Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1900-07-11
Some of the Dramatic Incl
dents of the Three Days
Convention at Kan
SaS City.

SaS Cliy.
The great Kansas City convention
towards which we have all been look
ing for weeks is over and the great
presidential battle OF 1900 is now on
all along the line. 1t was an intensely
dramatic convention. Imagine a vast
hall, perfect in equipments, lights and
ventilation, with more than 10000 peo-
pie under its roof, cheering to the
echo the reading OF the Declaration
of Independence and joining as one
man in singing America" No more
inspiring scene was ever witnessed on
the American continent and there is
no Democrat who saw it but had his
courage renewed and who will take
up with renewed vigor again the
battle for the Republic and against the
Empire.
The demonstrations when Chairman
Richardson named Bryan; when Ben
Tillman with dramatic force and effect
read from the platform that Imperial
ism was the paramount issue; when
Webster Davis, the pet of the Mckin-
ley administration renounced his al
form and William j. Bryan; when
David Il. Hill declared that he cheer
fully acquiesced in the wisdom of the
party as to what should go into the
platform, put to shame any and all
convention demonstrations ever seen
in America before. How tame in com
parison is the machine made demon
strations at Philadelphia led by Mark
Hanna?
1t was cor ntion of great men.
Missouri sent h"r favorite eX-gover-
nor Stone Ne, York sent ex-senator
Hill, Richard Croker, Elliot Danforth,
Congressman ulzer and Mcclellan
and Judge Va Wyck. Massachusetts,
sent George Fred Williams. Virginia
sent Senator Daniels. kentucky sent
Joe Black kburn, Ex-Governor McCreary
and Governor Reckham. South Caro-
lima sent Ben Tillman. Pennsylvania
sent Governor Pattison. Illinois sent
Carter Harrison and Congressman
Williams. Tennessee sent JAS. Il.
Richardson, the leader of the Demo
cratic minority in congress. and her
governor, Benton Mcmillan. Ar
kansas sent her two senator's, Jones
and Berry. Kansas sent Atwood, Ov-
Governor Thomas. California sent
Senator White and Mayor Phelan Of
San Francisco. The list might be pro-
longed Indefinitely for there was not
a delegation present that did not con
tain some one or more men of national
reputation.
1t was a Bryan convention. For
weeks the trimmers had been sending
delegations to Lincoln to try to induce
the great leader to consent 10 Il modi
fication of the platform but every
man came away feeling that here was
man who believed thoroughly in
the juStness of his cause and who
could not be swerved for an instant
from what he believed was the post
of duty by any temporary eNpedient.
No man since the days OF Jefferson
has so thoroughly won the hearts of
his supporters and the dominent
thought in the convention was not to
find man TO fit the platform but to
make platform which fit the man.
Where was another such a convention
ever held?
1t was just - o'clock when Chair
man Jones raped the convention to
order. \ wave of applause greeted
his appearance. When this had been
stilled his voice could be heard an.
nouncing:
THE convention will come to order
The sergeant-at-arms will see that the
aisles are cleared"
Many of the delegates were not yet
in their places and the floor was jam
med with a noisy crowd of subordin
ate officers and intruders. After {
while semblance of order was secur
ed and the secretary read the forma
call for the convention, which asked
for the cooperation of all who favor
the Republic and oppose the Empire
A Kansas City preacher, Rev. Docto
S. NJ. Neel, was then introduced, ant
commenced to read an essay, mis-
named n prayer. Before he proceede'
far band came marching into tn
second gallery, vigorously playing 90
the Banks of the Wabash Befor
the band could be silenced the preach
er was nearly through with his effort
Gentlemen of the convention.
have the honor to present to you tn
democratic mayor of Kansas City
James A. Reed was the next an
nouncement from Chairman Jones. =
A shout of applause went up as tn
young democratic spellbinder ae
vanced to the front OF the platform
and loud cheers followed his al
nouncement that the convention wa
gathered upon democratic soil and q
the guests of democratic constftl
ency.
just as the mayor finished his we
coming speech. Gov. David Bennei
Hill entered the hall and the appiau;
turned to him. Someone sent up th
cry, Hll of New York! Hill. HILL!