The herald., 1896-06-18
CLEARED THE DECKS
The Evening Hours Devoted to a Nc.
Kinley Parade
Today the Battle Royal Will Be Fought on
the Adoption Of Platform and
the Nomination


ST. LOUIS, June 1.-THE Republican
national convention cleared the decks
for action today. This leaves the battle
royal over the platform and the nomina-
tion Of candidates for tomorrow. 1t
is probable the platform would have
been disposed Of tonight had it not been
that a night session would have inter-
fered with the mammoth night parade
of marching clubs previously arranged
for Mckinley.
Nothing could have been in more strik-
ing contrast with the dull, featureless
session of yesterday than the brilliant,
animated and enthusiastic session of
the convention today. The vast hall was
packed to its utmost capacity with
thousands of spectators, keye d to the
highest pitch of enthusiasm and re-
spending with cheers and hand clapping
to the electric touch of words, or with
the hoarse roar Of 1900 voices as it
came laundering down to the pit from
black walls of people on all sides, ac-
companied by the waving Of handker-
chiefs, hats and flags, all making tu-
multuous noise and motion that made
the pulse beat faster tune. The brief
but electric speech of the permanent
chairman, Senator Thurston, whose
warm, magnetic eloquence found ready
sympathy in the vast concourse of Re-
publicans, seemed to shake the audience
free from it's lethargy, and with their
spirits thus aroused, every incident
evoked cheers
At the afternoon session the first test
of strength between the Mckinley fol-
lowers and those Of Reed, Allison Quay
and Morton came, and although the is
sue presented was not as strong as the
Mckinley men expected, it demonstra-
ted to the satisfaction of all that that
candidate had a clear majority of over a
hundred in the convention. The question
was the adoption of the report of the
committee on credentials, which rati-
fed the action of the national committee
in giving almost all the 15S contested
seats to the Mckinley interests, and de-
cided the Texas contest in favor Of the
Grant (McKinley) delegates, and that
in Delaware in favor of the Higgins del
egates. The presentation Of the report
"oS oAOPSSNS Will IL NlOlcHL
report, denouncng the committee on
credentials for presuming to accept
unchallenged the findings of the nation
al committee. The presentation of the
issue famed into a flame all the bitter
animosity.
Messrs. Fort of New Jersey and Gros-
venor of Ohio were put forward to cham
pion the report, and Mr.. Hepburn of
Iowa led the opposition. The lines were
not drawn absolutely, as quite a num-
Der of delegates who are pledged
to Mckinley voted with the opposition,
notably the Maryland delegation, but
it was apparent from the cheers with
which the opposition greeted the an
nouncement of every vote in their fav-
or that they We're marshalling every
available vote at their command They
were defeated-5451s to $685..
SILVERITES THREATEN
While the convention was proceeding
with its work a dramatic scene was be-
ing enacted in the committee on reso-
lutions The group of western silver
men headed by Senator Teller of Colo
rado announced to their colleagues when
the gold plank in the platform was
adopted, upon the high vote of 40 to 10,
that they had reached the parting of the
ways and that nothing remained but for
them to bolt the convention. 1t was
thought that there would be violent re-
criminaions and wild words of denuncia-
tion when the final announcement of the
break came, but instead it was the part
ing Of old friends in sorrow, not in an
ger.
The silver men felt themselves sweep
on by an irresistible fate and with pro-
testations of regret they cast the die.
Speeches were made by Senator Teller,
who Joined the Republican party at it's
porter of Lincoln, and who for twenty
years had represented his state in the
senate of the United States as a Repub-
lican, save for two years in the cabinet
of President Arthur.
Senator Dubois, the handsome, stall
wart young senator from Idaho, whose
father was nominated for secretary of
state Of Illinois by Abraham Lincoln;
young senator Cannon of Utah, whose
father was president of the Mormon
church, and Hartman. the young and
vigorous congressman from Montana
Lemon of California, Mott of North
Carolina, the son Of DR.. Mott, the secre-
tary of the Silver party, and delegates
from New Mexico. Arizona and Okla
homa had voted with them in commit
tee, and they too made speeches but did
not announce their purpose to withdraw.
This scene was a most affecting one.
CONTINUED on third page.)