Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1904-07-15

the convention to order. His ap-
pearance on the platform and the
sound of his gavel brought forth a
cheer from the floor and galleries.
Chairman Jones directed the sergeant
alarms to secure order. lie con-
tinued belaboring the table with his
gavel, but it was some time before
quiet reigned.
CALIFORNIA; appearance with huge
silk banner and silk American flags
and a yell California! California!
Hearst Hearst! Hearst! caused
cheering.
Just as the California delegation
reached its reservation after marching
I'D and down the center aisle William
J. Bryan, who had come Ill unnoticed,
arose in his place and was given a
cheer. Then an enterprlsing member
among the delegation created a diver
sion by vigorously ringing OF a COW
bell. .
Again Chairman Jones demanded
that the convention be in order and at
once directed the secretary to read
the call for the convention.
Applause followed the reading of
the call. After quiet was restored
Chairman Jones announced that the
convention would be opened by prayer
by Rev. John +. Cannon, pastor OF
Grand Avenue Baptist Church, of St
Louis.
During the invocation the conven-
ton stood DR. Cannon's voice was
entirely inadequate to reach even the
center of the hall.
Enthusiastic cheering greeted the
chairman's announcement that he was
directed by the national committee to
appoint John s. Williams temporary
chairman and c. w. Walsh temporary
secretary and John |. Martin tenn
porary geant-at-arms.
The chairman appointed Col J NJ.
Guffey, of Pennsylvania, and M. +.
Tarpey, of California, to escort Mr..
Williams to the chair. AS the plat
form was enclosed by railing it was
necessary for the committee and Mr..
Williams to climb over the railing.
The committee lifted Mr.. Williams
safely over, and the entire convention
burst into cheers as he ascended the
platform.
81 have the honor to introduce to
YOU John S. Williams as temporary
chairman" said Chairman Jones, and
again the convention cheered.
MIR. Williams was attired in a light
gray suit and white waistcoat. He
delivered his address calmly and with.
out gestures. Several cries OF
Louder, louder!' interrupted Mr..
Williams as he began, his clear but
not powerful voice at first failing to
reach all parts of the hall. :.
AS Mr.. Williams proceeded ms
voice increased in volume, and the
delegates listened attentlvely.
A great part of Mr.. Williams
speech was delivered under. great
difficulties for the speaker and those
of his hearers who were supposed to
be most directly interested in his re-
marks. Several times the speaker
stopped and asked that the. talking
cease in order that he might make
himself better understood.
Passing from the discussions of Mr..
Roots speech the speaker took up
\the republican platform.
Mr.. Williams drew picture OF the
COuntryS cOHdltlOn at the TIME Vi
President Cleveland'S first Inaugural
ton, declaring that much of the dis
tress that came in the early nineties
were due to republican misrule that
had gone before Under Harrison,
he said, for three years all hope had
well nigh vanished from the business
world. He scored the attitude OF the
republican party on the financial ques,,,
ton, declaring that it had been tull
of inconsistencies and ab5urdities. lie
mentioned the name of Mr.. Bryan. III
G,: cussing the price of wheat dur'n'
the first Bryan-McKinley campaign.
The utterance of the name called forth
a little applause and some cheers, A
second later he mentioned the name
again and the applause was not re-
heated