The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-07-06

| NAL call by Secretary Walsh.
| Chairman Jones now announced the
prayer by Rev. S. w. Neel.
Gentlemen viii please be in order"
said Chairman Jones, as the hum and
| hustle again broke loose after the
prayer. I'VE must have quiet on the
| floor. Gentlemen Of the convention,
have the honor to. present TO you the
| democratic mayor of Kansas City,
| James A. Reed
| The delegates and spectators listen
| ed with attention to the speech OF well
| come with no very great enthusiasm,
| but heartily applauded the closing SEN
| tence. Senator Hill entered at this mo-
| ment and the applause turned to him.
Hill of New York;" Hill" Hill"
| they shouted; but it was noticed that
! the New York delegation dit not re-
| spond to the enthusiasm. Hill came in
| with Elliott Danforth, of New York,
| and stopped at the row. Delegate John
| Mcmahon, of Rome, arose and gave
his seat to the ex-senator. Hill smiled
and thanked him. Meanwhile the crowd
| continued to yell for "Hill!" Let us
| hear Hill.' with few Kisses inter-
spersed until the chairman finally
| raped them to order. A few minutes
| later they renewed the call, but the
| audience was impatient to get on with
| the proceedings and showed their dis
| approval with Kisses.
| When finally the chairman was able
| to make his voice heard he introduced
| Governor Thomas, of Colorado, the
| temprary chairman.
A round of applause greeted Govern
| or Thomas as he ascended the plat
form. He looked the ideal presiding
officer, dignifled, tall, black-garbed,
his face showing intellectually and
force of character. He held in his hand
| the type-written manuscript of his
speech, and in full, round voice, easily
reaching the longest corners of he
building, he began his address as tenn
porary chairman.
AS Governor Thomas proceeded, his
well-rounded sentences were punctu-
ated with generous and hearty mani
festations of approval. Despite his
strong voice. the confusion in the hall
became so great that the speech was
lost to the delegates and spectators.
An incessant hum sounded through the
building, mingled with the rustic of
thousands of fans, the shuttle of count
less feet Of messengers and officials
and the occasional yell Of some demon
Strative spectator.
The audience grew fretful under the
disorder and the inability to hear and
there were shouts of louder" min
gled with demands for order.
Governor Thomas proceeded boldly,
however and there was another cheer
when the crowd caught enough of the
reference to the isthmian canal to
know that it was to be under Ameri-
can operation and control. At the con-
cluSion of the speech the building rang
with applause, the cheering being ac-
companied by the f1utter of the ma
tional colors throughout the hall.
The first semblance of genuine en-
thusiasm was created when the Secre-
tary of the convention, Charles A.
Walsh, of Iowa, arose and read a res
olution offered by Daniel J. Campau,
of Michigan, that the declaration Of
| independence, drafted by that demo-
crat of democrats, Thomas Jefferson"
| be read to the convention on this, the
| anniversary of the nations natal day.
With cheers and applause the reso-
| luton was adopted while the band in
| the south gallery played patriotic airs
| in lead of the enthusiasm.
A BUST OF BRYAN PLACED ON
THE PLATFORM.
| AS the vast audience was quieted
| down to listen to the reading of the
| declaration, two men appeared upon
| the platform bearing carefully N their
| arms two large objects, each Shrouded
| completely in the Stars and Stripes.
They were placed, the one upon the
| other, Immediately to the right and
| front of the chairman. Delegates and
| spectators craned their neckS to see
| what was about to occur.
| OBSERVING THE DAY.
Quickly advancing to the f1ag-draped
OBJECTS, handsome man deftly lifted
the flag from a splendid bust of Mr..
| Bryan. AS the familiar features of
| their distinguished leader were recog-
nized by delegates and spectators a
tornado of applause swept over the
audience. From side to side the bust
| was turned, that all might know what
| 1t represented.
When the applause had subsided.
| CHARLES S. Hampton, of Michigan read
In magnificent voice the immortal dec
laratlon 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
tremendous applause fairly shook the
| building. When the orator had finished
tne declaration of independence and
the applause had ceased, Miss FuItoni
OF New York, was introduced and sang
the star Spangled Banner" The aud
1ence, standing and cheering. applaud
ed after each verse
II was an innovation al a national
convention. Then as she finished the
last strain the band took up America, ,,
and led by Miss Fultoni, the mass of
10000 people broke into the stirring
words: My Country 'Tis of Thee !"
singing it through with unison and
closing it with a cheer.
A GRAND OVATION TO HILL.
Then suddenly somebody started the
cry for Hill" Hill" In an instant
Maryland, Tennessee, louisiana, Mis-
sissippi, New Mexico, were on their
feet waving their standards and YELL
ing Hill; Dave Hilr'. The pounding
of the chairman's gavel had no effect
and fer a time it looked like a concert
ed Movement to sampede for the New
Yorker. As delegation after delega-
ton pse in their seats and the chair
mans gavel fell, Mr.. Hill was COMPEL
ed to rise and bow. This was the sig
nal fr pandemonium and nothing
seemed to be able to stop the torrent
of applause. A few misses were me-
with volleys OF cheers, and finally, q
, part Of New York's delega ton arose
and bined the applauding hosts Gro
ker, Murphy, VanWyck and the Tam
many delegation kept their seats, no
| joining in it For fully ten minutes
n rhn raI