Jasper County Democrat, Volume 3, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 July 1900 — BRYAN AT THE HEAD [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

BRYAN AT THE HEAD

Stevenson Gets Second Place on the Democratic Ticket. PLATFORM FOR 16 TOl Imperialism Is, However, Declared to Be the Paramount issue, National Democratic Convention Nominate* William J. Bryan by Acclamation Amid Scenes of'Wild Demonstration—Resolution* Adopted Without the Expected Fight— Imperialism the Chief Issue—Trusts and Militarism Denounced—Convention’s Dramatic Close. ,_J£jMraas City correspondence: William J. Bryan was nominated for President by the Democratic national ionvention at 8 o’clock Thursday evening, after a day of immense enthusiasm. The convention had two sessions, both uproarious. A 16 tt> 1 platform was- adopted nad imperialism was named as the lead-

ing issue of the enmpaign. The convention then adjourned until 10:30 o'clock Friday morning. It was after 11 o’clock when Permanent Chairman Richardson called the convention to order Thursday. Bishop Glennon of Kansas City offered the opening prayer. The weather was cooler and the great crowd that packed the hall beard the proceedings with more comfort than ou Wednesday. After the prayer there was so much noise that the chairman had to appeal for order. While waiting for the committee on resolutions to report the convention listened to speeches by several orators, among whom were <»ov. Hogg of Texas, Alex. Dockery of Missouri and Mayor Rose of Milwaukee. The resolutions committee being not yet ready to report a reecss was takea until 3:30 o’clock. It was not until 4 o’clock that Chairman Richardson picked up the gavel and brought the convention to order. The resolutions committee, headed by Senator Jones, D. J. Canipau, Senator TiUman ttud Judge Van Wyek, pushed their way to the front. Mr. Tilinran read the platform in a voice easily heard. Amid a roar of cheers and applause the platform was adopted without dissent. Synopsis of the Platform. Imperialism Is held to l>e the most Important Issue Immediately before the Amerfean people. Extensions of government without the consent of the governed Is opposed, independence U promised the Filipinos. Expansion to territory which can be made Into States without Injustice to the inhabitants of the United States, and with the consent of the people annexed, Is favored. Militarism, with a strong standing army, is held to threaten the liberties of the peopie and the stability of a free government. strict construction of the Monroe doctrine is demanded. The Chicago platform of 18»C Is reaffirmed, with special declaration In favor of free coluage at the ratio of 10 to 1. The Porto Itleo hill and the Republican policy in Cuba are denounced. Trusts are charged with robbing both the producer and consumer, and rigid legislation for their suppression is called for. Free

trade In articles used by tbe trusts Is urged. Tbe Dtugley tariff law I* condemned. The new currency law Is denounced as being a measure In the Interest of the uatloual banks. The retirement of all national bauk notes Is demanded. Arbitration Is urged as the means for settling Industrial disturbances, and a department of labor, with a seat la tbe cabinet, Is advocated. Liberal pensions are promised to soldiers. The construction of the Nicaragua canal by the Uulted States Is demanded, and the Huy--I'unncefote treaty denounced. Statehood Is held out for New Mexico, Arlsuns and Oklahoma. Sympathy la expressed for the Boers In their atruggle for liberty and Independence. Reduction and repeal of present war taxes nre demanded. Nominations for President were next in order. Alabnmn yielded to Nebraska mid W. D. OldUntn presented the name of XV. J. Bfiynh. Then followed a tvlfd demonstration. When tbe enthusiasm ■ffirtli'iMT fdPYteffirhT’ttfVMJP minutes Chair-, man Richardson begun to pound vigorously for order, lie was lost beyond till pbwer of bearing for acreral minutes, and was not until -twenty-seven minutes had elapsed that the cheering had subsided fl"d the convention was in order osce

more. The nomination was seconded by ex-Senator White of California, D. B. Hill of New York, Senator Daniel of Virginia, Judge. Thompson of Illinois and others. The vote was unanimous,,trad the convention adjourned till Friday. The presidential kite was swiftly flows and across it was emblazoned the name of Bryan. But as to the tail of the kite —the nominee for the vice-presidency—-there were various opinions. ’ i Friday** Session. Everybody knew that Friday was the last day of the convention and accordingly most people came early. They witnessed the nomination of Bryan for President Thursday night and wanted to see the choice made for second place on the ticket, before 10 o’clock all the 20,000 seats were filled and those who appeared after that hour jammed the aisles and doorways until there was not space for anybody to even make a motion to adjourn. At 10:45 Chairman Richardson, with a sweep of the gavel, cut off the strains of the band, slowly stilled the confusion, and brought the convention to order for its third day’s work. After prater th* call of States for nominations for Vice President was begun. Arkansas yielded to Illinois nud Congressman Williams placed Adlai E. Stevenson’s name before the convention. A burst of applause and great confusion followed. Minnesota presented the name of Charles A. Town* and the demonstration was renewed. Then Senator Grady, of New York, got the floor and named David B. Hill, and pandemonium broke loose. Hill leaped to the platform beside Grady and tried to stop him, but it was useless. The naming of Hili almost stampeded the convention. The riotous scenes of Wednesday, when Hill was the center of interest, were repeated, but the New York mah declined the nomination. The convention named Stevenson as its choice, after a thrilling contest.

Jones la Chairman. The national Democratic committee, chosen by the convention, met shortly after the adjournment of the convention' and organized by the re-election of all the old officers, with the exception of the treasurer. The old officers, who had charge of the 1890 campaign of Bryan, were: Chairman, Janies Iv. Jones of Arkansas; vice-chairman, ex-Gov. William J.'Stone of Missouri; secretary, C. A. Walsh of Iowa; sergeant-at-arms, John I. Martin of Missouri. Convention Notes. Alpaca coats were au fait. W. A. Clark was cheered as he came in, and there were cries of “Hill.” The furniture on the platform was sold at auction by the firm that owned it. Michigan came in with a gold and blue banner with the arms of the State upon it. The mass around the platform was a first cousin of the jam at a bargain counter. Gov. Hogg of Texas is built like a grip car and wore ten yards of alpaca in his coat. Some delegates wore ribbons which read: *‘l do not live in Kansas City. Be good to uie." A picture of a phoenix was at one end off the hall and a portrait of Mr. Bryan at the other. The convention hall was decorated with flags, shirt waists, palm leaf fans aud Postal messenger boys. Bishop Glennon of Kansas City, who offered the prayer, decorated the steeple of his cathedral with American flags. Arizona had a milk-white flag ou its standard. It was the only unofficial decoration ou the floor of the convention except that of Hawaii. The gavels used by the temporary chairman and wioldcQ by the permanent chairman were the ordinary sort dallied with by presidents of unobtrusive debating societies. While the rally of the standards to the platform was going on at the night session two photographers worked incessantly at flash lights. Some delegates thought the smoke m*:unt a'celebration und cheered accordingly. It was a convention or It is no exaggeration to say that nine-tenths of the male persons in the convention hull Wednesday afternoon and evening were coatless; and more than half were minus waistcoats. The Fourth of July in Kansas City meant n gun in the hands of every small boy. There was no prohibitory proclamation by the Mayor. Blank cartridges, sometimes those with bullets, were exploded with nerve racking promiseuousness.

WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN.

A. E. STEVENSON.