The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-07-12


ing that fifteen minutes OF each side
be allowed for the hearing OF the con-
test
The chairman recognized Mr.. Bryan
to speak In behalf OF his motion TO sab
stitute the minority for the majority
report
Chairman Head. OF the credentials
committee. claimed his right to ave
the closing statement In the debate.
The chair ruled that ar. Bryan should
taken such time as he chose. and an
nounced that the other side should
have as much time as Mr.. Bryan took.
Mr.. Bryan Makes Minority Report
wagfnhi? etaoin shrdlu cmfwy vbgkq
Word that Mr.. Bryan would take this
opportunity to make his great effort
in the convention had got abroad and
the great audience rustled with expe~-
tation as the Nebraskan arose and
/ faced It
In opening his speech Mr.. Bryan an
nounced that he had not come TO the
convention with the idea OF bringing up
any questions that could or woulf
create division. He was greeted by
cheers, and when he declared that he
hoped and believed that the conven-
ton would select a ticket which could
be supported by a united democracy,
the cheers were ~oub
An outburst Of approving yells greet
ed his announcement that the conven-
/ ton in Illinois was conducted 81 men
who were on a level with train robbers
Becoming intensely interested In his
address. Mr. Bryan, finding that h'-
| cuffs interferred with the free NO..
ment of his hands, nulled them of. M
proceeded.
He declared that two years ago John
p. Hopkins had pursued a course con-
trary TO that followed in the Illinois
convention and he did not dare TO fol-
low precedent this time. because he
would have been repudiated IL he had
| lone so.
Mr.. Bryan said in part:
Il came 10 this convention in the
| hope that we would be able TO agree OF
I the platform, on candidates, and have
nothing to stir the feeling or rouse
contention. (Applause) ] still hope that
we shall be able to agree upon a plat
form that will represent the sentiment
Of all of us. so hat we can present ii
to the country as the platform of 1
| united party. prolonged applause).
| / will go further than that. / still hope
that We shall be able TO present to the
country a ticke behind which can
stand a united party Cloud cheers ana
applause). And I regret that / am COM
| PEELED to come in at this time and pre-
| sent a subject upon which your votes
will be asked. But, il there is n
| Democratic principle more fundamental
than another it is the right of a ma
! jority to rule. (~Applause). If you de-
stroy the binding force Of that princi-
| pie, there is nothing that can hold a
| party together.
"And my friends it is because / want,
the Democratic party to stand on that
Jeffersonian principle of majority rule
that / come here and present the MI
nority report in this case cloud ap-
p~lause). In the State of Illinois. the
majority was not allowed to rule. That
convention was dominated by a clique
Of men who deliberately, purposely,
boldly trampled upon the rights OF the
people Of Illinois Ny friends, the evil
dence shows that no band of train rob-
bers ever planned a robbery upon a
train more deliberately or with less
conscience than they did CApplause).
And these men who planned it and who
carried it out have the audacity, the
impudence and the insolence. to say
that because they certify that what
they did was regular, y cannot go
behind their certificate. If that is good
law in a Democratic convention IL
ought to be good doctrine in a court,
and if il is good doctrine in a court,
then the only thing that train robbers
a to do in the future is to make a
report Of their transactions over their
w signatures (Great laughter and
a%pplause).
You nave not this condition in 9TH
er states today, but let this convention
endorse this conduct and the next ma
tional convention will see more n
one state here as the result of gavel
rule. And it is because this question
transcends the interests of any state
or any candidate or any faction that
l am here to present the minority re-
port, and to ask to do to the Demo-
Gratis Of Illinois that justice that this
gang denied them deliberately and in
solently. (Cheers and continued ap-
plause)'
AS Mr.. Bryan concluded he was
greeted by an outburs Of cheers.
Mr.. Bryan occupied twenty minutes
and asked to be given ten minutes to
conclude. after the other sid had been
heard. The cheering that followed his
conclusion lasted several minute and
the audience showed a disposition to
become unruly. |
Chairman Williams Becomes Firm.
Il shall ask the police to attend to
persons persisting IN the disturba~~~"
declared Chairman Williams. Then
pointing his finger over to the left. he
demanded:
Officer. go over to that West Vir-
g1n1a banner and IL that man tnere
does not desist from his disturbance.
take him put |
The chairman's firmness had the de-
sired effect.
Delegate Menzies Opposes the Minor |
ity Report. |
Delegate Menzies. of Indiana. a menu
Der Of the credentials committee, was
then recognized in opposition to the
minority report. Mr. Menzies was Bit ,
ter at the outset. When he criticised |
Mr.. Bryan for his Interference in ILL.,
nois affairs, there were boots, Kisses, !
and applause intermingled. |
Mr.. MenZies shouted out that he
would be heard, and the audience
would have to remain all the longer in |
this sweat box il it persisted in dis
order. Mr.. Menzies' concluded amid
mingled applause and cries Of protest.
He had spoken just a quarter Of an
hour.