The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-07-12
II think the delegates understand
what / mean," he proceeded.
Chairman Clark interjected pro

4 NndAIllidA SldIh plO-
ceed.''
And 1 repeat concluded Senator
Z Culberson, that in the present exigen-
| cies which confront the convention II
| ought not 10 proceed 10 the nomination
! of vice president
Right" Right" greeted this state
ment. We want to know before
/ candidate for vice president is nomi-
| mated, who will be the candidate for
President" Applause and cries of ap-
proval again interrupted the Senator.
| When he could be heard he made
| motion for a recess until $50.
| The din and excitement increased
| while the Senator was speaking and he
( was cordially invited both to keep on
and TO 'sit down." His motion was put
| by the chairman. The vote was in the
| opinion of most people, lost, but Chair
| man Clark loudly banged his desk. de-
| clared it carried and quickly left the
| platform before the convention recover
| ed from its amaZement.
Excitement at Great Heat.
| The confusion, before Culberson rose.
| was intensified greatly when he sat
| down after intimating Judge Parker
| might possibly vacate the head of the
| ticket. AS soon as the recess was an
| nounced, the delegates instead of leav-
| ing the hall. rushed into conferences.
| In an instant, there was fully twenty
groups in the hall, in the center Of
which were two or three violently ex-
| cited and gesticulating men who dis
| cussed the Parker telegram vehement
| ly. The police again and again walked
| along the aisles endeavoring to clear
| them. but the delegates refused to
move, and the excitement grew rather
| than abated. A dense throng, through
| which it was impossible to pass, gath
Il 49,. Ia Il
| and Sfrove desperately to learl the ex-
| act import of the message. Their ef-
| forts were unavailing, however. The
| leaders disappeared and the session
| closed with an atmosphere Of tense ex-
| pectancy as to what would occur When
| ii reconvened at $50.
Night Session Of the Convention.
At 9:1O o'clock Chairman Clark
pounded vigorously with his gavel and
asked that the delegates be seated and
the aisles cleared. He did not for
| mally cali the convention to order, but
as soon as some degree of quiet had
| been restored, Governor Vardaman of
Mississippi, without formal recognition
by the chairman, proceeded to ad-
dress the convention on the subject of
the mysterious telegram. He said that
| rumors were abroad that a telegram
had been received from Judge Parker,
citement and apprehension that he
would move that the gentleman OF
the New York delegation, reported sas
recipient of the message, should seni
| it to the clerks desk to be read.
THE confusion of the rabble and the
mob had characterized every hour of
the convention since it's sitting" de-
clared Governor Vardaman. zs.&sspsi
Find Out the Truth.
of nc find ont WI this r11rnor is
he concluded, that has created dis
order in this hall. Let the gentleman
from New York to whom the telegram
| is addressed read it-let it be read.
| Let the truth be known, and then let
us proceed to business"
Loud applause followed this decla-
ration, and continued as Governor
Vardaman took his seat.
Chairman Clark replied:
1T is moved that the New York
delegation, or the member of that
delegation who has the telegram that
has been talked about in this city, II
he has such, produce it and read it to
this convention"
George RaineS of New York, asked
that the motion be deferred until the
| chairman of his delegation could be
heard from
How much time do you want?"
| asked the chairman.
Il understand the chairman of the
New York delegation is now on his
way to the hail." was the reply.
| The chair requests the gentleman
from Mississippi to withdraw his mo-
| ton for a few moments" said Mr..
| Clark.
| Governor Vardaman acquiesced, and
Judge Richardson, of Alabama, asked
that Senator Carmack be Intercepted
4 Inr ho ar a
telegram from Judge Parker, say1nS
that he could not accept the nomina-
ltion unless there was a gold declara-
! ton in the platform, and which was
published in an evening paper.
Gentlemen" said the chairman.
this is the most weighty matter that
has come before this convention. and
| We want no information Second-hand.
We want it from the fountain-head.
understand that the message is now
On the way to the hall. and I suggest
| that we await it's arrival. He is on
| his way to the hall.
| The suggestion was approved with
a shout, and quiet settled down over
| the convention, pending the arrival or
! the important message from th-
Southern hotel.
The band played Dixie and was
rewarded with the usual yells.
| While the convention waited, good
order prevailed. Suddenly the clerks
Ivoice arose with the announcement
that there is a telegram at the desk
for George Fred Williams" A ripple
| of laughter began in the Massachusetts
/ delegation and spread over the hall.
Keep Your Heads and Behave"
The conference committee reached
| the hall at 9:35, and filed slowly along
the crowded aisle in the center OF the
convention floor. Delegates thronged
| about them, asking: What shall We
i do?''
! Keep your heads and behave, re-
torted Senator Tillman, with empha-
sis. and he repeated the injunction at
numerous intervals
John S. Williams, Governor varda-
man, Senator Tillman and Senator Car
mack made their way to the platform