The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-07-15
THE DEMOCRACY.
FIRST DAYS PROCEEDINGS OF THE
NATIONAL CONVENTION.

porary Chalrman-The Proceedings
Marked With Good Order Throughout
An Eloquent Speech by Chairman pah'e''
CHICAGO, July THE Democratic
National Convention met to-day III,
tie after noon. The gavei dropped at
Ten minutes before l o'clock upon a
hail that had dozen rows OF empty
seats at the edges farthest from the
platform. The appearance OF Chalr-
man Harrity as he stepped forward to
the desk attired in slate colOred sum-
mer suit provoked a round of applause
from the Eastern delegates, reinforced
by many Southern and Western men.
When MIR. Harrity commanded the
convention TO be in order his voice
easily carried over the tumult to the
farthest corner, testing the acoustic
qualities of the hall with most salts
factory results. The figure OF the
chairman faced the assemblage for
several minutes while the ushers swept
the aisles clear of knots of conferrlng
delegates, u. ~,
"Gentlemen of the convention will
rise for prayer" Chairman aarrity
said. and there was a clatter OF chairs
as the body of delegates in the centre
of the hall came up to its feet with
considerable confusion. The Chap
lin. Rev. Edward Stirs stepped for
ward and delivered an eloquent lnvo-
cation.
The Chaplin was young man,
hardly thirty years old, with smooth
shayen. clear cut face and wearing the
black clerical coat buttoned to his
chin. He held in his hand roll OF
typewritten manuscript which after a
moment he laid on the desk and pick
ed up slip by slip, reading from it the
prayer as he could do without exciting
comment, as a representative OF the
Episcopalian Church. -.
As the convention seated itself
Chairman Harrity stepped forward
and after short rap of the gavel an.
nounced in clear tones the selection OF
Senator David B. Hill for temporary
chairman. This announcement was
what the gold men were waiting for
and with shout they leaped to their
feet and with waving arms they shout
ed out their approval. Among the
spectators also there was a cheer OF
appreciation. Some enthusiastic dele,
gate yelled: ''Thret cheers for David
B. Hill, and they were given with a
will.
Senator Sheerin, of Indiana for Sec
retary and John Martin for sergeant
alarms were also announced.
When the convention had quleted
down, What is the pleasure of The
convention 2" asked Mr.. Harrity, calm.
ly as if he did not know of the storm
which was follow. Mr.. Clayton, the
members of the national committee
from Arkansas, arose. Every silver
man and every spectator in the hall
knew that the gage of battle was to be
thrown down and they rose to man
and cheered. As soon as he announced
that he deemed it his duty to present a
minority report the demonstration that
followed the announcement OF the
selection of Mr.. Hills name was
breeze compared to cyclone. The
600 odd delegates practically mounted
their chairs and cheered while from
the thousand throats in the audience
came a hoarse roar of approval that
sounded like a roll of thounder. For
over three minutes the demonstration
continued and it was renewed at sew
eral points as Mr.. Clayton read the
minority report nominating Daniel of
VIRGINIA. AS he he concluded with
an emphatic demand for roll call
the silver men again cheered wildly.
After considerable debate the vote
was taken. The convention was very
quiet when the roll call began. Breaks
were shown in two of the Southern
States, Alabama and Florida, The
chairman of the first announced that
but for the unit rule Alabama would
give five votes for Hill; and Florids
was equally divided between Hill and
Daniel with four ayes and four noes.
The announcement that Illinois and
Indiana cast solid votes for the substi-
tute were cheered. The vote of Iowa
was challenged and resulted in a
showing of seventeen ayes and nine
noes, so that the twenty six were re.
corded aye. This Iowa roll call ne
cessitated the announcement of the
name of Horace Boles who is accred-
tied as a delegate but the Boies men
missed the opportunity for demon
stration and no cheer was heard. A
moment later the call of j. @. S.
Blackburn of Kentucky was followed
by an enthusiastic round for Ken
tuck's favorite.
MIR. Mcknight of Michigan chal-
lenged the announcement that his
State voted no, and the roll call show
ed twelve ayes and sixteen noes.
When New York was reached the
chairman explained Senator Hill did
not vote, so New York cast seventy
one noes.
Senator Daniel of Virginia managed
to score point upon his opponent,
Senator Hill, for Congressman Jones,
the chairman of the States delegation,
announced that all the votes of Vir-
ginia were cast aye, with the exception
of John w. Daniel, who voted no.
The Virginia partisans we're quick to
seize upon this act of chivalry and re-
warded it with shrill shout.
The roll call was completed at 3 :25.
The announcement of the vote-55G
to 449-was received with a brief dem.
onstration by the silver victors. Del,
egates waved their hats and the spec
tators in the galleries cheered.
Mr.. Harrity announced that unless
objection was made he would regard
it as the sense of the convention tina,
the majority report had been rejected