West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1900-07-19
SCENES WHES THE
PLATFORM WAS READ.
BY JAMES cREELMAN.

NlOuSi hS1uSN " SNh~NSA lN"N' eA"N
Senator Tiilman, could be seen as
cending the steps of the stage.
Senator Jones announced that the
committee on resolutions had made
unanimous report, and he handed
the platform to Senator Tillman to
read.
Mr.. Tillman strobe to the
front of the stage, black coated,
black cravated and girdled at the
waist with a leather belt. AS his
tall figure and powerful, Indian like
face was seen there was a thunder
bolt of greeting. The supreme
moment of the convention had
arrived.
The Senator's voice rang high
and clear, and he gestured and
and threw head back and filled his
tones with irony and sarcasm or
exultation as each phrase demanded
it. He crouched and stamped his
foot and parted his lips and Kissed
the words between his teeth at
times.
He looked like some great actor
playing out the central part in some
drama. He read the first plank,
which was devoted to a reaftirma-
ton of the Declara,ion of Independ
ence and the dermnciati5n Of
impcFiah,n. and bio voice thrilled
tn great host. Again and again he
was interrupted by las IumuiI in the
convention.
Vt every sentence ,he ehceting
was renewed Cuba, Porto Rico
and ,hs Philippines ai tooched the
heart of the convention.
Ii IS Impossible 70 describe Mr..
rillmIn's ex,raorlinary declama
ton. Probably n) other orator in
the United States is capable Of the
same eye rolling, teeth grinding,
nob-s5irring or4tory.
a beam 81 sunlight shown Toll
upon him as he rolled out The de-
cree of the Democratic party
against colonies or'subjecls under
the American nag, and he looked
like some gaunt prophet, his single
eye cleaning hercely under his
splendid brow. And when, finally,
he read the sentence that declared
Imperialism to be the paramount
issue of this campaign, the multi
tude leaped to its feet.
The climax had come. Demo
crazy was on fre-beart, soul,
brain, hand, foot, voice There
came from that mighty audience
such shout such prolonged
shout as comes only from human
nature touched by the fame Of
some great cause.
Instantly the great hall was con
yerted into swimming, sgirling
dashing whirlpool Of color and roar
ing voices Every man, woman
and child there waved an American
flag on which were printed the
words "The Constitution and the
flag, One and Inseparablc, Now and
Forever--for an Empire, Never"
There we're IS, 200 flags waving
at once, and 1900 voices blended
in that thunderous music.
The Massachusetts, delegation
raised a great silk aagon a pole and
waved it wildly about The band
played "The Star-spangIcd Ban
ner," and as the strains of tbe
music swelled through the buldin
a colossal American Gag was love
cred from the roof to the stage. i,
was flag that would cover Tie
floor Of sn ordinary thcater
Across it white stripes we're in-
scibed ,he word printed on bo
smaller flags. Slowly 10 descended
until ITS folds brushed against the
white marble face Of Brgans bust
on the platform. The roaring Of
the audience assembled note by note
until the sound became deafenfag
Il was Ike war Of Niaqsras
Every State and every Territory
joined 100 the Demonstration Bill
lows of rcd, white and blue seemed
TO surg, and dash across the a3or
and around tae standing aes ol ,be
great amph.tlea,er washing sea.as.
The walls and D.uouing back again
90 Che center F@hHgb, photo.
graphs were taken, and lde SMOKE
of The powder Coated across h,
bail over the a.r'ns % aae
and faces.
Banners broke Oh, .o every d.rcc
ton Here was ablacf banner .n