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Newspaper
Boston Post
Location
Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
Date
Sep 26, 1896
Page
6
Due to space pressure from Mr Bryan's Boston speech verbatim reports, the letters in the financial discussion are omitted today. Publication will resume on Sunday.
A speech criticizes delegates who allegedly sought to change votes and betray the people who sent them. The speaker contrasts this with a gold standard convention and asserts that Chicago showed majority rule, praising those who supported the outcome while denouncing pledge-breaking by some delegates.
Bryan argues for financial independence and national self rule, reading Whittier verses and citing Bismarck as he claims the United States can legislate on finance. He praises voter freedom amid hostile press and employer direction, linking it to a global fight between creators of wealth and money power.
William Jennings Bryan arrived in Dedham just before midnight to a large, enthusiastic crowd. At Memorial Hall 1800 attendees cheered as George Fred Williams introduced him, and Bryan urged bimetallism over the gold standard, insisting the US can maintain 16 to 1 parity. He left for George Williams’s residence for the night.
Tense scenes unfold as the Bryan Sewall Williams faction occupies Music Hall in Boston proceeding to hold on against the State committee. Delegates refuse to leave, police threaten action, and leaders vow to stay all night while pledging to defend their credentials and rights to attend the convention.
The speaker accuses opponents of hiding their financial policy and defends free coinage of gold and silver. He mocks “invisible” gold and argues for honest money, while urging voters to oppose the gold standard and support a bimetallic system. He denounces trusts and states agitation will continue until the gold standard is removed.
The Hon. Josephus Daniels, North Carolina national committeeman, praises Bryan on his northern tour. He cites a unity of Democratic Populist and Silver parties to split electors, boosting Bryan's chances. Daniels edits Raleigh News and Observer and helped popularize Bryan's nomination.
At about 8 o clock during a Bryan carriage crowd control at the Spruce street gate a mounted police horse stepped on Sergeant Egan of Joy Street station injuring his left foot. He suffered a compound fracture of the great toe and Dr. Cilley expects a three month home confinement.
A five dollar note covers a ticket for the Fitchburg railroad to New York for an excursion on October 1. The item notes the price and travel date as key details.
Democratic HQ at Quincy House learned that 100 silver men held Music Hall at 1 PM. Messengers were sent hourly to gauge the situation while Alderman Sullivan, Lee, and Secretary Robinson investigated. Leaders called the B W S Club’s move a clever piece of work and discussed a required 48-hour legal notice to oust them.
Williams men, as delegates, retain room in the hall while Gargan says removing them will be hard. A special executive meeting is called and two conventions may follow. The 1878 convention is recalled and a formal demand will be made to managers Ellis by Hon. John H. Sullivan. Delegates tickets will be issued at 8, Corcoran says.
At the Quincy House last night Williams men claimed hall control and planned to bar the State committee. John H Sullivan and Secretary Robinson had rented the hall with 10 30 as the target time for State use and police contact teams were alerted. Rumors said General Martin advised leaving the Williams men alone while Lawyer Gargan urged action to eject them.
The Bryan Sewall Williams Club warns delegates about a state committee rule exchanging credentials for tickets to enter the convention hall. They claim the rule could seat loyalist opponents and control proceedings. Delegates are urged to keep credentials until reaching the hall for guidance from club representatives.
Manager Ellis of Music Hall faces pressure from the State committee to surrender control of the venue for the convention. Preliminary notice was served, and tickets for delegates will be issued at 8 a.m. with credentials exchanged as required. Judge Corcoran stated admission is by ticket and will be enforced despite a brief occupancy by some committee members.
At a music hall at 3 15 this morning about 100 delegates slept on settees with coats for pillows while others played cards. Delegates from state sections spoke five minute addresses. Entrants could exit but not reenter to starve them out, while insiders used the fire escape to bring in food and more delegates.
At 2 am the superintendent janitor and a police officer locked all entrances of Music Hall. Delegates returning from lunch were barred, a group at the Winter street entrance protested. Some Boston delegates used a ladder and fire escape to reenter and a lunch was sent up by rope.
A Postman reports a State central committee member condemning the Williams men for sleeping in Music Hall to keep seats for today's convention. He calls the act useless and absurd and asserts the hall will belong to the Democratic State committee from 7 am, with rights to eject sleepers and pack the meeting.
The executive committee confirms admission for Bryan, Sewall, and Williams as they present credentials at the door. Linwood Pratt chairs the meeting with Joseph A. Dennison as secretary.
A Democratic State committee vote of 32 to 18 rejected seating any contestant opposed to Williams. The heated meeting in Quincy House heard protests over seating Bryan and Sewall backers as bolters attended from Matthews Gargan Jenney Pendergast Desmond McLaughlin and Thacher. The committee baring opposed delegates seeks to seat all opponents of Williams, while Bryan and Sewall backers hope the convention overrides today.
James Hughes of Linwood Street Somerville was killed around 3 29 this morning during a conflict at a hall where delegates faced locked doors and attempts to smuggle them in. He was about 21, with a deep head wound and possible live wire contact on a fire escape. Representative Mellen gave a somber eulogy as delegates mourned the death.
During William J. Bryan's visit in Worcester six people were robbed of diamonds pocketbooks and watches. George Walker claimed Marlboro as his home and was arrested at Union Station while rifling a woman's pocket.
The $5.00 excursion to New York via Albany and Hudson River and returning on the Fall River line via Boston and Albany railroad begins Tuesday October 6.
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