The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1900-07-13
Norman E. Mack and Frank Campbell

New Jersey, shaking his fingers under
Mr.. Hills nose, shouted:
"You cannot refuse, you can't. The
party must have you to save the East. I"
81 don't want it. You can name
Stevenson He is as good as I am, I"
said Hill, and then turning to Murphy
and Croker, and gripping his hands, he
said: "Please don't force me. Please
don't"
Great Disorder Prevails.
Meanwhile the confusion continued
to be so great that even after Chairmcn
Richardson had recognized Governor
Thomas of Colorado to second the NOM
ination Of Mr.. Towne, not a word of
his speech could be heard by either
delegates or the people in the gallery.
Finally after Governor Thomas had
been speaking for minute or more
former Senator White went to the
stand and in a ringing voice warned
the convention that if order was not re-
stored he would move that the galleries
be cleared.
When the state of Delaware was
called the announcement was made
that the state would yield to New York.
Then the result of the Hill conference
became apparent. A tremendous shout
of applause swept through the hall.
Delegate Grady, one of the leaders of
Tammany Hall, had already assembled
the platform, and as he stepped to the
front to address the convention, the APP
plause and cheering increased. His
first sentence rang through the great
building in trumpet tones:
Son behalf of the Democracy of New
York, I present to the convention for
the nomination to the vice presidency
the name of David Bennett Hill"
Tempestuous Scene Follows.
It was dramatic in the extreme. The
effect was electrical. His words set the
convention in frenzy of enthusiasm.
The scene which followed was by far
the most tempestuous of the session,
and the name of Hill echoed and re-
echoed through the hall. State stand
ards were seized and held aloft and the
convention was canopied with futter-
ing flags and handkerchiefs. Delegates
and spectators cheered and the great
structure fairly shook with the noise
when the galleries became infected
with the enthusiasm. Governor Hill
by this time had worked his way
through the surging multitude to the
platform. AS he assembled it, his hands
were eagerly grasped and he was es-
corted to the seat of the permanent
chairman. He asked Mr.. Grady to
yield to him that he might make a
statement, but Grady declined.
Judge Van Wyck of the New York
delegation hurried to Governor Hill
and began an earnest conversation with
him, urging him not to decline the
nomination which evidently seemed to
be within his grasp. Hill only shook
his head.
Hill Says He Cannot Accept.
When the ex-senator secured the floor
he declared the presentation of his name
was without his approval and that he
could not accept the nomination for
personal reasons. In conclusion, he
said:
81 did not come into this convention
as a candidate. did not expect to be
a candidate, and I cannot accept the
honor" Again came the cries of eyes
you can" in greater volume than be-
fore, but this had not the slightest
effect.
He left the platform, cheered to the
echo and surrounded by his friends,
who pressed forward to grasp his hand.
Hutchinson of Georgia and Kennedy
of Illinois then seconded the nomina-
ton of Stevenson. When Idaho was
called she gave way to Washington,
and w. H. Dunphy placed in nomina,
ton the name of James Hamilton
Lewis of Washington.
Indiana and Iowa seconded the nom
ination of Stevenson, and Louisiana en-
dorsed Hill.
Delegate A. Leo Knott of Maryland,
formerly an assistant postmaster gen.
eral, presented in brief speech the
name of Governor John Walter Smith
of Maryland.
Stevenson Nominated.
It was after o'clock when the sec.
onding speeches, many of them weari.
some, were concluded and the balloting
began. The vote was followed with in,
tense interest, for when Alabama an.
nounced for Stevenson and 10 for
Hill it looked as though a close and ex.
citing contest was to occur. But it was
soon evident that Stevenson had a
strong lead. At the close of the call he
had o59 1-2 votes, which, however, was
not enough to nominate, the requisite
two-thirds being 624. Hill received
200 votes and Towne SO l-2. But before
the announcement of the result q
strong-lunged delegate from Tennessee
stood on his chair and announced:
Tennessee changes her "a votes
from Hill to Stevenson.
That started the tide irresistibly to.
wards Stevenson. From every quarter
of the hall came cries for recognition.
North Carolina changed from Carr tc
Stevenson. Even New York finally
but reluctantly announced its change
from Hill to Stevenson. That ended it.
Steyenson's nomination was assured
although for some time longer the vari-
Gus states continued to record THEN