Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 June 1892 — CROWDED THE HALL. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

CROWDED THE HALL.

BIG ATTENDANCE AT THE CONVENTION. Committee on Credentials Submit a Minority Report—Harrison Men Become Greatly Excited—Tlie Light That Failed —Platform Read by Foraker. I Wednesday’s Proceedings. Minneapolis Dispatch: It was close to noon and the hall was crowded to its utmost capacity when Chairman Fassett called the Republican National Convention to order, Wednesday. The proceedings were opened by prayer by Bishop Whipple, of Minneapolis. Hon. E. C. Lockwood, of Idaho, presented the report of the Committee on Organization. A wild scene took place wiien the committee reported Governor William McKinley, of Ohio, for permanent Chairman. Hon. Samuel Fessenden of Connecticut, ex-Senator Spooner of Wisconsin, and General William Mahone of Virginia were appointed a committee to escort Governor McKinley to the chair. A magnificent reception was given the Governor when he stepped upon tho platform. Temporary Chairman Fassett retired amid great applause and there were prolonged and renewed cheers and waving of banners, after which Governor McKinley began as follows: “Gentlemen of the convention;” Here he was interrupted by cries of three cheers for McKinley. The vast audience arose and shook the building with cheers for Ohio’s Governor. After the applause had subsided, Mr. McKinley proceeded with his address. The speech was greet<#l with prolonged cheering. At its close there were repeated cries of "Douglas,” and the venerable ex-slave came forward and bowed his thanks. After Governor McKinley's speech, Mr. Bingham of Pennsylvania submit-

ted the report of tho Rules Committee making the rules of the Fifty-first (the Reed) Congress the rules of the convention, with necessary modification. Tho report was adopted. The Committee on Resolutions were also given further time in which to report. The roll of States for nominations for National Committeemen was then called. Tho chairman then announced that the next business was tho naming of candidates for the Presidential nomination. There was an excited buzz, and Senator Cullom jumped to his feet and asked that the list of States be read to name honorary Vice Presidents. Mr. Ingalls got up and asked that rule 3be read. Clerk Johnson road this rule, which provided that the reports of the Committees on Credentials and Rules must be acted upon before any nominations were nmde for President and Vice President. Chairman McKinley gracefully accepted the correction and withdrew his announcement., On motion ol Mr. De Young, of California, the convention adjourned until Thursday morning at 11 o’clock. There were cries of “No” as the motion to adjourn was made, and the vote in its favor was small; but the Chairman put it quickly and quickly declared it carried. Thursiluy’g Session. The convention was called to order at 11:22 o’clock Thursday morning, but as the Committee on Credentials was not yet ready to report the convention adjourned, after a sessiog of a quarter of an hour, until 8 o'clock in the evening. Pennsylvania and Ohio were notably in favor of adjournment, while Wisconsin, Missouri and several of the strongly Harrison States were opposed. An Illinois delegate introduced a resolution providing that all Grand Army men shall be admitted to standing room In the house and permitted to occupy all seats remaining vacant thirty minutes after the beginning of each session. This resolution was referred to the Committee on Rules and Order of 1 Business.

The convention was called to order in the evening shortly after 8 o’clock, and continued in session until 1:30 o’clock Friday morning. Almost all the time was occupied in a heated dobate ovor the majority and minority reports of tho Credentials Committee. A test vote taken at midnight indicated a majority of the delegates to be in favor of Harrison. The vote was on the adoption of the report of the Committee on Credentials, but was generally looked upon as a fair test of the strength of the opposition. Tho result of the ballot was enough to start the President’s shouters afresh. They had previously held a caucus and claimed to have the pledges of enough votes to secure Mr. Harrison’s nomination.

Every available space in the great and splendid convention hall seemed to have been tilled up at the preceding session, but it was for the night session to test the capacity of this great hall, and it was packed almost to suffocation. The announcement of the Committee on Credentials that a minority report would be submitted caused considerable excitement and there was painful suspense, while the two reports were being orally submitted, as to what would follow. The majority report reoommended that twelve Harrison delegates in Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana be seated in place of the same number of Blaine men given places on the temporary roll, and the minority recommended that the twelve Blaine men on the temporary roll be placed on the permanent roll. The report of the committee also covered contests In Texas, Kentucky, Maryland, South Carolina and North Carolina and District of Columbia, but there was no political significance in these contests and the report was unanimous on these cases. The majority report susuined the National Committee as to 23 votes and revered the National Committee as to 17 votes. When Chairman Cogswell moved that the majority report be adopted he was loudly cheered by the Harrison delegates, and when Cbauneey I. Filley, of Missouri, moved to substitute the minority report therefor, the applause which followed from the Blaine delegates told the galleries that the longexpected fight between the Blaine and Harrison forces was on. The roil call on the adoption of the minority report of the committee on credentials proceeded. When Texas had been reached in the call of the roll the electric lights in the vast hall began to wane for a few seconds. Had It not been for the faint glimmer of a few scattering gas lights

enclrcjing the room the convention would have been in total darkness. This caused as immediate cessation ot the proceedings, and the band in the gallery played “We won’t go home until morning,” while a messenger was hurriedly dispatched to the plant of the electric company to call for lights. After waiting several minutes for lights Mr. Miller of New York addressed the convention trying to secure an adjournment, but without success. At this point the electric current was again turned on, and hfter the applause caused by the additional light had subsided, the convention proceeded with business. At the conclusion of the roll call, Chairman McKinley said: “On this vote

for the substitute of the majority report in Alabama, the nays are 4234 and the yeas are 463, and the motion is lost.” Motion to adjourn failed to carry, and the rail was called on the adoption of the majority report on delegates-at-large from Alabama, Pennsylvania having demanded it, and New York and Colorado seconded the demand. The vole resulted 476 yeas and 3654 nays. A mighty yell greeted the announcement of the Harrison victory. Canes, hats, handkerchiefs, anything that could be grabbed, were swung wildly in triumph, while the dome seemed to tremble with the terriilc roars of applause. An attempt to adjourn the convention at this interesting juncture failed. The hour proposed was 10 o’clock in the morning, but it was decided by a substantial majority to proceed with the business of the convention without delay. Mr. Dopew, the leader of the Harrison forces, was asked if he was satisfied with the test. “Yes,” ho replied smiling, “and we will be twenty-five votes strong on the main question. ” Gov. Foraker asked the unanimous consent of the convention to the Reading of the platform as prepared by the committee on resolutions. The platform was read and adopted, notwithstanding a plea from Hiscock to give the advocates of irrigation of arid lands in the YVest a chance to be heard. The convention then adjourned until 11 o’clock Friday morning.

THE RIVAL GONFALONS.

CHAIRMAN M’KINLEY.