Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-06-08
GREAT MASS MEETING
Addressed by John M. Thurston, the I'm
passIoned Orator.

Addressed by John M. Thurston, the Inn
passIoned Orator.
MISSEAPoL is, June dripping skies
and sloppy streets did not keep the old
veterans and republican visitors in
Minneapolis from orowding the great
convention hall TO overflowing at the
mass meeting tonight, possibly curios-
ity about the hall and its decorations
as much as the American love for ora
tory brought the crowd together. 1t
braved very unpleasant conditions. For
two hours the rain had been pouring
down heavily. almost without inter-
mission, and at 7:30 O'Clock there was
steady down pour, but every car run
ning IN the direction of the convention
building was packed and the sidewalks
were filled with jostllug crowds. Al
tnougn the restricted approaches made
the crowd slow III assembling, the door
keepers at the chief entrances had
all they could do guiding the
ticket holders to their sections.
Toe arrangements of the hall were
exactly what they were today for the
convention.
Seats which are reserved for dele
gates to the convention were set apart
tonight for the members of the Union
Veteran league. The local committee
of the league distributed tickets tor the
seats and the convention ushers had
charge of the alsles aud seated the
great audience with remarkable quick
ness. An interesting figure IN the front
row OF delegate seats WAS BIakely Du-
rant of Grand Forks, better known as
"OId Shady" General Sherman's cook
during the war. There were other
historic features scattered about among
the veterans, but the rank and file was
chiefly represented. In one section sat
the uniformed members of the Mime
apolls Fiambeau club, which has acted
"a the local escort for all visiting dele
cations. The audience had not all as
sembIed at $50, when the Hon. John
NJ Thurston of Nebraska appeared
and took seat on the platform.
Enthusiasm Aroused
Efforts had peen make to excite
partisan feeling by cries of Blaine"
Harrison" aud minute after Mr..
Ihurst0u took his seat some one
started Three cheers for Harrison"
and they were gwen heartily. There
was al attempt TO create counter
demonstration for Blaine, but it was
not successful, the Blame shouters
being scattered. At $40 John $. Good
now OF Minneapolis called the meeting
To order. lie said that his 1900
hearers bad come to hear expounded
the great truths on which the republi-
can party was founded. The exercises
would bs opened with song by the Mar
que.te club. A quartet then took pos.
session of the platform and sang
Marching Through Georgia" A good
campaign verse added Co the song
aroused the audience TO pitch of Wild
enthusiasm. and it demanded tue re-
turn Of the singers, and they came
back and sang "Cievelsud's = Hoodoo"
to negro melody. Chairman Good
now then introduced the Hon. John
NJ. Thurston, who said:
rsarsssa's sp~-ch-
"Mr. Chairman aud my Fellow Cisi-
tsns. The great men of the republican
party are here engaged IN counsel and
dehberafion at the West hotel. You
and |. who only count. and walk, and
vote IN the rsnks 9f the party. have
nothing ssse ~ sfo except - come here
and get ready for the campaign that
couies after the convention. We are
IN me voFtex OF TIE eouueTgns storm.
center Of preliminary politics. and
there are those ~so ptesfpt that out of
the passionate pefsonsl preferences ~
ina dstdusls a. this convention there
wiii come disaster. disappointment ard
dstest - the fspaslirsn PARTY. Let as
not ~ofry for th~ fatnrs out ~ Ehe
republican contest vii sonse grand
rrs oue Of repafdsesu ebshosls.ns thst
oil s~sep foe eaes asa f9ssssss every
bsrtfnssfs the democratic parry hss
sssessd upar tie pstn~sy q ksssssess