Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1880-06-10

The Great Convention!
Immense Crowds in Atten-
dance!
Senator Hoar Made Chairman.
Struggle Over the Admission of
Delegates.
The Preliminaries of the Great
Battle.

CHICAGO, June p The day opened
propitious. The rain Monday had laid
the dust and cooled the air SO that no
atmosphere could be finer for an occa-
sion of this kind. The hall in which
the convention is held is an inner struc-
ture within the Exposition Building,the
south half being used for that purpose.
The hap is 400 feet of main floor, and
every seat is eligible.
The Speakers stand, located at the
south end of the building. has received
the lions share of attention, and has
been rendered patriotically picturesque.
The foremost attraction of the arrange
ment is the life-sized bust of Zach. Chan
dler, which depends from the center of
the ceiling Immediately back of the
chairman's desk. Extending from all
parts of the semi-circular south end of
the building are large flags arranged in
graceful festoons and meeting just over
Chambers portrait, in the center of the
hall are life-SiZe portraits of Washing
ton. Facing north and sOush, and
against the north end of the building, is
portrait of Lincoln of the same size,on
either side of which are the words, "And
| that government of the people, by the
people, and for the people shall not per-
ish from the EARTH" The three likeness
es are neatly draped with small UNITED
States flags, and are very attractive.
The speakers platform is well furnish
ed, being covered with carpet of dark
green shade, and supplied with with
tables and pivot chairs for the use of
| the officers of the convention.
| In tho oaDfor of tba 1i1atfOr in front
of the chairman's desk is a palm draped
in the National cOlors, and just back of
the chairman's place is well-executed
Goddess of Liberty draped with the
Stars and Stripes. On either side of the
statue, at the extreme sides of the plat
form, are palms wrapped in the colOrs.
Separating the speakers stand from the
seats reserved for the distinguished peo-
pie in the rear is a semi-circle railing al
most Obscured from view by flags neatly
| festooned. A few feet below the speak
er's stand and just in front of the rep
resentatives of the local press the
prominent daily newspapers of the
country will be provided for. There are
eight tables, each of which accommo-
dates thirteen writers. The front of the
platform is decorated with flags, and in
the center is the Chicago coat-of-arms
The iron girders and supports that usu-
aully form All unsightly net work in
that quarter, are decorated with coat
of arms, shields, flags and Sheaves of
banners in beautiful fashion, completing
a fine picture. The space above the gal
lery on both sides of the hall, between
the archds and iron girders that extend
Ic wit n Crc
beautifully festooned, forming an appro-
pirate background for the portraits of
the great leaders of the Republican par
ty and abolitioniStS who have passed
from life, but whose memories are re-
vered by the living. Near the speakers
platform, on the east side of the build
ing, is the portrait of John A. Dix, and
then comes those of Owen Lovejoy j Josh
ua r. Giddings, Salmon p. Chase, and
Charles Sumner, the latter being the
first after that of President Lincoln. On
the west side, beginning at the south,
are the portraits of Oliver z. Morton,
Ben Wade, Gov. Andrew, VIM. Pitt FeS-
sender, and VIM. H. Seward, in the or
der given. The iron gallery supports
are graced with fraternity emblems,
shields, and small flags, relieving the
space between the elaborate decorations
and the stage. The center of the build
ing from the speakers stand is devoid of
flags or bunting save about Washing
tons portrait. The decorations upon the
walls that close the delegates out from
the maddening crowd are particularly
noticeable for the beauty and taste dis
played. They are almost entirely OBJ
scured from the floor to the gallery with
smaller flags than are used elsewhere in
building, festooned so as to form cir
cular background for the plaster busts
of distinguished men, alive and dead.
These are Washington, Clay, Webster.
Lincoln, Douglas, Chandler, Hayes and
Grant, and render the picture very at
tractive. The work throughout is very
creditable, and the decorations are more
elaborate and appropriate than any that
have ever been seen on similar occa-
sion. At IL o'clock the band stationed
on the north balcony began playing Ma
tional airs, but nearly an hour passed
before the delegates got to their seats.
At 1 :05 precisely Chairman Cameron,
of the National Committee, called the
Convention to order. Rev. A. Z. Kit
teridge, of the Third Presbyterian
Church, Chicago, invoked the Divine
blessing upon the labors of the con-
vention, returning thanks in an elo-
quent prayer for the prosperity and uni