New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-06-20
OPENING in UNCERTAINTY.
THE CHICAGO CONVENTION At WORK.
SCENES THAT MARKED THE GATHERING OF
THE DELEGATIONS
.gY rELEGRtPu TO The TRIBUNE. ]

S"eo, July ~ lSpec.ll. MS morning crowds
surrounded the huge, half-fnished building of
rough stone within which the hall of the Conven
ton has been rather hastily shaped. The rustic
OF convention time had centred about it. Clubs
were marching past bands were playing men were
peddling tickets for days session only for sl0
those who were fortunate enough to possess these,
without money and without price, pushed their
way through the crowd and past piles of stone
by various entrances into the building. The thea
ire In which the Convention met must be one of
the largest If not the very largest, in the country
As 1t appeared today it is certainly the most COM
modious and best arranged hall ever occupied by
National Convention. The delegates occupied
the parquet, each Of them having a comfortable
opera chair. Back Of the parquet rises q high
amphltheatre, almost to the height Of an ordinary
gallery, and here the alternates had a fine chance
to see and be seen. The first gallery above this
Is oil great depth and height so as 70 accommodate
large number of persons. and each row of seats
rises fuly above the one in front, TO give the spec
tator perfect view. Above this are still two
more galleries, running straight across the audto-
run, which is carried TO great height But this
Is not all. The first great gallery is con-
tinued along the sides toward the stage.
AT the sides next the stage there are two
galleries, one above the other holding a consider
able number The stage which is a vast one, was
occupied to-day by several hundred correspondents,
whose dispatches went flying Off in special pncu-
matte tubes from the stage itself In the centre
was little pen, draped in bunting and lavishly
decorated with flowers, which accommodated the
officers of the Convention. Then at the rear of
the stage, another amphitheGtre had been built
and above that still another gallery, over which
was run low temporary roof to serve rs a sound
ing board. This was studded with softly glowing
electric lights which indeed shone everywhere
throughout the theatre The light Of day was
entirely excluded, except where little forced its
way through the roof. One beautiful effect Of
the electric light in the circles Of thirteen
large stars cleaning about the portrait of Grant
on one side wall and Lincoln on the other, and
another in a gigantic Union shield of red, white
and blue lights that hung the ceiling far
above the stage, and when Chairman Jones raped
first with his gavel suddenly famed out a glow
ing picture, calling out the quick applause of
the delighted crowd The electric lights arranged
in stars and running along the galleries were the
most conspicuous and effective decorations but
there was an abundance of others. Only at the
back Of the galleries was the nakedness of the
brick walls visible. Elsewhere the raw state of
the building was hidden by flags and streamers in
prOfusiOn.
POEIEAIIS OF tOEAER LEAOEhS.
Shields of various States and Territories were
seen along the galleries, as well as portraits OF
Lincoln, Logan, Sherman, Grant, Sheridan, Chase,
Arthur, Garfield, Conking. Chandler, Stanton and
others, some of them it must be admitted, not
being easily recognizable. Over the stage, high
up hung the banner of the Home Market Club, of
Boston, with this inscription
American wages for American wortingmen. American
homes.
put the best part Of the spectacle was the great
throng II men and women filing every part of the
nall except in the upper galleries, where there was
"a surprising number of vacant seats. This eager
crowd, watchful full of life and motion, breaking
forth now and then into an enthusiastic cheer, was
the picture all the res: were only accessories.
There was little INCIDENT in the gathering of the
Convention. The Big Four Of New-Yorl,
Mcssrs. Dcpcw IIlscocll, Miller and Patt, came in
together and managed to get to their without
attracting general attention. Mr.. Iiscock led the
way, big, slow and slcepy-eycd, and Mr.. Depew
followed, tanning himself hard, and a little pale
from the heat, and, perhaps from loss Of sleep.
lie explained to a select company of journalists
about o'clock this morning that he had started
for bed as soon as he got to Chicago but hadn't
succeeded in getting there yet. Still he was in a
gay mood as if he rather enjoyed the humor OF his
situation in being the only Presidential candidate
present as a delegate upon the floor Then came
Mr. Platt, lean, shrewd and thoughtful, and lastly
Warner Allllir, stolid, but watchful and with the
air OF being very sure of himself
All wear the huge blue badge Of Ncw-Iork, with
its heavy gold fringe. The New York delegation
sit at the left Of tn. chairman in the front OF The
Convention, and Mr.. Dcpew finds himself at the
end Of the second row the AISLE where he sits
tanning himself with pink fan and preserving
his customary appearance of the prosperous Eng
lish barrster lie tells the story himself, at the
expense of his side whisllers. how he went into
one Of the law courts of London and said TO the
tipstaf
Il am an American lawyer, and should like
to 20 inside pointing to where the lawyers sat
The tipstaf looked at his mutton chop whiskers
grinned and said:
Oh no that won't do
GREETINGS FOR MI DEPEw
Mr. IIorr OF Michigan, the fat humorist OF the
XLVIIth Congress, steps across the ailse from MS
seat, at the head of the Michigan delegation ana
talks with Mr.. Depew, and Major Mchlnleyi VINO
is more often spoken of as possible dark horse
than any other man in or out of the ConYentlon'
comes forward and sautcs him cordially MT
Depcw wears no Depew badge, but almost all us
colleagues in the New-Yorl1 delegation make thetn
very conspicuous, ard no one OF them mas II
pinned higher ND on his breast than Warner Mlller
who sits next to him. This is probably AIf' Dc
pew's only appearance in the Convention. lie
evidently did not want to have all his fun spoiled
by being a candidate and decided that there would
be no impropriety in his appearing IN tie early
stages Of the Convention.
APPEARANCE OF GENERAL FREMONT
Just al this time there is some hustle and
murmur at the left of the hall and burst OF
applause slender old man, but well preserved and
with the elegant MANNERS Of man oi the world Is
coming down the aisle under the escort OF several
members Of the Nebraska delegation, and word
runs round that it IS General John Z. Fremont
the first Presidential candidate of the Republican