The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-07-06
Unless He Is An Out and Out
Free Silver Man.
Hill of New York Breaks His Long
Silence With a Threat.
vice-President Stevenson Makes a Bid
for Presidential Nomination.

CHICAGO, July 6.--Only few hours
remain before the Democratic national
convention is called TO order, and there
is the tense strain, the bounding en-
thusiasm the surging OF crowds. and the
hurried arrangement Of details which
mark the near appoach of the crisis.
Convention week opened auspiciously in
point of weather, and the veterans Of
national gatherings do not recall time
uted more to the creature comforts OF the
convention hosts. A ten-mile breeze
comes from the lake, keeping the flags
within the eighties. There is just
enough haze in the air TO keep of the
torrid rays OF the sun.
Early in the day the full strength OF
the convention crowd began to assert
itself. Every train brought political or
carnations, uniformed clubs. bands OF
music, and fife and drum corps. They
came in the full regalia of the conven-
tion, with that individuality which the
silver movement had given TO its ad
vocates. Some of the clu bs were uniform
ed in light crash suits with tall grey hats
Others bore tiambeaux, many carried
horns ana other instruments or discord,
and all seemed bent on noise and demon
stration. The third section of the
"Dick" Bland marching club, put in
an appearance at O'Clock, reinforcing
the 2500 already here. They made an
early attack on the hotels and reused the
occupants from their slum bers. The Ne
braska silver train arrived with blaze
OF bunting, and unIoaded thousand
enthusiastic silver shouteTs.
The Boies people. were cheered by the
coming of a big delegation from the beart
of Iowa. Louisville contributed the styl-
ish blackburn Club, and later in the day
the Duckworth Club of CINCINNATI is
scheduled 10 arrive. All the streets near
tile political centers are practically sur
rendered to the. .marchers and onlookers.
The same confusion and excitement
reigns in hotel corridors, where the
crowds are so closely wedged that pass
age through them is impossible.
At the Palmer House the main lobby
is crowded with shouting, gesticulatiug
men who oVortiow into the entrances and
10 this is adced at intervals the arrival of
some club with its band, the drums and
brasses serving TO drown the din OF the
shouters. At the Auditorium, Sherman
House and other rendezvous there.are the
same scenes Of noisy. demonstration.
The real work of the convention began
jill ehrDest tOudy Win tht ulttlluS Ol iHe
national committee.at.10 o'clock in the
committee parlors OF the Palmer House.
There was intense interest in the result
OF the meeting ana selection of "A tempor-
ary.presldjng officer promised to develop
the first test of the strength between the
gold and silver forces. Chairman liarrity
had divided the committee WORK so
that the formal matter of distributing
tickest ond badges should be done first,
and at IL O'Clock the important work of
choosing the convention officers and hear
ing contests will be taken up. The gen
eral Impression prevailed that the COM
mittee would name Sc nator Hill as tenn
porary chairman, but there was wide
range for speculation and doubt, owing
to the determined attitude of the silver
men not to acctp p. a temporary chairman
ship opposed TO .neir views.
The doubt was increased by the fact
that Sem tor Hill had at last broken ST.
lence, and in statements which were
widely read during the morning had
taken decided staua against the silver
men. The statement attributed TO him,
over his signature that the New York
delegation would walk out II the MIchi-
gan allegation was counted, was taken
as particularly ominous of trou BILE ahead.
The silver leaders are to meet at 2
o'clock today to determine whether the
temporary chairman named by the com