanS
table. a pitcher of ice water and an oak
gavel were carried TO the platform.
The Mississippi delsgacOn marched
down the aisle with banners bearing
the slogan, NO compromise.
There was an answering yell of joy
from the Texas delegation as they rec
ognized their allies. About this time
some one nailed a portrait Of Peter
CooDar above the speakers stand. Be-
low II were The words National pros
Deritv cannot be restored by the enforc-
ed idleness Of large portion Of our
people"
The portralt did not seem to be rec
ognized. at least L w2s not applauded.
Cen. Weaver moved over TO the Tex
as delegation and made a short speech
in favor Of holding the sessions behind
closed doors. but the Texans did MOI
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