Daily Kennebec journal., 1884-06-04
Friends of Blaine Claim that
He is Stronger than Has
Been Conceded.
The Probable Reaching Of the
Ballot To-Day.

CHICAGO, June 8.
The republican national convention, the
eighth in the history of the party. convened
at noon today. The spectacle presented at
the opening was notable in many ways, and
its description would be worthy of high
fight of imagination. The working body of
the convention. the greatest in point of num-
| bers of national political assemblages, occu-
pied only small portion of the vast auditor
ium. The remaining body of the hall was
occupied by an audience which occupied
every point of vantage and made up picture
as viewed from the press stand of an almost
unending sea of faces and uncovered heads,
relieved by the rich colors Of fluttering
Toilets Of Ladies'
who were present in great force. The hall
was the largest and has been termed the most
complete ever thrown open for the work of a
vast deliberative body. Its seating capacity
approximates 1900. Springing from the
east and west sides of the hall are vast arches
which rises 200 feet in the air and relieves
the view through the entire expanse of the
auditorium.
The speakers desk rests on platform IL
feet above the seats of the delegates, and the
press occupies the intermediate space mid
way in height, or about on level with the
he ads of the delegates. Back of the chair,
ranged in a semi-circle and on level space
are seated the remaining officers of the con-
vention, members of the national committee
and immediate friends. Back of this circle
on a sharply rising incline, are 1000 seats
occupied by a great many persons of national
repute, whose presence there is by the grace
of the national committeeman. Swinging
over the desk of the chairman and fairly
touching the arches is wide-spreading sound
ing board, and embracing the side extremes
of the building.
Deleg and Alternates.
Occupy the dead level space bounded by
| square lines. They are hemmed in on two
sides bv tiers of boxes, occupied mainly by
guests of the delegates. The section of the
hall occupied by the working body of the
convention is broken BY four wide aisles.
from the edge of which rise Roman stand
ards, pendant with blue silk banners, i'm
printed with gold, with mottoes of States and
Territories.
Beginning on the left facing the stage is
the State of Alabama, and back through the
first tier of seats follows Arkansas, California,
Connecticut, and down through the line of
States in alphabetical order, to Maine. Be-
ginning again on the right and rear is Mary
land, with Massachusetts Immediately in
front, and ending with the District of Colum-
bia in the front row of the second tier. New
York occupied the front rank in the third, and
Ohio holds the ranking position in the fourth
and remaining tier. Back of the delegates is
a similar space occupied by the alterDates. In
| the rear of the alternates is a commodeous
seating space, with chairs resting on an easy
incline. To complete the picture, marrow
galleries run along the west side Of the hall,
along its entire length.
The frst to arrive on the scene wore the
staff of correspondents and assistants repre-.
senting the great journals Of the entire coun.
try. Their accommodations proved to be
ample. Before 10 O'Clock the main audito.
mum began to be sprinkled with early corners
and
When the Band Began to Play
The stream of arrivals became steady, and
increasing. The first Of the delegates began
to arrive, at ll.30, and the full delegation.
were in their places before the noon hour.
The following members of the United
States Senate were present among the dele.
gates and on the main stage: Aldrich, Blair
Hoar, Plat, Miller of New York, Miller OF
California, Sewall, Malone, Palmer, Conger
Harrison, Culloln, SabIn, Plumb, Mannerson
Bowen, Dolph of Nevada,
Among the Representatives in Congress
forming parts of the State delegations and