Democratic Press, Volume 2, Number 91, Decatur, Adams County, 9 July 1896 — Page 6

BIG BATTLE BEGINS OcuMKratk National Convention in Session. FIGHT ON CHAIRMAN. Gold and Silver Forces Try Their Strength. Crest Democratic Gathering nt Chineo Called to Order—Silver Force* F.rr the Flrat Gun Amid Much Etc *lk*ala«ua —I>* vid 11. Hill Ver*u* Xtanici Former Announced *■ Temporary Chairmen and Latter pat Forward by the White Metal■tot* Wild Throng in the Hall. At mon Tuesday there assembled in Me Chie-ag> tjolireutu a political conventom which promised to rank with the toast notabh- events of the kind in the ii i-j »t thin country. For day* the ■rwlrra as the rival faction! of one of the ■mat p*lilwal organisations of the Unitrd Sttatca had been hurling at one another invectives and threats. Tuesday Ary usrt to begin the actual struggle for the ctMstro) of that party. The convention hall doors were opened «t IO o'clock, and those entitled to adtnistom permit toil to enter. At 11 o clock (he Seventh Regiment band took its atatana in the balcony’ over the chairman s desk, and discoursed sweet harmony till fe-arris-,-4 to call the convention to order. There acre the gold men from the Ibat, silent and thoughtful; the silver swn from the South and West, jubilant, aggressive, and noisy; the Tammany Waves, for once in their lives "with,” tktoead of “a'gin," the government; the Southern gentlemen. sah, in light summary suits and broad-brimmed slouch fests; the Western silver men: the adher«nt* of thia or that candidate, with the svames of the idol sticking out all over - ell there- were features of the crowds ■hat laaded every vehicle of transportsUa toutbward bound during the early fcws«>n. After a week of the hardest kind of totalling. not only among the supporter* at the seorv or so of candidates for the ■amination. but also among the men who were straining every energy to have their way in the framing of the party policy, the knit day of the convention dawned-

7 V *✓ WILLIAM F. HARBITT. Unirnvui of the is-’nocratic National Committee.

with but one fixed certainty in view—canM'ly, the adoption of a free-silver platform. favoring the unlimited coinage of ■tlver at the ratio of Wto 1. The silver men went down to the convention ball in a triumphant mood over the assured fact that in a convention of a little over SWO delegates they had a little over OH) votes pledjt<<d to the white metal. Barely a two-thii'ls vote it was, too. and this they claimed would, when ultimately uni-A-d upon one man. insure the nomination •f a stiver candidate upon a silver platform. The gold men, though in a tuiasrity, went thoroughly united and with « fixed purpose in view. That was to p»a« in tin- chair as temporary chairman I and maintain in that position David Benaett Hill of New York. Next to secure tbrmigh him as much control of the permaaent orpanizntion of the convention as. possible; next to force, through the- advantage thus gained, some sort of compromise ou the coinage question. The convention gathered in the hand- I somest and most perfectly appointed budding ever prepared in Chicago for a *ario.-vi! assemblage of representatives of any political party, and it Is doubtful if anything as complete in all details as is the Coliseum ever has l>een offered for ronmtlon purposes in any other city. As the delegates passed the doorkeepers they foam! themselves In a gigantic foyer the entire width of the building and fully •u long ss it u wide, tbe north end of which was draped with mammoth flags. Half a dozen entrances, conspicuously lettered, afforded a means of access by which holders of tickets for seats in the d.ffercnt Motions could find their proper Iwatian without trouble or confusion. • forest of chairs arose on three sides in

~f r < I IVTm fUEIt.MAX HOUSE LOBBY.

jsmph theater style around the level square in which the delegates were Heated. A peculiarity of the arrangement by which seats had been prepared for the dclessiles was <l’ , ‘ utter itnfiossihility of irmi to thin square by any one lacking jthe proper privilege of being there. There • ■fitere IK?.’ wilts for delegates, thirty more

THE GREAT CHICAGO COLISEUM. ______ !. C z» Jfcr /| Mr . Jfege; A .Jfe,' >■ ■ arvgrw ■ —" Ain " •- ~r ■ — i -- * - - "ivi. “* *~r

than were required. Fifteen thousand chairs were given np to spectators. The a linker's platform was on the east side of the hall in exactly the middle of that portion of the building which was used for convention purposes, tin this platform there were 7tK) ehairs, occupied by “distinguished guests,” At the immediate right and left of the presiding offi-

.graft „'y 1? xx. ■ Vi JJjr

cer'* platform, but on a lower level, there were ninety-six seats for reporters, making 11*2 on the east side of the hall. At the north nn-1 south ends there were provisions for 240 more workers. There tables were covered with white cotton eloth and draped alternately in the colors of the I’nio.Red. white and blue bunting prevailed nearly everywhere. The tight board fence separating the delegates from the alternates was covered with it. every iron l>eam and girder was drajs-d with it, while from tifo- ceiling, at frequent and regular intervals, depended immense flags, some of them silk, other* of bunting. Everything around the speaker's platform was festooned with evergreen. Three aisles divided the delegates' seats into four sections. The delegations were seated alphabetically, beginning at the extreme right of the chairman, or at the northeast corner of the square. Thus the States began with Alabama and ended with Wyoming. Telegraphic and telephonic facilities were believed to he ample for any possible emergency. Sixteen private telephone wires ran from the reporters' tables to eight newspaper offices. The Weatern Union Tel<-graph Company had sixty wires in service, with facilities for an increase should they be needed. The national committee having passed on contests, this is the way the gold and silver forces lined up in the temporary organization: t- late or Pole- Sil- Sound Territory. gates. Gold. ver. money. Alabama 22 ... 22 ... Arkansas W ... 18 ... California 1* ... IS Colorado S ... 8 ... Connecticut 12 12 ... ... Delaware <1 ... ... 8 Florida S 4 4 Georgia 28 ... 26 ... Idaho 6 ... 8 Illinois 4R ... 48 Indiana 80 ... 30 ... lowa 26 ... 26

Wi A' As RERGEANT-AT-AR.MS M RTIX.

Knnjus 20 ... 20 ... Kentucky 20 ... 20 i.’.ulslnmi 10 ... 10 Maine 12 7 5 ... Maryland 10 ... ... 10 Massachusetts ...00 30 ... ... Michigan 28 28 ... ... Minnesota 18 12 0 ... Mississippi 18 ... 18 ... Missouri 34 ... 34 ... Montana 0 ... 6 ... Nebraska 10 10 ... ... Nevada 0 ... 0 ... New Hampshire.. 8 ... ... 8 New Jersey 20 20 New York 72 72 ... ... North Carolina... 22 ... 22 North Dakota.... 0 ... 0 ... Ohio ............ 40 ... 40 ... Oregon 8 ... 8 ... Pennsylvania .... 04 04 ... ... Rhode Island 8 8 ... ... South Carolina... 18 ... 18 ... South Dakota.... 8 4 4 ... Tennessee 24 ... 24 ... Texas 30 ... 30 ... Vtah 0 ... 0 ... Vermont 8 8 ... ... Virginia 24 ... 24 ... Washington 8 ... 8 ... West Virginia.... 12 ... 12 ... Wisconsin 24 24 ... ... Wyoming 0 ... (I ... Alaska 2 ... 2 Arizona 2 ... 2 Diet, of Columbia. 2 11 Lillian Territory. 2 ... 2 New Mexico 2 ... 2 ... Oklahoma 2 ... 2 ... Totals 00# 810 DM 80 Chairman Ilnrrity performed the duty of calling .he convention to order with a gavel whie.i hns a history dating back ' to the time of the Pharaohs. This unique

gavel was the gift of Ossian Guthrie, of Chicago, who presented a similar gift for use at the Republican convention. The head of the gavel is carved from a piece of oak which formed a part of old Fort Dearborn. The handle is also of oak, but from a tree which was growing on the present site of Chicago 7,000 years ago. This tree was one of a primeval forest, covered by the debris of centuries and hidden until a few months ago. when excavations at Sheffield avenue brought the great trunk to light. Thus the oaks of two periods centuries apart were levied upon for the gavel. The gavel when received by Sergeant-at-Arms Martin, was accompanied by a letter from Ossian Guthrie describing its history and a statement from Pmf. I pham of the Minnesota Historical Society giving the age of the tree from which the handle is mad.. as computed by eminent geologists. Chairman Harrity was also tendered the use of a garei made from the platform upon which George Washington stood when inaugurated President of th,United States for his second term in the Senate chamber of Congress Hull. Sixth and Chestnut street*, Philadelphia, on March 4, 17118. The gavel was made by William Jones, who has been the janitor of Independence Hall for a quarter of a century. The genuineness of the mate rial is certified to by Andrew Jackson Reilly, who has been for many years an officer of the District Court of Philadelphia. At 12:50 o’clock Chairman Harrity. of the National Democratic Committee, with the convention gavel in hand, replied loudly for order and introduced Rev. E. M. Stires, who raised his hands to heaven in an invocation for wisdom,

.iW / - 1 IFaJIRH r" CONFERENCE OF SI BCOMMITTKES OF THE BIMETALLIC LEAGUE AND NATIONAL COMMITTEE.

peace nnd good-will among the assembled Democracy of the nation. The vast assemblage, numbering over twelve thousand people, rose and remained standing during the devotions. At th- conclusion of the prayer the chairman announced that the National Committee had reported Hon. David B. Hill of New Y'ork for temporary presiding officer of the convention. Then he was interrupted and the silver men had their chance. Chairman Harrity recognized National Committeeman Clayton of Alabama. As he rose the silver men sent a mighty roar of applause. Before he had opened his mouth the crowd knew what was coming, and fur two minutes kept up a hubbub that drowned out his voice. It was well known Mr. Clnyton intended to oppose the national committee by a minority report favoring Senator Daniel for temporary chairman. Senator Daniel's name was wildly cheered, silver delegates rising from their seats and tossing their hats in the air. A hasty review of the floor covered by the excited delegates speedily showed that in point of numbers the minority report was the favorite; it was really the first slogan of the silver forces. • When order had been restored Allan McDermott of New Jersey made nn impassioned plea for Senator Hill. Mr. McDermott said that it would not be proper to overturn the traditions of the Democratic party in a thoughtless manner. Ho argued against turning down a man who for years had been prominent in the Democratic party, and whose words, “I am a Democrat," are known the length and

/ 'J OS-tAN GUTIIHIE A.XD HIS GAVEL.

breadth of the land. He declared that free silver was a sufficient novelty iu the campaign without striking out nt the beginning at the very foundation principles of the party. Mr. McDermott was given g< ncrous applause. Thon ex-tlovernor Waller of Connecticut stepped upon the platform mid lent his oratory to what the delegates thought was a conciliatory speech. He declared ibnt both Hill and Daniel were great men. Their name* should be spoken together,

cheered together *nd voted together. Ho then threw out ’he olive branch, which the delegates were quick to see. by advocating tkut Hill be made temporary chairman and Daniel permanent chairman. A shout of applause went up * Note* of Current Event*. Dr. Jameson's brother. Dr. "Jim” of the Transvaal raid, has been murdered by the Hnshonas in South Africa. Misses Jessie Kelso and Sadie and John Samson were drowned iu the Missouri

"7 Or 1 Hr ‘-iii-' t't-: a few application* roti seats.

river at Tekamah. The boat they occupied was swamped. James E. Granger, secretary of the Stone-Ordean Company, met with a mysterious and painful accident while horseback riding at Duluth. The German centrists have decided to revive the bill to repeal the anti-Jesuit

laws. It is believed they will obtain majority enough to induce the Government to take action. Robert Richardson, aged <J9. a distinguished lawyer and author of Kentucky ami cousin to the late Carter Harrison of Chicago, died nt Covington, Ky. The new wage scale of the Amalgv ' mated Iron and Steel Workers’ Association has gone into effect and a numlier of mills in the Pittsburg district which refused to accept it have shnt down. An unknown tramp attempted to murder Conductor Felker of the Burlington road at Pacific Junction, Neb. He hud been put off the train and fired several shots at the conductor, none of which took effect. John Foucher, aged 10 years, while using a piece of gas pipe as a cannon at Sedalia', Mo., was fatally injured. The toy weapon exploded, a portion of the pipe penetrating Foucher's right lung. He ouly lived twenty minutes. Burt Hillman, the man who assaulted nnd robbed the 11-year-old son of Sheriff Jensvold at Granite Falls. Minn., was brought to St. Paul to prevent a lynching. He narrowly escaped being killed, his life being saved only by the prompt action of the sheriff. It is now thought the boy will die. John Moser, an amateur marksman known throughout the central States, committed suicide nt Cincinnati by blowing his head off with a shotgun. lie was about 50 years of nge and without known relatives. He made his will just before taking his life, leaving considers Ide estate to his friends. Ho was despondent because of ill health. John L. Dulic. n native Zulu, has just arrived in New York from bi« African home, and is staying temporarily at E'ujhth avenue. He is the grandson of a chief of his tribe, nnd a son of the first native preacher of Christianity in South Africa. He hns come to this country to complete his theological studies, so that he may enter the field as a missionary to his own people. The Brotherhood of Tailors and the fin-islu-rs. banters, cutters and trimmers of the several local unions nt New York in affiliation with the United Garment Workers of America nrc planning a strike which may involve thousands of workers. The claim is made that the contractors have made a 45 per cent, reduction in the wage scale, besides compelling men and women 'o work longer hours. Fifteen thousand men nriy receive orders to quit

SOLDIERS AT HOME. THEY TELL SOME INTERESTING ANECDOTES OF THE WAR. ttaw th* Ttev* of noth An.US Whited Away LH* IB c*»p — For**'** Kipsrunes*. TlrssosM* M*r.b** — TtelWug ■csmS on U»* U*tU*a*lfe Canfederata Hettle Fing*. The flag* taken from the Southern Hoop* nre imw reposing In nu AlUc the fop of the War Department hut entue ilrat in the vara of the governmeat In ISiff, when they wore depoaltcd iu the old War Department on 17th stn-et. They were then about msi In number, IKJH being recaptured Union standards. These Ungs wen 1 obtained from the commanding generals of the United Suites armies and were catalogued and Identllled whenever it wus possible. In 1874 a part of the flag* ww* plactsl on exhibition In a museum In the Winder building, but In October, 1882, all of the flags were boxed up. and by the direction of the Secretary of War they were stored In the Isisement of the new War Department. When It was found. In 1887, that the flags were rapidly decaying they were taken up into the attic, where they are at present. The fact that many of the colors originally deposited are not now In the care of the department is easily explained by the fact that flags have from time to time been returned to their owners, applications being sometime* made for them by Governors of States or organisations. Nineteen standards have been returned to Union troopa by orders of Secretaries of War, among those returned being one rent l»ck by Stanton. Prior to May. 1887, there were twenty-one Confederate flag* returned, ten l>eing taken from the War Department by Stanton's directions. and nine being taken out by instructions which came from him indirectly. But since 1887 there have been no flags. Union or Confederate, allowed to pass out of the custody of the War Department. Some years ago an effort was set on foot by an officer of the War Department to return all colors to the regiments, North and South, by whom they were originally l»me, but several Individuals became discontented at the suggestion, and nothing ever came of the movement. As a conaequence they save l>een little spoken of since, and the department is unwilling to make any move in the matter. In fact, the orders are that no one shall be allowed to inspect the flag room for the purpose of making any publication about its contents, this step being taken to prevent arousing any sectional feeling in regard to the matter. As a consequence no one is permitted to even examine the flags for any such purpose, and the Secretary of War refuses permission to have the colors photographed. Os the flags returned to the Union regiments which carried them, there are over twenty. Pennsylvania having received five for her troops. Massachusetts getting three, Michigan two. New’ York three, Ohio two. New Jersey two, Ilinois two, and Vermont and Connecticut one each. Os the flags returned at different limes by request to Southern regiments, there are twenty-two. among them being the Union flag which was taken at New Market Crossroads by the Pennsylvania troops, the Confederates having used it to deceive the enemy. A great many flags were loaned out years ago by officers, and. as they were never returned, the department is unable to replace them. Os the flags taken from the Southern troops nnd now in the attic of the War Department, there are about 250 whose history can be obtained, while the number of Union banners recaptured and I identified is sixty-two. The room in which they are kept is a narrow. light and dry one, and the colors are standing all about, resting against the walls, gome of them furled, while others bang limp about the staff, all of them being torn, dusty, ragged and faded, and sften spotted with blood. Other standards which have lost their staffs are rolled into bundles nnd packed away in holes In a cupboard, whose doors are off from the hinges, and the shabby little packages of dirty bunting remind one of a junk shop—only the realization of what they all mean comes to one so forcibly that it is hard to believe that men once fouglit like mad to possess the bit of colored rag now lying In a dusty heap. The blues and reds are too dim to be pretty, the paintings are cracked and torn, the stripes are coming opart, while Aie tiny bits of stringy bullion still gleam ' amid the tarnished heap of former glory. The wood used for the staffs is of various kinds, while others are pieces of broken sticks ami broken scantling, bound together by strings and ropes. As no allowance hns been given the department with which to preserve the flags, they will likely remain In the attic of the department indefinitely. If any move were made to return them to the South it would awaken the old opposition front many Northern soldiers, who fought so bravely to capture these very colors. And if it were intended toplacethein on exhibition In some public museum, most of the Southern soldiers would object to their flags being placed on view ns trophies of the conquered. So the management of the matter Is an exceedingly delicate one, one which the present administration of the department thinks can best be arranged by letting the tings rest In a place where they will not b« open to tlie public, yet will be preserved from decay. Among the most interesting banners shown Is that captured nt Antietam from the Stonewall men. The color* of the Nineteenth Mississippi, Muboee'a

,. t ~ , » other relle ,>t mine, ■ flag* taken by the i m,,,, lb ■ the Ninth Virginia lm Illlln , 1 , f, "» R 9 burg, tlii* Maiidnid l.eliii i',. M < st of the light u her.. I'i, k,. n lam.ms charge .m l \ ini HH the banner of the s, i,.,,,), v 1 M EH Him Regiment, which . ”*■ EH ami captured tn tt,e m UII ,. M Held during the tight al b ' tin- flag <>f the Virgin!,,,’* fl n.i. ktmwn *. st tide," ink.-n nt Wlm hci.r by L EE elmretts it the c„|,, rM ' ' '** EH im.us regiment feared r„ r h s Em brill ery. the "I ..mis „ M '’» gE ink. nnt Malvern Hill ..n .i,,,/, . HH by r.mn.vilvnma ' ' < EH North Carolina reglm. m, th.. *EH being so .b sta-rnn. that n„. Hl ates piled up aromi.l th.-m H.-h,„ , M .lend bodies of their <.<> llin . I |'* and fired from behind thi, human kH Washington .•orr. >po ll ,|,. !lt . ‘ ' HM Philadelphia Times. ■ Met tcllan** Flr«t Me.-tln K w.th | H • It was n.-ar the City of M, X |,„ M lug the Mexican war." M |.| G,. n H Clell.m to Mr. Savage, "that I n rw H my future great opposing 1 was a I.leutenant of enginm.rs and S Lee was a Major of engin,,. nt an ,, favorite on the staff of <;, n. Winm-n S| Scott. 1 was walking along am*,, E field one day when 1 «aw G vn . So,n H nnd his staff approaching ..n hit> H latch. As the party drew near to » E Major Lee relm-d up his hors., anil. a j. K dressing mo lu an angry tone, Kj " •Lieutenant, don't ymi know yuu;t» E disobeying orders? What n. }uuf ■ name?' ■ "I told him my name was McClellan, I and that I did not know 1 was disobey. E lug orders. E "'All officers have been told tore- E main iu their quarters and o* K ders,' a ■ ”1 replied that no such order Ltd I reached me, ami he then peremptorily E ordered me Kick to my qugrt. rs, aid E hastened away to join <;, n. Scott and E the rest of the staff, who bad not B stopped. H •1 returned across the field to my fl quarters, feeling tutieh Injured, fer [ E had not knowingly committed any B breach of discipline. 1 complained to H my fellow-officers of Major Lee's treat- H ment of me. Scarcely had 1 tlnisiied H my story when 1 was t< kl that tln-m H was an officer outside who wished to H see me, and I was greatly surprised to H find Major Lee seated there ba H horse. He saluted ami I returned the H salute. H •"Lieutenant McClellan.' said he, 1 ■ fear that in our m< ding just moi Ivu ■ discourteous in tone or manner, and I H have come to express to you the regret H which, under the cireumslau.-.s. a gm- g tieman should.* ■ ”1 assured him that it was all right, g nnd with a salute and a low l«ov. ivhieli g I feelingly returned, he role away, g leaving me lost in admiration of a su- I perior officer who could so promptly ■ and generously repair an error."—Rat I timore Sun. I “ I’ll Put a Head on Yon." I I was so unfortunate as to lie appoint | ed corporal that winter, says a writer, | and the first time I went on picket in I that capacity an incident occurred I which, if it was not the origin of a unit I familiar term, was the first iustand I of its use within my recollecfioA I though the emphasis at the time vai I somewhat different from that used as- I ter the phrase became a slang expres I ■ion. It happened that I was detailed I with the first relief, and as we red! to the line the corporal of the old picket accompanied us to show me tla line and the various posts, to explail the surroundings and transmit to ml the orders, and to call In his ow n men, As we rode he related a Joke that wai played ujion one of his men while there, Not far from the upper post, and in real of it, was an old grave. As the vietl# of the joke went on duty the first tiitu the man whom he relieved told him that at midnight the night before the ghost of a man was seen near that grave riding around on horseback without atty head. This so frightened the man that he did not dare to go on duty on tbs midnight relief, but instead hired « braver comrade to stand his picket fol him. When I posted my relief between II and 12 o’clock that night this story eame into mind, and 1 thought to haves bit of sport with the ntau whom I wM to leave there all alone at that midnight hour, so 1 told him the story with all the awe I could put into my toneand manner. But my picket didn't frighten so easily. He was just lighting his pipe, and replied between whiffs: "Well (puff )if there’s a man (puff) comes around here (puffi to-night (puffl without any head on (puff, I'll put a head on him.” He wasn’t disturbed during his n>ld» night vigil.—Rochester Times. Where Men Turn to Stone. "Every one has heard of the petrified forest of Arizona,' said a Tombstone citizen, “but few people are aware that there are springs in the Territory where almost any object can be petrifiedFrogs, snakes, lizards and other rgptile* have ventured into some of springs and turned to stone. Leaves, twigs and branches of trees liave undergone the some process. But the must remarkable instance is that of a cattleman who has the same name ns myself, although no relation. He was 1“ the habit of standing In one of thess springs and bathing. He did tills lot some time, when lie began to feel [’<’• eullar pains in his feet and ankles, and lie stopped, but the pains contliiueifollowed by a numbness that never left them. He lost all control of the niim' le* of that part of his body, and it was hu’ ti few weeks until he realized that M feet had become petrified, and for • past year he hns been unable to ' The rest of bls body was somewhat a • feeted, but not so much so. as th« wßtc had not submerged him.”