Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-07-06

ne platform committee, headed by
Senator Jones, D. J. Campau. Senator
Tillman and Judge Van Wyck, had
Just pushed their way through the
dense throngs and proceeding TO the
platform had taken seats fanking the
chair.
Chairman Richardson appealed long
and vainly for order. The portly form
of Senator Jones, silver haired and
serious, advanced to the front of the
stage. He held a roll of manuscript
in his hands. But 1t was useless TO
talk against such a tumult and he
dropped back in his seat while order
was being restored.
At last the noise subsidized and Mr..
Jones, in a clear voice, announced: Il
am authorized by the committee on
resolutions to present the platform
agreed upon. / will yield to the SEN
ator from South Carolina, Mr.. Tillman,
to read the document"
Mr.. Tillman now stepped to the front
and was greeted with a cheer. He read
the platform in a full, round voice,
easily heard throughout the hall.
AS he proceeded each plank was
greeted with applause. The Senator
accompanied his reading with emphat-
ic gestures, striding. up and down 1he
platform, turning this way and that,
after his manner in the Senate. There
was howl of approval as he clenched
his fist and fercely arraigned the
course of the administration in Cuba
THE PARAMOUNT ISSUE.
But it remained for his reading of
hn alar hot fJrvArN toll &c. 40
paramount issue of this campaign to
evoke storm of enthusiasm. The del
egates sprang to their feet, standing
on their chairs, waving hats, handker-
chiefs, umbrellas and flags while the
galleries took up the chorus and car
ried it along for many minutes. Sena-
tor Hill could be seen marshalling the
hosts to cheer. He held a fan high
above his head and added his voice to
the vociferous shouting. A second
time Senator Tillman read this decla-
nation and now even a greater demon
stration than before carried the con-
vention off it's feet. Suddenly hun
dreds, then thousands of miniature
American flags were passed among the
delegates and the whole floor of the
vastEtructure became a sea Of flags.
An instant later the flags swept over
the galleries like a mass of fame.
Bundles of them were tossed upon the
seats and distributed. The scene was
magnificently inspiring and the great
audience was worked up to a fever
heat. On each flag was the device:
"The Constitution and the flags
are inseparabIe, now and forever.
The flag of the republic forever;
of an empire never"
While the demonstration was at its
height the band sent another thrill
through the audience by playing
Dixie and a medley of patriotic airs.
State standards were again torn from
their sockets, banners were rasied, and
a triumphal procession of the delegates
marched about the hall. Now the
stains of the band turned 10 my Coun-
try, 'Tis of Thee at which the entire
audience, as with a single voice, join
ed in a mighty and swelling chorus
Amid the billowing of flags could be
seen a tall standard bearing the in
scription:
''Forcible annexation would be Grim
inal gression-William Mckinley"
THE CLIMAX GAME.
It was at this juncture that the eli
max was sprung upon the great assem-
bly,. A huge flag had been flung across
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