The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-06-11
Proceedings
OF THE
Republican National Convention

CHICAGO, June 3.-The Republi.
can National Convention, the eighth
/ in the history of the party, convened
at noon to-day. The spectacle pre-
sented at the opening was a notable
one in many WAYS, and its descrip-
/ ton would be worthy of a high
1 flight of the Imagination.
The working body Of the cOnven-
ton, the greatest in point Of num-
bers of any National political assem-
blage, occupies only a small portion
of the auditorium. The remaining
body of the hall was filed by al
audience which occupied every
point of vantage, and made up a pic
ture, as viewed from the press stand,
ofan almost unending sea of faces.
of black and uncovered heads, re-
lieved by the rich colors and elegant
toilets of the ladies, who were pres
ent in great force.
The hall is the largest, and has
been termed the most complete,
ever thrown open for the work Of a
great deliberative body. 1t is in one
sense temporary, having been con-
structed within the walls of the Ex-
position building, situate on the east
line of the city, on the shores of
Lake Michigan. Its seating capacity
approximating 1900. Springing
from the east and west sides of 90 /
hall are vast arches, which 2; view
feet in the air, and relieyfse of the
through the entire p
auditorium. esk rasts on a plat- /
The speakfeEet above the seats Of
lorm twette;s and the press occupies |
Tue G..eIeermediate space midway IN
ajlqlght. an or about on q level with the
heads of the delegates. as they occu'
by their chairs.
Back of the chairs, ranged IN a
and on q level space,
are seated the remaining officers OF
the Convention, members fthe Ma
tional Committee, ard their imme-
diate friends. Back of this circle,
in a sharply-rising incline, are 1000
seats. occupied by great many per
sons of National repute, whose pres
euce is by the grace of the National
Committee. Swinging over the desk
of the Chairman, and reaching
thraugh the arch is a widespread
sounding board, embracing the side
extremes of the building.
The delegates and the alternates
occupy a dead-leyel space bounded
by square lines. They are hemmed
in on two sides by tiers of boxes,
occupied mainly by guests of the
the delegates. The section OF the
hall occupied by the working body
of the Convention is broken by four
wide aisles, from the edges Of which
rise Roman standards, pendant with
| blue silk banners. imprinted In golo
with the names of the States and
Territories.
Beginning on the left and facing
the stage is the State of Alabama
and back through the first tier o
seats follow Arkansas, California
and Connecticut down through tht
line of States in alphabetical turI
to Maine.
Beginning again on the right an'
raar is MARYLAND. with Massachu
setts Immediately in her front, ant
ending with the District of Cclum
| bia in the front row OF the secon'
tier. New York occupies the iron
5 rank in the third, and Ohio holds To
, remaining position in the fourth an
last tier.
Back of the delegates is a simila
+ space. occupied by the alternate
and separated from the Main bod
bv a hardly perceptible parttl!ol
In the rear of the alternates Is
8, commodious seating space the chal
u resting on an easy incline, and b.
Il ing cutoff from the space occupit
y bv the alternates by line OF picket
: BEGINNING at point 100 feet in Il
he rear of the alternates is another {
1e PC yiding wall, and from that point II
= tier upon tier of seats to a polnt, !
lTi nt most midway behind the level
a. Al the hall and the apex OF the don
ut like roof.
To complete the picture, narrc
!, galleries run along the east and W,
's Sides of the hall, Its entire leng'
and seemingly suspended in N
air. The front of this gallery
faced with the coats-oi-arms of |
,e, several states, Cd background
ne ne festooned flags. Fluttering from
on arches are the National colors, a
the flags of all nations. !,
The prevailing color in the DO