E

CHAPTER XXVIII.

THE SECOND DAY'S FIGHTING.

XPOSITION HALL, as the convention began assembling on Thursday morning, presented much the same appearance that it did the day before. The attendance was, however, much larger, and the anti-third-term people had made arrangements during the previous evening to secure a greater representation in the spectators' seats, and a better location for their sympathizers.

The delegates, as the hour of eleven approached, straggled slowly in. Many of them came fatigued from committee work, and other matters not official but incidental to a gathering of the kind. By the hour for assembling, every seat was occupied in the galleries, and the floor was unusually animated. There was a great deal of running round among the delegates and their friends, but the only outburst before the call to order was on the first day, when Conkling came down the aisle at a a quarter to twelve. He was euthusiastically cheered, and moved slowly to his seat, his tall figure rising above those who stood aside to let him pass. He was the lion of the hour and the

chief curiosity of the multitude was always to see the silver-bearded senator from New York.

It was within a few minutes of high noon, when Senator Hoar brought down his gavel upon his bouquet-embellished desk. A momentary confusion was caused in the removal of outsiders, who crowded into every possible place. All knew that the Committee on Credentials, which had in hand the important preliminary work of the convention, would not be ready to report for several hours. Consequently, as soon as the prayer was concluded, Senator Conkling moved that a recess be taken until six o'clock. This motion was regarded as an indication that he was not altogether prepared for any test vote, but the fact was it was impossible to reach a test vote until it came to the report of the Committee on Credentials. Eugene Hale, however, backed by the cheers of the gallery, antagonized the motion for a recess, and supported his wish with the precedent that four years before the convention had effected the permanent organization while waiting the report on contested seats.

Senator Conkling dropped into the sarcastic in his reply, congratulated the convention that it had heard a speech from the gentleman from Maine, and managed to sneer at New England as a section chiefly peopled by orators.

Mr. Hale returned to the charge, and made great point, that in Congress business did not wait

for the settlement of contests. For this Mr. Hale was rewarded by a wild burst of applause. The crowds were ready and delighted to cheer, and when Hale went on to say that if he appeared in better humor that morning than the gentleman from New York, the great audience understood the reason why. The applause passed beyond all bounds. It became a gale of hurrahs.

Mr. Conkling did not attempt a reply to this and a vote being secured on his motion for a recess, it was lost. For several minutes after this it was not quite certain what would be the next step. Then Joy, of Michigan, sent up a resolution, to the effect that the contestants from Illinois should be allowed to be heard before the convention by such counsel as they should select. This raised quite a storm, and a motion to lay it on the table was made. This was submitted to a viva voce vote, and declared lost. A roll-call was ordered to satisfy the demands of some rash delegates, but this was not acceptable to either side. Joy's motion was then withdrawn at the request of Eugene Hale.

Later, General Sewell, of New Jersey, introduced a motion that the Committee on Permanent Organization be instructed to bring in its report. This was adopted. The report continued Senator Hoar as permanent president, and provided a vice-president and secretary from each State.

After the report was read and corrected, Senator Hoar said:

"GENTLEMEN OF THE CONVENTION: You have manifested in the choice you have made for permanent presiding officer a disposition to a wise economy in the matter of opening speeches. [Laughter.] One good reason occurs to me for the selection which you have made, and that is, that having heard one speech from me, you have, for reasons entirely satisfactory to each delegate, no inclination to hear another opening speech." [Laughter and applause.]

The men from Maine were still anxious to go on with business, and Frye put a motion that the Committee on Rules be requested to report. This brought General Sharpe to his feet-the New York member of the committee-who said he had been instructed to prepare a minority report, and as the committee was in session until within a few minutes of the assembling of the convention, he had no time to do so. He also announced it was understood that a report would not be made until the Committee on Credentials had presented their report. The chairman of the Committee on Rules was then called upon by Mr. Frye.

The chairman was General Garfield. As he mounted a chair to have a better opportunity, he was greeted with the most enthusiastic applause yet heard in the convention. It was a magnificent,