Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-10-02
OPERA BoUFFE DEMOCRACY
Remarkable Proceedings at the
Massachusetts, Convention.

chine" from Capturing the COnven-
ton.
George Fred Williams was nominated
for governor of Massachusetts Saturday
by three conventions. The pre-conven
ton proceedings were of the opera bouffe
order, and began Friday with the Music
hall rally which was addressed by Bryan.
At this meeting Williams told the dele
gates that he had not ceased to note and
defy the traitors who hold the party organ
ization in their control. He declared that
the committee intended TO cheat and de-
fraud the Democracy which supported the
Chicago platform. Mr.. Williams claimed
that the power Of giving out the tickets
for the convention had been placed with
man not morally fit to hold the response
bility. Williams threw hot shot at Josiah
Quincy, and asserted that he had demand
ed Of the committee that credentials serve
as admission tickets 10 the hall, and that
this demand hal been refused. The COM
mittee brand this story as false.
At the conclusion of the meeting in
Music hall Friday night Secretary Dennison
of the Bryan-Sewall-Willi club, request
ed that the delegates present who were TO
participate in Saturdays convention should
remain in the hall and formulate plan Of
procedure in the convention. He said the
friends of Mr.. Williams were determined
that the machine should not capture the
convention in the morning.
James II. Mellen of Worcester urged the
delegates present to remain in the hall, and
defed Mayor Quincy and the agent OF the
building 10 eject the delegates and their
friends. He would hold the hall peaceably,
but, IL required, would use force. He re-
ferred to a meeting of similar character
IN Worcester about 20 years ago in the In
terests Of Gen. b. F. Butler. Other speak
ers followed with expressions of adherence
to the Williams cause, and some GU per-
sons remained in the hall.
At 1880 Mr.. Mudgett, agent Of the hall,
took the stage and stated that the lease 20
the Bryan-Sewall-W club had ex-
pired and asked that the hall be vacated.
| This request was greeted with derisive
wells. The policemen who had been in the
hall had left as the police officials said
that they had no authority TO interfere
with people in the hail. Mr.. Mudgett had
guards placed at the doors and no persons
were allowed TO enter the hall. Many
delegates who had gone out for refresh
ments were unable TO return. About l 80
the lights were turned off, leaving the big
| hall in almost total darkness.
The night passed YEARLY for most of the
| delegates, many of whom departed before
| daylight Some of those who stayed slept
upnn-tha- seltaes. Others smoked and
played cards, and many speeches were
made Hunger, however, made many Of
them desperate and "second-story" tao
tics were introduced. Some of the dele
gates left the hall and returned by this
method, but at 8 80 A. NJ. death put stop
10 further use of water spouts and fire es-
capes. At that hour a delegate named
James Hughes of Somervlle, aged p,
started down a fire escape in quest of sand
witches. He grasped live electric light
wire and was instantly killed. He fell TO
the pavement, striking on his head and
shoulders. The fall broke his neck.
1t was arranged to have Williams enter
the ball Saturday forenoon by the under
ground" railroad" but this scheme was
frustrated. A large crowd gathered about
the Hamilton place entrance OF the hall,
among them being several hundred dele
gates who demanded admission. George
Fred Williams had a note passed through
the wall to the delegates on the aside, and
he addressed the crowd in Hamilton place.
The shut-out delegates held an open air
meeting at which many speeches were
|
was lost the delegates on the inside organ
lied convention, with James II. Mellen
as chairman. Williams was nominated
for governor, c. T. Callahan of Holyoke
for lieutenant governor, and full ticket,
Brooks Adams of Quincy and Major Hen
~ VIM of Maiden being presidential
electors.
The Democratic state committee, being
unable to get possession of Music hall,
marshaled their followers and marched TO
the hall, and finding that it was still in the
hands of the Williams men declared that
it was in the possession of outsiders, and
then adjourned TO Faneuil hall. George
Fred Williams was there nominated for
governor and a committee was appointed
to complete the ticket
Bryan and Sewall and the Chicago plat
form were endorsed. This endorsement
was in the form of a resolution, and, as
soon as it was passed, the Hon. Thomas
j. Gargan said that he could not endorse
the resolution in favor Of free silver. He
and ii others in the convention were for the
gold standard, and they Immediately left
the hall.
The platform, as at first read in the
Music hall convention, was very pronounc-
ed but it was toned down somewhat be-
fore its adoption. This platform pledges
loyal support to the Chicago platform and
Chicago nominees, endorses the minority
opinion of the supreme court that the re-
cent income tax decision overthrowing the
settled construction of the constitution as
applied to 100 years of practice may not
improperly be regarded as judicial reso-
luton" The platform favors state taxa
ton of personal property at uniform rate
in all cities and towns, cries down trusts,
and protests against government by injunc-
ton.
The Populistic state convention was held
in Boston during the day, and Mr.. Will
liams received its nomination for govern
or. The gold standard wing of the Demo-
cratic party met the same day and placed
full ticket in the field, the gubernatorial
mayor of Boston.
Mr.. Williams, on accepting the Music
hall and Populist nominations, offered a
resolution on the death of Delegate Hughes
exalting him into the goodly company OF
martyrs who have died in the service OF
country and state. The regular conven-
ton recognized the death of ex-Gov. Rus
sell in a resolution, but the Music hal
convention adopted no such resolution.
One writer thus describes the proceed.
ings: cold Music hall has held some
queer people since 1t was first thrown open
to public meetings. John l.. Sullivan
first attracted attention on its broad stag
by nearly knocking the head off the shout,
ders of old dead and gone Joe Goss. Prizt
fighters have countered and cross-counter
| ed each other 'cOonsn and ''yaller gals