The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-07-05
CONVENTION DOINGS.
Three Sessions Yesterday Given UP
Chiefly to Oratory.

Three Sessions Yesterday Given UP
Chiefly to Oratory.
Kansas City, July 4.-Tbe Democratic
national convention was called to order
just after II o'clock today by Chairman
ones of the national committee. A
wave Of applause swept over the vast as
sembly as Chairman Jones arose. He
raped vigorously and repeatedly, shilling
the tumult. Then above the din his
voice could be heard announcing: "The
convention will come to order. The SER
geant-at-arnls will see that the aisles are
cleared.
Sergeant-at-Arms Martin advanced to
the front and urged the crowds massed
in front CT the platform to take SEATS
Great disorder prevailed, the aisles were
iammed with a shifting, noisy crowd OF
subordinate officials and intruders, and
it took some time to secure quiet. The
first business OF the convention was the
reading of the formal call, by Secretary
Walsh.
Chairman Jones announced that prayer
would be offered by Rev. S. M. Neel.
Gentlemen will please be in order, -
said Chairman Jones, as the hustle broke
loose after the prayer. eve must have
quiet on the floor. Gentlemen of the
convention, have the honor to present
you the Democratic Mayor OF Kansas
City, James A. Reed.
A shout of applause went up as the
slender form of Mr.. Reed came to the
front Of the platform. He spoke delib-
erately and with clear resonant voice
that easily penetrated to every corner of
the hall.
The first bursts of applause that greet
ed the Mayors speech of welcome came
when hs spoke of the universally of
Democratic doctrine which had penetrat-
ed, he said, wherever liberty was known
and loved. He dwelt at some length on
the progress OF the principles of the
Democratic party, which originated, he
said. with the liberty Loving people of
France and England and came to this
continent for their larger growth and
development. His aIlusiOn to the early
leaders of the Democratic party, Jefferson
and jackson, evoked OutbuFsts Of cheers.
He declared that Jefferson believed in
expansion only as it made homes for
American mon upon their own conti-
nent. Dwelling at length on the progress
made by the Democratic party in the
CAUSE Of human rights, Mr.. Reed grew
impass1oned in his euIogy of the good
work done by it through all The years Of
it's existence. A yell OF applause greeted
his announcement that the convention
was gathered on Democratic soil, and as
the guests of a Democratic consti tuency
that had always been in the forefront of
political fights OF the country.
When he declared that, in the name of
that Democracy he bid the visiting dele
cations welcome and prophesied certain
victory at the polls in November, he was
interrupted by loud cheering and the ap-
plause when he finished was loud and
long.
Senator Hill entered just after Mr.. Reed
closed and the applause turned to him.
'Hill of New York, . hin, y chill, y
the spectators shouted. Hill came in
with Elliot Danfor5h of New York and
stopped at the New York row.
uu6duW u140 Ol0 CIOWO COubluuSU 10 yen
for HILL Let's hear Hill, - with
a few Kisses interspersed, until the chair
man finally raped them to order. A few
minutes later the call was renewed, but
the audience was impatient to get on
with the proceedings and showed their
disapproval with Misses. When finally
the chairman was able to make his voics
Io 8
Colorado, the temporary chairman.
A round of applause crested Gov.
Thomas as he assembled the platform.
MIR. THONIAS'S SPEECH.
Gov. Charles S. Thomas said: eve meet
under most auspicious influences. On
the nations birthday in a great central
city of the republic, at the close and OPEN
ing Of a century, we come together to re-
affirm our allegiance to the principles of
Thomas Jefferson and our loyalty to their
greatest living exponent.
I'VE come not with the pomp and cir
cumstances of conceited wealth, but as
the delegates of the plain people who
believe that all men were created equal.
and that all governments derive their
just powers from the consent Of the GOV
erned. We are not here as the representa-
tives Of the vast interests which dominate
every industrial life, but as the cham
pions of the individual citizen who
stands helpless in their presence. We
speak not for those who would pivot the
finances OF the world upon a single mat |
al experimenting its inadequacy by q |
paper currency Issued by private mo-
nopoly at the expense of the people, but
for the millions who believe in the money |