The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1904-07-10
AFTERNOON SESSION

st. Louis. July 9.-Chairman Clark
| was in the Coliseum ten minutes be-
fore the hour fixed for the convention
to reconvene this afternoon. He sig
nailed for the band to play while the
| delegates and visitors were coming IN.
Not only were there many vacant seate
in the galleries, but a number Of alb
sentees were noticed among the del
egates and alternates. Outgoing trains
carried the first batch of the depart
I ing convention crowd and many del
egates plan to leave for their homes
tonight.
1t was close. muggy atmosphere
into which the crowd walked this aft
ernoon. The setting sun pour 81 in
the west side of the hall and min
gled unwillingly with the white glare
of the electric arc lights. The ma
jority Of the delegates Invested them
selves of their coats. folded Them
across their laps. seized palmetto
fans. tapped them vigorously. fisten-
Ing to the music and wondering how
| soon the party leaders would reach
an agreement on the Vice Presidential
| nominee.
A report that an attempt might be
made to reopen the platform and in
sert financial plank spread rapidly
in the hall. It created CONSERVATION
among most of the delegates who
saw an end to their hopes of leaving
ST. Louis tonight or carly tomorrow.
Bryan Not There.
Should such a coupe be attempted,
| Mr.. Bryans collapse and consequent
absence was looked upon In some quar-
tiers as lending color to the rumor
and the session opened with an evil
| dent air of expectancy.
Shortly before the session conven-
| ed. the rumor that Senator Davis of
West Virginia. had been agreed upon
by the leaders for the Vice Presidency.
| went the rounds and delegates gath
cred in groups to discuss the situa-
tion.
1t was 5:37 when the first sign of
opening the session was made. Chair
man Clark belabored his table with
the heavy gavel but said nothing. A
little later he called the convention
to order and directed the delegates to
| take their seats.
Representative John Sharp williams
of Mississippi was recognized. and
moved that nominating speeches be
limited to fifteen minutes. and second
ing speeches to five minutes and that
lrot more han four secondtng speeches
be allowed for any nomination.
T. H. Ball OF Texas, offered a SUBJ
es to ten minutes, leaving the time of
the seconding speeches at five minute 5
and limiting the number to three. Mr..
Williams at once withdrew his motion
I'm favor of the substitute, which was
ladopted without dissent.
The roll of States was then called
for the presentation of candidates for
Vice president. Even ut this time the
galleries were less than half filled and
great areas of vacant seats were Wis
ible.
Alabama Yields to Illinois.
Alabama was called several times
with no response. but finally Mr.. Rus
sell of that State, announced that Ala
bama would give way TO Illinois.
Samuel Alschuler of Illinois. arose
and announced that Freeman B. Morris
would speak for that state Mr.. Nor
ris took the platform to name James
r. Williams of Illinois. Thanks to the
few people present he was able to do
what no speaker before him had been
able to do. and that was to make his
lvoice audible to every person In the
auditorium from his first words.
Cheers greeted the mention of Mr.
Williams's name. but they did not
come in great measure from the dele
gates.
Colorado yielded to Washington. and
Chairman Clark recognized Frederick
C. Robertson of Washington State, who
spoke for former Senator George Tur-
ner.
There was considerable confusion In
the aisles by this time and Mr. Rob-
ertson was not able to begin his ad-
d. ess for about two minutes.
Connecticut yielded to Indiana and
delegate Spencer of that State sec
onded the nomination of Williams Of
Illinois.
Parker Sensation Appears.
By this time the report that tele-
gram bad been received from Judge
Parker, declaring his position on the
financial question. had become general.
A crowd of delegates hurriedly gath
cred around Sheehan OF New York and
lTlllman of South Carolina.
| Little conferences began to occur.
and the orators did not receive mn n
Iattention except from the gall cries and
the small fry who did not know that
A. probable sensation was ripenlng all
about them.
to West Virginia and the chair recog-
nized John D. Anderson Of that State
who placed in nomination Henry G
IDavis of West Virginia. A vigorou:
round OF applause came from the dele
gates when Mr.. Davis was mentioned
but little from the galleries.
Senator Dubois OF Idaho was the
next speaker and he rose to second the
nomination of Mr.. Turner of Washing
ton
David Overmeyer of Kansas placed
former Senator William A. Harris OF
that State in nomination in a brie,
speech from the floor
As the unexcitlng routine of tht
nominating and seconding speeche!
proceeded the storm that seemed in
evitable was gathering. Leaders hur
ried TO and fro with anxious faces, ant
the news from Esopus spread rapidly
Dramatic Scenes Foreseen.
The floor filled with delegates and
from the Parker States men sat with
heads close together in whispered con-
situations. At 7 o'clock there were
signs to the initiated that the session
was going to be dramatic in the eX-
treme, but the average delegate sweat
ed and smiled and listened to the fow
of favorite son oratory all unconscious
OF the great things that were moving
in the party's heart.
The roll call of States proceeded un-
til Maryland was reached without a
response. For Maryland. John Prem
tice Poe took the platform and second
ed the nomination of Davis OF West
Virginia. Applause punctuated his