Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-29
H|SGEN AND GRAVES
Nominees of the Independence
Party.
THREE BALLOTS NEEDED
Massachusetts Man Selected to Head
the Ticket.
SCENES OF EXCITEMENT
Delegate Threatened When He At
tempted to Present Bryan's Name.
Platform Adopted.
GENES OF EXCITEMENT

CHICAGO, July 1.-THE first national
convention Of the independence party nm
ished its labors early today after nomi-
mating Thomas l.. Hisgen of Massachu-
sets for President of the United States
and John Temple Graves of Georgia for
Vice President and adopting platform
of principles.
The nomination of Hisgen was reached
on the third ballot, with vote of 81
out Of 94S ballots cast.
For second place on the ticket Graves
was named by reclamation.
John l. Shepard of Kansas. who at
tempted to put w. ]. Bryan's name In
nomination. had to be given the protec-
ton of the entire force of independence
party officials to save him from the in
furiated delegates.
Shepard was escorted from the hall by
detail Of sergeants-at-anms. while the
crowd of delegates surged behind him, de-
nouncing him as q traitor
The national committee was authorized
by the convention to I'LL any vacancies.
Afternoon of 0ratory.
At . o'clock, the hour set for the begin
ming of business in the afternoon, only
half the seats in the hall were occupied.
r. R. Lyon of Bath, N. Y, acted as
temporary chairman and introduced the
Rev A. j. Messing OF Chicago, who in
voked the divine blessing on the conven-
ton.
Billy Johnson of Chicago, negro
with natural talent as a speaker, ad-
dressed the convention on the grievances
of his race.
but I want you all to know that l am
sincere said he. He pictured the
woes of ten millions of negroes, and
saw no future for them outside the
independence party. tremendous ap-
plause greeted this statement.
Shouts for the Choctaw Indian dele
gate greeted the chairman and Samuel
W. Tubby of Oklahoma was introduced.
His story of Los dreadful experience with
Uncle Sam from the day he was discov-
dorsed.
From 1897 when my tribe was driven
from Mississippi. we have been trying
to get fair legislation from the govern
ment and have been turned down every
time" he shouted.
T. McGrath of Ohio and the Rev. John
D. Bush of New York aroused the dele
gates with their views on labor and con-
centration Of wealth
Gessner Williams OF California told Of
the hopes he had for the future of the
party.
Delegate Wilkerson read an ode to in
dependence, which was received with
cheers and ordered printed as a campaign
stimulant.
Chairman Lyon announced that only
one contest was filed with the credentials
committee, and f. Cary Brown. who was
on the provisional roll call from the
fourteenth district OF Massachusetts. was
promptly unseated for treason"
Acting Temporary Chairman Lyon in
troduced Charles A. Walsh of Iowa as
permanent chairman of the convention.
Mr. Walsh aroused great enthusiasm
when he referred to 1.-The Ryans and Bel
monts who are now sitting In the coun-
ellis of that party where once sat Jeffer-
son. Jackson and Tilden.' He drew a
parallel between the birth of the republic
can party and the independence party,
which is united In q 'heaven-hles: ed
cause" Mr.. Walsh finished to the strains
of Annie Laurie
Platform Adopted.
The platform was adopted at els
O'Clock. Committee Chairman Shearn read
the platform. Every plank was received
| with cheers.
The climax came in ten-minute ring
| ing demonstration when he submitted the
| platform for adoption. California. which
| has beautiful silk banner decorated with
the big grizzly bear emblem, led a march
which eventually included the forty -four
! states and two territories represented In
| the convention. Around the hall and
through the aisles California, New York
and Illinois led the procession of stand
ards. while the band played The Star
| Spangled Banner" Yankee Doodle and
| My Maryland"
| Evening Session.
| Chairman Walsh called the night SEES
sion of the convention to order at $50.
He announced that the order of business
was the presentation OF candidates for
President. He interrupted the cheer that
followed to introduce the Rev. NJ. E.
Leach.
| The calling of the roll for the presi-
Dental candidates followed. Alabama
presented the name Of Milford W. How
ard.
| California yielded to Massachusetts,. and
Rev. Roland D. Sawyer of the latter
state took the platform to nominate
Thomas l.. Hisgen.
The close Of Mr.. Sawyer's speech was
the signal for cheers rom the Massachu-
sets seats. Ing which California dele
gates and a few men from Minnesota and
South Dakota joined.
The call proceeded until Georgia was
reached. and Bernard Sutler. Of Atlanta
came forward to present the name OF
John Temple Graves.
Shepard stirs Up Excitement.
Il NJ A.