The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-07-10

feries broke into tumuItuous clamor.
me demonstration lasted upwards of
40 minutes. AT times it assumed such
proportions of madness, as the excited
throngs rushed through the aisles tow
ard the platform, that there was serious
danger of panic. Men and women were
bowled over in the mad on-rush of
flag bearing enthusiasts. One woman
tainted and was carried from the hall.
The nomination of Governor johnson
OF minnesota, precipitated another
whirlwind of excitement, if not so long
sustained, hardly less enthusiastic than
that for Bryan. The delegation from
Minnesota standing on their chairs and
waving flags. handkerchiefs, hats
anything that could be waved-were the
storm center of the demonstration,
while groups of scattered delegates here
and there lent their energies to those
of Minnesota. The galleries, too. seem
ed to contain an ample supply of john
son enthusiasm and on every hand the
waves of johnson demonstration swept
back and forth from end to end.
through the great building. When it
had lasted considerable time, the
convention officers sought to restore
order. The sergeant at-arms. was Or
dered to seat the yelling delegates, and
every effort was made to bring the com
vention back to a state of subsection
but in vain. The demonstration went
on with undated fury until 1t had
spent itself, after more than quarter
of an hour Of vociferous tumult
Gray's Nomination.
The Gray nomination also received
its full share of enthusiastic approval.
although the nominating speech of
Irving L. Handy of Delaware was fire.
'quently interrupted by the impatient
crowd, and finally by the arrival of the
committee on resolutions bearing the
completed platform. 1t was after mid
night when the nominating speeches
were temporarily suspended to receive
the report of the committee.
Friday Superstition.
May be there will always be a ques-
officially on Friday. According to the
big clock in the convention hall 1t was
still a few minutes before midnight on
Thursday, the 9Th of July.
1t was a superstitiouS sergeant-at-
| arms who arranged for the week with
out a Friday and he put his idea into
effect without consulting anyone. Hav
ing accomplished his purpose the
cheers of the Democrats assembled
proved the unanimous adoption of the
sergeant's mental resolution. When
the hands of the clock in the audi
torium last night pointed close to the
hour of IL, the superstitious man
climbed to the top of the railing OPP
posite the speakers platform and
stopped time in its fight. The cheers
which followed indicated the. assem-
blege did not want important business
transacted on Friday.
Mrs. Ruth Bryan-Leavitt perhaps
| the most interested person in the con-
vention remained to the end witness
ing the furious demonstration when
| her father was nominated by accla-
nation, the excited yelling when his
seconds made their speeches and the
lesser cheers received by the two rival
candidates, Johnson and Gray.
Not until the votes had been cast
and her father endorsed by the con-
vention as its unanimous choice TO
bear the standards of the party, did
she leave her seat in her box at the
south end of the auditorium ana JOIN
the crowd hurrying homeward. When
ever enthusiasm at the mention or
the great leaders name broke loose
all eyes were turned towards Mrs.
Leavitt who, smiling and happy, lis
tened to the ovations accorded her
father.
Many Did Not Retire.
Many of the delegates did not go
to bed at all after the close of the
session but coming out of the conven-
ton hall into what soon became
broad daylight, walked the streets
till breakfast time, or took early
trolley rides through the empty
streets to the suburbs. The rotundas
of the various hotels and the side
walks in front of them were crowded
in the dim light of dawn, with
sleepy-eyed men, talking of the excit-
ing scenes which they had witnessed
and of the nomination of vice presl-
dent yet to be made.
Several of the prospective candf-
dates for the vice presidency. some
of them very likely candidates, were
removed from the canvass yesterday
| in one way or another.
Most conspicuous of these with
drawals was that of David r. Francis,
| of Missouri, of whom mere had been
much and increasing talk in this
connection. 1t was made more en-
phatic than ever that Judge Gray's
| name could not be used even though
| it was well understood that had he
| consented to the use of his name, he
would have been most likely of all to
receive the nomination. The Massa-
| chusetts people made it clear that ex-
| Governor Douglas of that state
would not be available.
In the early hours of the morning
Representative Francis Burton Harri-
| son of New York, whose candidacy
! has been one of the most active. an
nounced that he would be a candidate
| only in the event of his endorsement
| by the New York delegation. mas
| much as New York has taken the
| position that il would have no candi-
| date for either office, this seemingly
removes Harrison from the field.
Vice Presidency Still i'm the Air
These remaining are numerous and in
! the early hours of the day and it was
| hard to say who was in the lead. Many
| of the delegates took but small part
| in the morning discussions of the mat
| ter and with some degree of expecta-