The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-07-06

st. Louis, July e.-Exactly at noon
Chairman j. K. Jones Of the national
committee called the democratic ma
tional convention to order. His APP
pearance on the platform and the
sound Of his gavel brought forth a
cheer from the floor and galleries
Chairman Jones directed the SER !
geant-at-arms to secure order. He
continued belaboring the table with
his gavel but 1t was some time before
quiet reigned.
BY the time the hall was one third
filled the heat had begun to increase
to q noticeable degree. The great ma
jority Of the delegates and visitors had
provided themselves with fans and the
auditorium viewed from the speakers
desk was one yellow futter, as the
palm-leaf fans bobbed back and forth.
The delegates lost but little time in
removing their coats, and the COM
plexion of the lower part Of the hall,
black at first, became lighter and
the shirtsleeves became evident.
The first ripple of applause that
went across the convention came
from the galleries when the Texas del
egation marched in bearing their flag
of red, white and blue, with the single
star.
A white silk banner bearing the in
scription, "B'lorida democracy safe and
sound" was borne into the hall short
ly after the Texans had arrived, and
was also greeted with applause.
This was five minutes. before IL,
| and up to that time not a handolap
| had been offered to any man who had
| entered the hall. The platform was
crowded with members of the national
| committee, but the crowd paid no at
| tention to them. -.
The Philippine delegation came in
| with fhoir hpnnnr uyIoinht nnt
floating free like those that had en-
tered before it. It was an American
flag of silk wrapped closely around
the staff and tied hard and fast. This
was done, according to one of the
Philippine delegation, with deliber-
democratic convention did not recog-
nize the Philippines as part Of the
| nation.
Chairman Guffy Of Pennsylvania
strods Il closely behind thg. Philippine
A California'g appearance with a huge
silk banner and silk American flags
and a. yell ''Caltfornia, California;
[ Hearst, Hearst, Hearst" caused cheer
! Ing.
Bryan Rose for Cheer.
i Just as the California delegation
reached it's reservation after march
ing up and down the center aisle, VIM.
J. Bryan, who had come In unnoticed
arose in his place and was given a
cheer. Then an enterprising member
Of the Montana delegation created a
diversion by vigorously ringing cow
bell.
Again Chairman Jones demanded
that the convention be in order and al
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 praye,
by Rev. John r. Cannon, pastor o.
Grand Avenue Baptist church of St
Louis.
During the invocation the oonven.
ton stood. DR.. Cannon's voice wa:
| entirely inadequate to reach even the
center Of the hall. The prayer occu
pied several minutes.
Enthusiastic cheering greeted the
chairman's announcement that he was
directed by the national committee (
appoint John Sharp Williams tenn
porary chairman and G. A. Walsh
temporary secretary and John L Mar
tin, temporary sergeant-at-arnls.
The chairman appointed Colonel J
Harper Of California to escort Mr.
Williams to the chair. AS the plat
form was inclosed by railing,
was necessary for the committe
and Mr. Williams to climb over tn
railing. The committee lifted Mr.
Williams safely over and the entir
convention burst into cheers as h
assembled the platform.
II have the honor to introduce t.
you John S. Williams as temporar.
chairman" said Chairman Jones, AM
again the convention cheered.
Williams Speaks.
Mr.. Williams was attired in light
gray suit and a white waistcoat. H
delivered his address calmly and with
out gestures. Several cries Of "loudei
louder" interrupted Mr.. Williams a
he began, his clear but not powerful
voice at first failing to reach parts Q
the hall.
AS Mr.. Williams proceeded, hi
voice increased in volume and tn
delegates listened attentively.
Convention Amused.
The convention appeared consider
ably amused at Mr.. Williams humor
ously sarcastic references to the "nu
tual admiration society Of Mr.. Roose
welt and Mr.. Root, and when he rea
a eulogy by the president on M
Root, the delegates laughed and ar
plauded.
Mr.. Williams spoke in an ironics
tone that caught the fancy of tn
convention, and he was interrupte
time and time again by laughte
Cheering was evoked by the speaker
statement that Mr.. Roosevelt ha
found praise for only three pres
dents-"George Washington, Abraham
Lincoln and himself'-and when
asked If the "hell-roaring Jal
Smith" order was a sample Of tt
moral sentiment for which the repul
licans stood, a lusty cheer broke fort
A great part of Mr.. William
speech was delivered under great di
hculties for the speaker and tho.
of his hearers who were supposed
be most directly interested in his r.
marks. The aisles leading past II
delegates were packed by den
throngs, who kept UP a constant hu
of conversation that smothered M
Williams voice. Policemen who we
stationed in the space around IL
platform to keep others away, did
by occupying the space themselves
the exclusion Of all others. Sever
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