Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 July 1896 — THIRD PARTY MEETS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THIRD PARTY MEETS

PROCEEDINGS OF THE POPULIST NATIONAL CONVENTION. ■ ‘ 1 i Fenator Butler Is Cbopen Temporary Chairman—Got. Stone Delivers Welcoming Address—Delegates Manifest ' Enthusiasm in Spite of the Heat. ■Er ' ' i . * '■ Opening Session. • The nations'. convention ot the l’e-j----ple's party was called to order in St. Louis shortly after noon Wednesday by Chairman Taubeneck of the national committee. The hall in which the Populists, met was the same in which the national Republican convention was held last month. There were the same arrangements as to ■eats. The State delegations Were located in the pit, each marked by a guidon. The galleries reared themselves above the pit on all sides. The platform in front was flanked by the press behches. The decorations were not elaborate and were practically the same as those, of the Republican convention. The delegates began to come in before 10 o’clock, but the spectators were slow in arriving. Among the first to arrive were the Kansas delegation, with long, yqllow ribbons on their breasts and many of them with ■unflowers in their lapels. Ignatius Donnelly of Minnesota, short and round, with his small blue eyes a-t winkle and his goodnatured face beaming, came in early and talked awhile with Sergcant-at-Arms McDowell. who stood on the platform, silver baton in hand,'surveying the final ar-

rangements. Congressman Howard of Alabama, who wrote “If Christ Came to Congress,” was a striking figure in his delegation. He is tall, powerfully built, ...with a swarthy complexion and long, straight black hair that gives him almost the appearance of an Indian. “Buffalo” Jones of Oklahoma sat with his delegation stolidly reading a newspaper. Here and there was a dark face. There was one colored delegate each from Colorado and Georgia. Gen. Coxey of the famous commonweal army and his son-in-law, Carl Browne, came in together. , As the air in the hall grew oppressive the delegates did not hesitate to shed their coats. There were several woman delegates on the floor, among them Mrs. J. O. A. Bush of Prescott, Ariz.; Mrs. Jennie B. Atherhold and Mrs. Iles of Colorado. Senator Allen received the first personal ovation. The Texas delegation grew demonstrative. A woman posed with a “middle-of-the-road” streamer pinned to her gown and they cheered wildly. She waved her handkerchief frantically in res eponse and the enthusiastic Texans crowded about to shake her hand. She proved to be a Mrs. Jones of Chicago. The day for the opening of the two national conventions broke clear and bright —in striking contrast to the dark and dripping skies which stretched a shadow over the preliminary days of the conventions. The Populist crowds were abroad early. The crowds in the COrrid ,rs of the hotels' where the delegates’ headquarters were located were dense and noisy, but there was a striking absence of the brass bands which at the conventions of the old parties jarred the air with their clash and clamor. Before 10 o’clock the crowds and delegates began moving in steady streams toward the convention hall. Bryan and the “middle-of-the-road” factions were both girded for the fray, and both claimed the victory. The first test of strength was eagerly looked forward to. Welcomed by Governor Stone. It was just 12:37 when Chairman Tan-, beneek called the delegates to order. Rev. R. Hill Smith invoked the divine blessing, after which Gov. Stone was introduced, whp, as the chief executive of Missouri, and not as a member of the Democratic national committee, made an address welcoming the People’s party to St. Izoujs. Gov. Stone only hinted at the past differences of opinion between the Democrats and Populists, and hoped that in the future they would unite for the welfare of the country. This allusion to a Bryan indorsement set the Nebraskan’s friends on the floor to cheering, Ignatius Donnelly replied tq the Governor’s address in behalf of the convention. Mr. Donnelly made a “middle-of-the-road” speech, in which he mentioned the names of Lincoln, Jackson. Washington and Jefferson, thereby arousing enthusiasm. He paid an earnest tribute to the People's party, and, in brief, detailed its doctrines, which, he claimed, seek to array the people against those who would seek to deprive them of their rights.Mary Ellen Ldase came into the hall as

Mr. Donnelly Unished his address and was greeted with cheers. She was invited to a seat on the pjatform. Chairman Taubeneck announced that the national committee had named Senator Marion Butler of North Carolina by acclamation for temporary chairman. The tight which was expected on Butler's selection did not materialize. Somebctdy on the platform.proposed three cheers for the new chairman, and they were given with a will. * Senator Butler's speech was long and his voice was not capable of penetrating the vastness of the auditorium. The delegates wanted to hear what he said, however, and regardless of the protesta of the sergeant-nt-arms and his assistants, ran into the aisles and crowded around the platform, The Senator closed with an ardent appeal to the convention to

stand together, no matter what might bp the result of its" deliberations. The only routine business transacted by the convention was the formation of the usual committee, after which an adjournment W as taken until 8 o'clock. A sort of free-for-hll meeting was held after the convention proper had adjourned, at which many men prominent in the party voiced their viesvs.__Thejmeeting for nearly three hours. *<• So Night Session. The attempt of the convention to bold a night session was a failure. Through somebody’s omission no provision was made for lighting the hall, and when the delegates and spectators assembled there the interior of the big auditorium was dark. The telegraph companies serft for a supply of tallow candles, with which they lighted the tables of their operators. They also furnished, gaudies to the newspaper correspondents, and the flickering lights burning in the two press sections were the only illuminations in the hall. They served to throw fantastic (lhadows across the floor where the delegates were assembled, but were not strong enough to enable the convention to proceed with business. Chairman Butler arrived long after S o'clock, :njd announced that as no arrangement could nt hoinUhe made for light, the convention would adjourn until 10 o’clock Thursday morning.

• THURSDAY. At 10:12 the convention was called to order and at 12:42 took a recess till- .3 o’clock. Shortly before 10 o'clock Senators Stewart of Nevada and Kyle of North Dakota joined Senator Allen and Gen. Field of Virginia on the platform. The tall form of “Cyclone” Davis of Texas could be seen on the floor, towering above the delegates, “gtump” Ashby of the South State, held forth from a rostrum composed bf a chair. At 10:05 Senator Butler, the handsome temporary chairman, appeared on the platform. Simultaneously the band struck up “Dixie,” and the delegates uncorked some of their pent-tip enthusiasm. Five minutes later Chairman Butler called the convention to order and the Rev. Mr.-Smith offered the invocation. The report of the committee on credentials was called for, but no one responded, and the States were called for members

of the committees on permanent organization and resolutions. There were nt times long delays and the delegates grew perceptibly impatient. The middle-of-the-roaders were extremely suspicious. They intimated that it was part of the plot to defeat them. A Dramatic Outburst. After the announcement of the committee on permanent organization the members retired. While other announcements were being mhde a middle-of-the-road man attempted a demonstration. It was dramatically arranged. A squad of mid-dle-of-thy-roaders suddenly plunged into the hall'through the main entrance and came whooping down the center aisle. Delegate Branch bore aloft a big white banner with the inscription: "Midd!e-of-the road—a straight ticket.” The Texas, Georgia. Maine, Missouri ahd Mississippi delegations mounted their chairs jind yelled. At the same time, a middle-of-the-road delegate stationed in the gallery over the platform hurled out through the air about a peek of small green tickets, which broke and fell like a cloud of stage snow over the pit. The .green tickets contained the following financial plank: i "We demand a national treasury note 1 issued by the general government receiv- ! able for all public dues and a full legal j tender in. payment of all debts, public and '•private, and loaned direct to the people through postal and other governmental I banks at cost, for the benefit of the people, and the purchase and coinage of such amount of gold and silver bullion, at the ratio of 16 to 1, as may be necessary to pay the debts of the Government which are made payable in coin. We demand that the volume of money shall speedily increase to an amount necessary to transact the business of the country on, a cash basis.” There was a ripple of applause and a few shouts when the name of Jacob S. Coxey was announced as a member of the-committee on platform from Ohio. There were also demonstrations for Gov. Holcomb' of Nebraska, Gen. Weaver of lowa and ex-Gov. LeWelling of Kansas when theit names, were shouted out. Afternoon Session. It was half an hour after the chairman had called the convention to order tor the afternoon session when the committee on credentials reported. WJten the matter of contests had been settled New York called for the report of the Committee on ,I»ernianent organization. Some of the delegates wanted to adjourn until 8 o'clock, but the anti-Bryan people objected( ' . . ♦ Senator W. V. Allen of Nebraska was named for permanent chairman by the majority of the committee on permanent organization. This was a straight out-and-out Bryan recommendation, atid the Bryan delegates stijod on chairs and waved bats and handkerchiefs. Then the minority report wus made. Itrecommended James E. i'ampion df Maine as the permanent chairman. With a whoop and a yell Texas’ 103 delegates jumped up and Georgia followed, and soon the “middle-

of-the-road” and anti-Bryan demonstration was in full blast. On motion the previous question on the adoption of the majority report was ordered. The call of 481 a tes -be ga n -in th em ids t of g rea tco n - fusion. Before it was finished darkness set in and after losing a quarter of an hour the-electric lights were turned on and the roll call proceeded. Many of the Stiltes had their votes challenged, and each side watched the other closely. The vote as. announced was 758 for Allen and 564 for Campion, indicating a

majority for Bryan. Instantly the convention became a mob of howling, shrieking, yelling, cheering men. The spontaneous outburst of Bryan enthusiasm put the previous anti-Bryan demonstration in the shade. Colorado pulled its standard out of tile socket and started the march around. State after State fell into line, until twenty-five States were in the procession. The excitement grew wilder and wilder every minute, men pulled off their Coats and waved them frantically. Hats were thrown to the men tramped down the aisles with other men on their shoulders. The procession paraded all over the floor, and at last surrounded the Texas delegation, whose members sat silent, looking but of sullen eyes. The “middle-of-the-road” men were game, however, for one ot them carried a banner to the front; and Texas* Arkansas, Tennessee and Ohio sent their standards to re-enforce ...it.. The. .. excite m_e fit reached its height at this point, and several personal encounters took place. At last, after a quarter ,of an hour of almost riotous enthusiasm, the delegates calmed down and Senator Allen was brought to the .platform. When Senator Allen appeared the Bryan men gave him three hearty cheers. He was - tfffFWtffCCrt by “Cyclone” Davis and addressed the convention in a speech of considerable length. It was nearly 10 o’clock when the Senator concluded, and shortly after the convention a djdurned until the ' ’ fotlowing morning.

PERMANENT CHAIRMAN ALLEN.

HERMAN E. TAUBENECK.

THE NATIONAL CONVENTION OF THE PEOPLE’S PARTY IN SESSION.

SERGEANT-AT-ARMS M'DOWELL.

TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN BUTLER.