New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-09
GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH
THE CONVENTION At WORM
SILVER ENTHUSIASTS FAIL TO RUe0
THEIR PROGRAMME THROUGH.

THEIR PHOGRAMME THhOU0h.
UNEXPECTED DELAYS IN COMMITTEE REPoRfoj
THE WILD coNroRTIoNrsTs OF THE PoPu-
LIST DEMOCRATIC COMBINATION EN-
TERrAIN VAST AUDIENcE-AN-
ARcHY TO THE FOREFRONT.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrBuNEI
Chicago. July s.-Even the leaders Of the
Popuist-Democratic party must have recognized
that the second days session Of the Democratic
National Convention began inauspiciousIy to.
day. The Convention In their minds eye was
to steam ahead this morning. starting at 10
o'clock. with the Committee on Credentials
ready to report. with a party platform in shape
and nothing remaining to be done but to nomi-
nate candidate for President Some of the
leaders even imagined that they might start for
home late at night after nominating a candi-
date for President with halo OF pure silver
around his head. ami standing upon mosaic
Of Democratic notions But when Sena~
tor Daniel looking ike an elderly Edwin Booth.
called the Convention TO order It was discovered
that the Committee on Credentials was in q
wrange over Its decision Of last night to
unseat the twenty-four gold Democrats OF
Michigan. and 1t further reported that the
Committee o l Resolutions had not yet completed
Its work
Nothing remained to be done but to amus0
the 10000 spectators and the 1900 dele
gates and alternates with the antics Of
some of the most prominent contortionists
and acrobats Of the Populist-Democratic show.
One Of the chief consequences Of this plan was
that John p. Altgeld, the Anarchistic Governor
of Illinois, whose rabid utterances have been
dreaded even by the leaders Of the free-coinage
Democrats. found his way to the platform. ana
there delivered speech which Democrat
present said might havs the effect Of putting
three States in the Republican column"
ALTGELD BEHELD WITH DREAD
The very prominence given 10 Altgeld by tho
Convention beheld with apprehension, and
az for the Eastern Democrats. they looked with
threatening eyes upon him and coldy list
tened to what he said Not ripple OF applause
came from them. The central section Of the
Convention, where seated the big delegs-
tions from New-York Pennsylvania and New.
Jersey, looked as If glacier had passed over
it and remained, far Altgeld con.
cerned while the Communists Of Chicago IN the
Illinois delegation were yelling their approval
Of what AltgeId was saying in favor Of paying
the United States bonds and all public and pr.
vate debts in the 50-cent silver dollar. These
UdSnIn8
eyes, looked about the Convention Hall az though
they did not form part OF the Convention. Only
from some of the Southern delegations and
from Illinois came applause for Atgelc. many
OF the Western delegates apparently looking
upon him with the same eyes as the Eastern
delegates.
The great HosE, OF Texas. once Governor Of
that State opened the flood Of Populistic ora
tory. He ranted for half an hour about the de.
signs Of the bondholders But his great hit. in
the eyes OF the Convention. was when he read
the financial plank OF the Republican National
Convention and ridiculed the absurd notion
there inculcated that the gold standard should
be maintained.
SENATOR WHITE TAKES THE CHAIR.
Senator Stephen NJ. White. Of California. who
has been selected as permanent chairman Of the
Convention. here, at Senator Daniels request.
took the chair. Mr. White Is a man Of burly
build Of medium, height. with a large head and
with a beard and hair once black, new streaked
with gray. He looks like a pugnacious man, and
for this reason was selected as permanent chair.
of the Convention by the free-coinage
leaders II the gold Democrats attempt any
tricks Mr.. White has the courage. they think
to foil them
Senator J. c. s. Blackburn Of Kentucky. was
the next speaker called upon to I'LL up the gap
Blackburn was Of the decided impression that
the Day Of Jubilee had come for the free
coinage men Of the United States. Then he
whipped soundly the brokers OF Wall Street for
preferrng gold. The Presidents and Congresses
that brought about the resumption Of specie
payments and then maintained the gold stan.
dard had no mercy at his hands Christ drove
with lash from the Temple a better set Of
men than those who for twenty years have had
control Of the finances Of this country" was one
Of his fire-alarm sentences that set the Conven.
ton aflame with enthusiasm The sold Demo-
Gratis came in for a savage scoring. too from
the radical Blackburn
CALL FOR THE FRIEND OF MOST.
Senator Blackburn closed his speech at II
o'clock At this stage OF the proceedings Cover.
nor Altgeld broke into the arena. There were
shouts for Bryan and Hill. when Senator White
cried In stentorian tones
THE chair is requested TO ask Governor Altseld
Of Illinois TO address the Convention" Then
the Illinois contingent shouted itself hoarsA
Half the delegates the floor arose to get q
glance at the Governor Of the Prairie State Alt
geld raised his hand to indicate his unwilling
ness 10 speak The crowd kept up such q hub
bub however that his voice could not be dis
tinguished. Finally. mounting a chair. the Gov
ernor exclaimed:
ION behalf Of Illinois. desire to second'the
call for Senator Hill. OF NewYork"
Hill was not in the hail. however. and Chair
men White gave David Overmeyer. Of Kansas.
a chance to address the Convention. He il
silver delegate and did not fail to shout for tho
dollars of our iaddes" He made decided hit
by declaring that the seat OF empire had shifted
from thu Atlantic States to the Mississippi Val
ley roar OF applause went up from the
Southern and Western delegates. while the East.
ern delegates looked on contemptuousiy.
CRIED FOR THE ANARCHIST GOVERNOR.