The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-06-18
THE CLOSING SCENES
&c the Greatest Convention Ever
Held in the Land.
o,r correspondent Gives a Graphic and
interesting Sketch of the Proceed
,ngs, and Some Opinions About
the Platform and Candidates..
CHICAGO, June 8, 1884.

The hlDN NNJ
,.oon clear and cool and much more en-
;ovable on that account. AS the time
-. calling to order was at Il M. the ho-
.ols were the scene of action until about
II o'clock, when the several delegations
narched to the Exposition building
nome of them headed by bands of music.
The Pennsylvania men had tall white
hats the members Of some Of the other
delegations got themselves up all in the
came rig from head to toe, and many
were armed with light canes. The
march to the building and the scene
within was ~lively-people were every
where and all seemed enthusiastic for
some one or something. With no issue
hnt a personal one it seems strange to
COO how mel will fight to simply have
their own way
rhe eight or nine thousand people
were called to order by Sabin, chairman
Of the national committee, and as soon
as the preliminaries of prayer and adj
dress were over the fight commences
hot and heavy. The national commit
fee in previous meeting had nominated
CLAYTON of Arkansas for temporary
chairman Of the convention, or rather
the friends of Blaine OF that committee
had done SO. The Arthur-Edmunds
men presented the name in the conven-
ton of Lynch of Mississippi (colored)
for the same position. Quite a long de-
bate followed, in which n party,
Blaine-Logan, presented in glowing
terms the enormity of the sin and
the great discourtesy of going back on
H. +;y,a -hnynpp1 ol1ctnYo of 1cttinr tho
national committee name beforehand
the temporary chairman. While the
bright and shining lights Of the Arthur
Edmunds faction could see no sense in
such a custom, and while standing on
their chairs made eloquent Fourth of
July o~rations in clarion tones and with
swinging arms upon the recognition
that should be given the colored race,
who are being prosecuted for republi-
canism's sake throughout the south.
Great cheering and waving of hats and
handkerchiefs was often INDUCED in as
the points were made, first on one side
and then on the other.
After contesting every point magma
BILE a vote was finally taken, which toOk
over two hours, finally resulting in 432
for Lynch and 3S7 for Clayton. When
the result was announced there was
great cheering. 1t is believed that this
shows the relative strength Of the Blaine
and Arthur factions, but later develop
ment only can show to what extent.
After appointing committees on reso-
l~utions, permanent organization, etc.,
the convention adjourned until IL O'Clock
tomorrow.
The scenes in the hall were grand in
the extreme. To look over an acre or
two of heads, all listening intently to a
speaker, and hen to see them suddenly
rise and cheer while frantically waving
hats, canes or handkerchief is a sight
to produce enthusiasm in itself alone.
The hall is finely decorated with flags
and a band occupies a gallery in the rear
to keep up the spirits of the disappOint-
ed before and after the sessions.
More than three-quarters of the dele
gates present polished pates to the audi
ence. Is it early piety that has pro-
duced so many bald heads among these
politicians?
The scenes tonight at the hotels
eclipse all we have seen SO far. Through
halls and on stairways policemen keep
the crowd moving, those going ia ON
the right and those coming out out on
the left. At the headquarters all along
the line speeches, bands of music and
earnest discussion can be heard in every
kew and of every shade. Where do all
these people get a bed? The Palmer
has $500 guests, the Pacific 1900 and
the other hotels in proportion. Still 1t
does seem as if some one would have to
hold it out in a chair or walk the streets.
The hotels have either taken UP their
carpets or covered them with heavy
canvas. Eight hundred bedsteads and
mattresses like this will be sold at ~
each after the convention" is a sign put
up ON a large double bed in the hall of
the Palmer, with similar notices at other
hotels.
The Blaine men distributed to-day
large numbers of handbills upon which
the question was asked, us Arthur re-
sponsibIe for the reduction in the tariff
on wool?" After giving the words OF
his message which recommends a reduc-
ton it gives a list Of the states he would
lose if the wool growers shout vote
against him.
Quite a delegation of Montana men
were talking over matters and "1ortiIy-
ing'' occasionally at the Leland THIS
evening.
One of the peculiar features of this
great crowd is the frequent repetition OF
the questions asked by people who meet
after years of separation-about the
wives and the families and the occupa-
tons that have come into existence since
we saw each other in college or down in
Maine or since we were boys together in
old Vermont. u. WE.
CHICAGO, June 7th.
The "hurraho convention is over, and
Blaine and Logan, the "hurrah" candl-
dates, are nominated. A rousing cam
paign, in which plenty of cutting n
slashing will be INDUCED in, may now