The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-07-05
RICHARDSON INSTALLED
As Permanent Chairman ofthe Demo
cratic Convention.

LuHlnated Dy great arc lights that gleam-
60 from dizzy heights about the hall like
huge stars The color scheme presented
among the innumerable lights was un-
point in the immense steel superstructure
1estoons OF the national colors were fiut-
swept through the hall from the south
temper1ng- pleasantly the heat of the
night. Banked in the conmodious gal
leries which rise in tiers from the space
reserved for delegates and alternates,
were thousands Of spectators the cool
attire of the men making pretty, but not
sharp contrast with the more brilliant
costumes of the ladies. It was notable
that nearly every male spectator was in
MS shirt sleeves, and the parri-cOlored
display of outing shirts was a spectacle
seldom witnessed anywhere scale
so vast.
The incessant waving of fans, many of
tneIn OF bright colOrS, gave observer
the impression of thousands of butter
flies lowering over the audience The
constant shutting of feet and continuous
mum OF the convention sounded like the
roar Of a surf breaking upon a rocky
coast Nearly hour before the con-
ventfon was called to order the spectators
seats were filed.
people in the great amphitheater accorded
the leaders, one after another. cordial
receptions
Far up in the gallery next to the roof
the gallery that overhangs the main
audltorium an ellipse Of faces peered
At SIS O'Clock Chairman Thomas
raped the convention to order, although
considerably less than two-thirds of the
delegates had arrived There was con-
siderable expectancy over the arrival of
Senator Hill, but he failed to put in
notwithstanding the small number of
delegates present, 1t seemed to require
for them wholly diSprOportionate
amount of time to come 10 order, as
compared with the two preceding seS-
sions-
Founding vigorously with his gaveI. and
his efforts in this direction being ably
tin who raped a table so hard that he
WINGED 2 a fhna1rh ha6
landed upon his own fingers. Chairman
Thomas at last succeeded in reducing the
convention to such a state of quietude
that his voice could be heard a hundred
feet away
The convention will now come to or
der, he shouted, with violence that
threatened an apOplectic seizure" and
mittees, the convention will listen TO an
address from Ex-Governor Altgeld, OF Il
inois.''
There was still too much confusion for
the name OF the speaker to be Ineligible
at any distance. and there was only
mild ripple of applause, as Governor Alt
geld mounted the rostrum- Again by the
vigorous use Of his gavel, Chairman
and then he again commenced: The
convention will now be addressed by ex
Governor AItgeld. of Illinois,
This time his voice carried. and the an
nouncement was greeted with applause
speak the tall form of Congressman Sui
Ger came stalking through the aisle 1t
and although the recipient Of no applause
he was cordially greeted by many of the
delegates as he passed them When he
rectly in the rear of New York, Cato Sells
rose to shake hands with him., and in
New Yorker, all shaking hands with him,
and patting him on the shoulder
ever. Mr.. Sulzer received no Recognition.
no handshake. no smile He took appar-
emily little interest in New York
New York evinced in him. and although
he nodded Familiarity to several OF the dele
During the early portion of Governor
Altgeld's address, the hum of converse
gates was SO loud that not much of what
he said was audible, except TO those close
to him. The name of Mark Hanna, ut
tered in accents which did not imply ap-
proval, was the first thing the crowd-at-
large caught. and although not many
knew just what the missile had been, or
whether it had hit the mark, there was
a howl of delight.
His representations Of Democratic sue
cess next fall was the signal for another
vocal Spasm. and when he declared that
if the Democrats of the country had not
sufficient confidence in their delegates to
entrust the cause Of Democracy TO them.
they would not have sent them here to
This. coming from q man of Mr.. Altge1d's
known attitude upon the silver question,
direct championship of their cause. and
they were on their feet in an instant,
shouting and waving hats and handker-
chiefs with the greatest enthusiasm. So
loud was the cheering that the speaker
til the uproar had subsidized 1t came again
in a minute, however. when he declared
suat any AnOdA1icdt4oH VI SAe OAtSeSo ptaO-
form would place the Democratic party
in a ridiculous position before the Amer
lean people. Again his voice was drowned
Is to voiced their approval beyond the
walls.
The anti-16 to 1 people took their in
nings in another minute, when he spoke
favorably of the ratio Of is to l. and
there were loud cries Of MOI Nor The
speaker unwittingly touched off a 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 had had marked the first ses-
sion OF the convention From all sides
of the hall and particularly from the
southern delegates. came loud cries of
'.HiH,'' Hill" Mingled with the calls
for the New Yorker came Kisses In plenty
and despite the vigorous use of the gavel,
all semblance of order was lost and
nothing could be heard save the calls of
Hill" and the disappearing Kisses. The
band in the gallery struck up lively air
but soon as it subsidized the uproar
cation being prominent in calling for Sen
atOr Hill 1t was not possible for Cover
the committee on rules declared itself
ready to report Governor AltgeId dis
form
The report. of the committee on rules
was read and adopted
me report OF the committee on creden-
tials seating Mark Cohn and P. E. Nc
CaDe IN the New York delegation. the
Clark delegation in Montana and giving
one-half vote to each delegation in Ok
lahOma was read and a minority report
dissenting from the decision in the Okla
hOma case presented There was some OBJ
lection made by Murray Vandixer from
Maryland. to the committee taking no ac-
ton IN the District of Columbia case
After a brief speech in support of his
contention that the credentials commit
tee had not dealt fairly with the District
of Columbia contest. Mr. Vandiver moved
to recommit that part of the report 10 the
committee The motion was lost amid a
storm Of Noes
The report OF the committee was adopt-
/ ed as presented. without further debate
Chairman Thomas then called for the
l report of the committee on permanent or