The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-07-03

Kansas City, MO-, July z.-Ine InrOD
and thrill of great national assem-
blage is beginning to take possession OF
this young Queen City of the South
west. Throughout the day there has
been a steady tramp, tramp of incOm-
ing thousands, by every train, choking
the railroad stations with a struggling,
travel-stained and sweltering throng.
filling the streets with slow moving,
jOstling crowds, emptying into the no.
tel lobbies where. amid cigar smoke and
piles of baggage and the shout Of badge
vendors, the currents of earnest and
excited men eddy into groups. declaim-
ing the merits of candidates and issues,
arguing, protesting, gesticulating. The
delegates have been arriving in scatter
ed lots, some of them with bands and
banners to add sound and color TO the
animated scene
Among the days arrivals are many
of the interesting figures of the party,
including TIE smoOth-faced, ministerial
looking Oldham OF Nebraska. who will
make the speech placing Mr.. Bryan in
nomination; Hill of New York, weight
ed with his long conference with Bry-
an at Lincoln and weary with three
days of constant travel; Perry Belmont
OF New York, well groOmed and de-
bOnaire; Teller of Colorado, with his
jacksonville face thin and worn; Sen
ator Money of Mississippi, tall and
gaunt, with a strong contingent from
the far south; a distinguished POpuliSt
trio, Senators Allen, Heitfeldt and Har-
ris. here 10 aid the cause of TOWne:
John P. Altgeld of Illinois. brown and
smiling under his broad brimmed Pan
ANA, Governor w ". Smith of Mary
land, the close cOnfidante of German:
Arthur SeWall, the Maine ship-builder,
who ran with Bryan four years ago,
and that unique figure of the senate
who has brought excitement and sensa-
ton to its deliberators. Senator Petit
grew; Senator William Z. Clark of
Montana. heading the delegation of
regulars" with two brass bands and
an abundance Of enthusiasm.
Heat Is Oppressive.
With this influx of leaders and dele
gates, the holding of caucuseS and the
organization of state delegations has
begun under hot and oppressive cOndi-
TONS 1t has been q sticky, muggy day
with the sky overcast and threatening
and the air heavily charged with mOis-
ture.
The great work of the convention be-
gan today with a meeting of the ma
tiOnal committee to determine contests
and select temporary officers. Mayor
Rose of Milwaukee, the choice for tenn
pOrary chairman, is a German-Ameri-
can, reputed to be an orator of fine
presence and effective delivery.
Tonight the national committee is
having private dinner, a sort of fam
lily conference, as the guest of Daniel
j. Campau, while great crowds of dele
gates and spectators are centering at
convention rr-hf &c
opened with band concert. The vast
structure is still surrounded with the
debris of construction, an army Of
workmen and decorators are busy in
side, but there is no doubt it will be
complete and ready for the convention
hosts by Wednesday morning.
Bryan's Influence.
But. aside from these formal proceed
ings the day has brought many devel-
Opments and some surprises in the gen
eral situation. The dominating influence
of Mr.. Bryan over the convention has
been made manifest, causing some con-
Germ and just little rebellion in some
quarters. 1t is not by any authorita-
tive or formal words or actions by him
that this influence is eXerted but in
ways none the less effective Its i'm
portance, however, has not been so
much in disclosing how strong a hand
Mr.. Bryan holds on the conventions
course. as in showing that there is
little likelihood of a modification or 5i-
luton Of the silver plank.
The arrival of the Nebraska delega-
ton, fresh from conference with the
leader was mainly instrumental in
showing Mr. Bryan's attitude They
were hardly off the cars before thev
met in caucus and forroalIx- 49, 60
ward declaration of principles. This
expressed unalterable opposition to anv
surrender OF the principle of bimetaI-
ism, and a demand for a financial
plank making specific pledge for the
free and unlimited coinage of gold and
silver at the ratio of is to 1. independ-
enIly OF what any other nation NAV do
me resolution was accepted as little
snort OF notice to other delegations as
20 the sentiment Of men very near to
hr. Bryan- Some of them had lust
LETT him, and Judge Tibbets. head of
the delegates at large. dined with Mr..
Bryan and Governor Hill AT Lincoln
last night The platform must be
straight out for 16 10 1. There is no
question as to that, said Judge Tib-
bets. a like view was expressed bv
X l.. Metcalf, who will represent Ne
Draska on the platform committee. Il
VIII urge that the financial plank of
the Chicago platform be reaffirmed
and repeated" said he; mot necessar-
lily III the same words, but in the same
spirit, with declaration for free coin
age at 10 TO l. without regard to the
action of other nations. Less than
that would be Weakness
But the influence of Mr.. Bryan over