Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1899-07-27

The national Democratic committee
met in Chicago Thursday and held long
executive session ut the Sherman House.
But for one or two differences the busi-
ness of the preliminary meeting passed
off smoothly and quietly. AS stated by
ex-Gov Stone when he first called the
meeting to order, this gathering was not
for the purpose of transacting much busi-
ness, but was called for the purpose of
''organizing for the approaching struggle
of the ensuing year." Hence no new
business of importance was considered.
The summary of the business transacted
may be told in the following short para
graph:
The meeting created the office of vice
chairman and elected William J. Stone to
fill it; took action tantamount to ousting
l.. j. Devln from the editorship of the
press bureau; adopted new rules which
add the ways and means committee to
the list of standing committees; thanked
the bimetalists for their offers of coop
Grafton and agreed to call on them when
their services are needed; received and
placed on file bids for the national con-
vention from Milwaukee and Kansas
City; provided for press committee of
name its members; authorized the chair
man to divide the States into groups for
campaign work; elected John 1. Martin
sergeant-at-arms for next national con-
vention, and accepted an invitation from
the sanitary trustees to visit the drain
age canal.
Chicagos name was not mentioned
when the question OF location of the con-
Col tlyx.<.
Kansas City and Denver locked horns i'm
u sharp fight for convention honors. All
four cities were represented in the coun-
ellis of the committee by large delegations,
and there were offers of special trains
and all sorts of inducements to capture
the committeeman. All these suggestions
and offers were placed on file.
Auditorium Meeting.
A mass meeting was held at the Audi
torium in the evening. at which consider
able enthusiasm was manifested When
William j. Bryan arose to speak the
great theater pesounded with cheers, and
at every reference to the old Democratic
principles of 1896 there was enthusiastic
applause. When the denunciation of the
protracted war in the Philippine Islands
was mentioned the audience shOuted its
approval.
Ex-Gov. Altgehf did not occupy a po-
sition on the stage. He was seated In a
front box with number of friends.
When his name was called there was
great enthusiasm shown, and when he
stepped to the front of the box to deliver
his speech he was greeted with prolonged
applause.
Judge James +. Tarvin Of Kentucky
was the first speaker at the meeting His
address was mainly eulogistic of ex-Goy.
Altgeld. He was followed by Jamea f..
Brown, who spoke in the same strain and
referred to Altgeld as the Henry George
of Illinois" Mr.. Brown was chairman
of the famous New York dollar dinner
committee. Senator Tillman's speech,
| which followed, was delivered in his chnr-
acteristic style. He spoke mainly ON the
platform question, and said that he hud
''three prongs to his pifchfork- silver,
antitrust and anti-imperiaIism."
Following speech on free silver ly
| Congressman John F. Shafroth Of COLI
RADIO, Alexander Troup, national commit
| teeman, made short speech, in which
he assured the audience thai New Eng
land Democrats wpre for Bryan George
fF. Williams next spoke, and ne was fol-
| lowed by exGov. Ahgeld. The trend OF
the remarks by John J. Lcntz was anti
| imperialism, api Cen. E. B. Finley spoke
! on prosperity.