The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-07-06
EIGHT MINUTES OF
CLEVELAND CHEERS.
Row Develops in Demonstration Evoked by
John Sharp Williams and Brooklyn Dele
gate Is Elected from Hall by the
Sergeant-at-Arms.

times the speaker stopped and asked
that the talking cease in order that
he might make himself better under
stood.
Mr.. williams mentioned the name
Of Mr.. Bryan in discussing the price
of wheat during the first Bryan-Mc-
Kinley campaign. The utterance OF
the name called forth a little applause
and some cheers. A second later he
the name again and the
applause was not repeated.
Cheer for Cleveland.
Cleveland was cheered Justify. A mos
ment later the first scene Of the ses-
sion occurred. Mr.. Williams declared
that 1t was a brazen effrontery for the
republican party to attempt to seize
the laurels of Grover Cleveland. A
genuine outburst of applause fol-
lowed.
Cheer after cheer rolled thru the
hall, and altho the chairman used the
gavel vigorously the convention was
soon beyond his control. New Hamp-
shire delegates climbed upon their
seats and yelled vigorously. One Iowa
man of the Hearst-instructed delega-
ton from that commonwealth, stood
up and waved his hat frantically, and
wild chorus answered him.
Three cheers for Grover Cleve-
land" shouted an Alabama delegate,
and they came with genuine power
and enthusiasm. No cry came from
Nebraska, where Mr.. Bryan and his
friends sat. quietly, without taking
part in the noise. Again and again
the cheers came in dense volume, de-
spite numerous cries Of order" ana
mans gavel.
Then Mr.. Williams sat back and
watched the scene he had created. As.
the cheers and cries fell there would
be a renewed outbreak and the den-
onstration lasted eight minutes.
Brawl in Center.
Tim Murphy of st. Louis, standing
In the center aisle and encouraging
the demonstration, was first requested
to take his seat and then elected from
the hall by John I. Martin, sergeant-
alarms. Murphy was rushed towards
the platform by Martin thru a railing
and down a narrow stairway leading
under tire stage.
| Another encounter between Murphy
and Martin took place in the passage
way under the stage. Murphy then
permitted himself to be taken from
| the hall by two officers.
Murphy said that he endeavored to
assist In securing quiet, but his efforts
| were misunderstood, and at the direc-
ton OF Sergeant-at-Arms Martin he
was forcibly elected from the floor by
a policeman, and landed among the
newspaper men. Here he endeavored
to explain that he had been acting in
| the interests of quiet and order, but
his explanations fell on a deaf ear,
and despite his representations and
| threats, he was fnally taken from the
building by the police in charge OF
Captain Schroeder.
For several minutes after the MUIR
| ply incident the demonstration con-
| tinued. Finally, In desperation, Mr..
Williams threatened to discontinue his
speech.
"You have placed me here, am
your servant. If you don't want me
to- continue, it is your pleasure" he
oried.
This announcement was effective
demonstration that his mention OF
Cleveland had caused, dying slowly
out.
When he said that he had heard
that Dewey, Schley and Miles were
disgrace the second and insulted the
third, the convention again brooks out
into shouts and applause.
i Williams Voice Failing.
By this time Mr.. Williams voice
was failing. It grew weaker and he
was heard with difficulty even by
Mr.. Williams flow Of oratory was
uninterrupted for some time. A re-
Spouse Of applause followed his de-
nunciation Of the republican claims OF
prosperity because of the tariff. Cries
Of louder were again heard in various
parts of the hall.
IT wish I had the lungs to speak
louder, but I cannot" answered Mr..
Williams.
what did you say?" came a voice
: So rapidly did the noise increase
that Mr.. Williams began to address
himself directly to the persons on the
platform. This brought forth from
the galleries loud cries Of time" and
louder" Mr.. Williams, with all the
voice left turned to the audience and.
with considerable feeling, took UP the
race question. When he referred to
the incident at the republican con-
vention when colored child and
white child were both on the plat
form waving flags during one Of the
!. This is a white mans country"
Police Tried to Clear Aisles.
] So great did the noise become that
e the sergeant-at-arms went down into
4 the hall and ordered the aisles
:. cleared. But the police had difficulty
8 In carrying out these instructions. Mr..
d Williams had by this time been speak
: ing an hour and twenty-five minutes.
n Nov, few words in conclusion -
e said Mr.. Williams, land II you are as
g pleased to hear that conclusion as
e am to conclude, this will be the most
: delighted audience that ever existed. "
!. Williams closed his speech at 2:05
! pm.
= Mr.. Williams devotes most of his
e speech to an arraignment of Presi-
0 dent Roosevelt, ex-Secretary Root and
: the republican party, chiefly by as
e sailing Mr.. Roots speech as tempo
e rary chairman Of the republican ma
n tional convention, which, he says,
:. was largely historical. Mr.. Williams
e continued:
e 1t was to draw away attention from
1t Rooseveltism and it's volcanic, eruptive
o and reckless character by dwelling upon
u the fact that at some period Of its history