River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1900-07-12
THE FIRST DAY
Permanent Organization and Al
noIptmrut of Committees

pOfntmcDt of Committees.
Kansas city. Mo. July G.-Am.d scenes Of
tumuituous enthusiasm betting such an
event and such day. the democratic ma
tiouat convention began its sessions
Wednesday,. At exactly 12:02 Chairman
Jones asce ndcd the platform and called the
body to order. The first business 'of the
convention was the reading of the formal
call, by Secretary Walsh Chairman Jones
announced the prayer by Rev, 5. W. NeeL
Following the prayer came an address Of
welcome by Mayor Reed. of Kansas city.
Ex-senator HUIs entrance at this time
was the cause of remarkable GCmCnStrd-
ton in his honor. The crowd for some time
continued to yell for "IJill. Lets hear
HILL" with few misses interspcrsed I'M
iii the chairman finally raped them to
order. A few minutes later they renewed
the call. bat Chairman Jones checked II bv
Introducing Gov. Thomas. of Colorado, the
temporary chairman. y round of applause
greeted Gov. Thomas as he concluded a
stirring address. A resolution calling Tor
the reading of the declaration of independ-
cnce was adopted amid cheers and APP
plause. burst of enthusiasm greeted the
display, al ,nls juncture, of bust OF VIII
linn Jennings Bryan. As the familiar fea-
lures of their distinguished leader were
recognized by delegates and spectators, a
tornado of applause swept over the audi
cnCe From side to side the bust was
turned, that all might know whom it repre-
scented.
When the applause had subsidized,
Charles 5 Hampton. of PetOskey, Mich,
read in magnificent voice the immortal
declaration of independence. As the full
and rounded sentences of the great state
paper rolled through the hall, the cheering
and enthusiasm increased, and when
Mr. Hampton had concluded, the ire
mendous applause fairly shook the build
ing.
Miss Fultoni. of New York, was intro
duCed and sang THE Star Spangled Ban
ner, the audience standing and cheering
and applauding after each verse. 1t was
an innovation in national convention.
band took up America" and. led by Miss
Fultoni, the great mass of 10000 people
broke into the stirring words MY Coun-
try, lis of Thee singing ii through with
JUNCTION and closing it with cheer
An Ovation to Hill.
Then, suddenly, somebody started the
cry for "Hill, hill" In an instant
Maryland. Tennessee, Louisiana. Missis-
sippi and New Mexico were on their feet
waving their standards and yelling Hill;
"DaVe Hill"
The pounding of the chairman's gavel
had no effect and for a time it looked
like a concerted movement to stampede
for the New Yorker. AS delegation after
delegation rose in their seats and the
Chairmans gavel fell. Mr.. Hill was com
PEELED to rise and bow.
The call of states now began, for nam
ing the members of the various commit
tees. This was a tedious work. covering
all the caucus selections of the several
states and territories.
Adjournment was taken until after
nom.
The convention. at 1850 o'clock. having
no business to transact. because of The
failure of the committee to be ready 10
report. took recess until $50 p. m.
The Night session.
At S.3s. Chairman Thomas raped the
convention to order, although considera-
bic less than two-thirds OF the delegates
had arrived. There was considerable ex-
pectanCy over the arrival of Senator Hill.
but he failed to put in an appearance
Coy. Thomas introduced eX-GoV. Altgeld,
OF Illinois. who delivered an address The
speaker unwittingly touched off mine
by using the EXPRESSION in discussing the
attitude of certain democrats toward the
silver question. Now. my friend, Hill. -
That was as far as he got for several
minutes. The name OF Hill again started
the Uproar that had marked the first ses-
sion Of the convention. The demonstra-
tion lasted for many minutes.
Permanent OrGRnizatiOn.
The report OF the committee on rules
and credentials was read and adopted.
Chairman Thomas then called for the re-
GaniZato When il was announced that
Hon ]. d. Richardson. OF Tennessee, had
been selected as permanent chairman.
cheers swept over the great audience.
Upon Mr. Richardson's introduction to
the audience, he was greeted by another
wave of cheers.
In his remarks Mr.. Richardson said that
the republican party stands for empire.
The democratic party stands for the re-
public, for the declaration of independ-
enCC. and the constitution Of our country.
lie denounced trusts. His arrtisDment
OF the failure OF the republican party to
establish timetallism and the creation in
stead Of a single gold standard was re-
ceived with manifestations OF hearty APP
prevail lie declared President Mckinley
and his secretary Of state had done all
Ia their power To nuuify and ahrogate the
Monroe doctrine. and said democracy
stood for this doctrine and demands its
rigid enforcement. The policy of the adj
ministTattOn with reference to Porto Rico
and the Philippines was denounced as
eouivocating and cowardly, and he de-
rIared the present administration to be
incompetent 10 deal with these questions
The administration he also bitterly ar
raigned for the war scandals and the
cuban postal scandals. The speaker ac-
susSd The republican party leaders OF
forming secvet and entanghng alliances
or sss most desSE.Able character with
England ana denounced She failure to
repeal or reduce war taxes 1R articles of
prime necessity.
Wild scene.
His mention Of the name Of w J.
BRYAN brought the convention TO its feet
in a frenzy Of enthusiasm. Delegates
sprang upon their chairs waving hats.
ttandkerchfefs and umbrellas in the widest
fashion BY a common impulse. the
poIes bearing the names of the states
we're torn up and thrust into the air.
7'hen down the aisles toward the speak
er's desk came groups OF delegates sur
rounding one man who held the name of
the state aioft Texas and New York
became engaged in a rivalry as to which
should hold the name Of the state high
est in the air
Precisely 20 minutes after Chairman
Richardson had mentioned the name OF
BRYAN, which like the waving of magic
wand, had conjured up a scene OF such
vonderfuI enthusiasm as has seldom been