The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1896-07-16

1t was 1920 Wednesday afternoon
when Chairman A. G. johnson of the
state central committee raped the con-
vention to order. The spectacle from
the speakers and reporters platform at
that time was magnificent. Almost
every seat in the immense Grain Palace,
which had been SO arranged that not a
foot of available space was lost, was
occupied, the delegates in the center and
under the west gallery. In the galleries
tiers of benches, from railing almost to
ceiling, and extending on three sides of
the ampitheatre, were filled with visi-
tors and city people, the costumes of
the ladies, OF whom large numbers were
present, serving to brighten the conven-
tional dress of the gentlemen. The vast
audience came in and was seated with
out disorder of any kind. Every detail
and particularly that of attendants
whose business it was to wait upon and
seat the people, seemed to have been
admirably provided for.
The Opening Exercises.
The glee club was introduced by the
chairman and led in the congregational
singing, which we'll nigh raised the
~rafters, of the national hymn, '.America."
While the convention remained standing
Rev. Mr.. Nazarene, pastor of the M. f..
church OF Aberdeen, advanced to the
front of the platform and invoked the
divine blessing upon the assemblage.
Following Secretary Lee Slower OF the
central committee read the call at
length, and announced that all counties
named in call had presented credentials
with exception OF M%innehaha and Nc
INn>tE boz w-n.n A~nn -lnaAI -
his hands. Contests were announced
from Fall River and Lyman counties.
The Mayors Welcome.
Mayor McGlachlin of Aberdeen, in
troduced at this iuncture, voiced the
welcome felt by his people for the visit
ors in a brief but exceptionally appro-
pirate and witty manner The delegates
we're delighted with the bearing and
words of his honor, and as he concluded
and took his seat spontaneous and ire
sistible burst of applause, the first of
the convention, rang out. The address
was a gem of its kind and is herewith
given:
Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen of this
Convention: In behalf of our citizens,
whom l have the honor to represent, |
have the pleasure of welcoming you to
our homes. You from the corn belts
of the south, and to you from the gold
fields of the west we care not whether
you are gold bugs, silverites or green
hackers, we know you are loyal Dako-
tans, and as such we welcome you to
our city-to a city where more religious
sects and creeds, more secret fraternal
and benevolent societies are represented
than any city of its size on this con-
%tinent, to a city where all political
parties and faiths are represented, a city
whose people are divided into more fac
tons, and are possessed of more isims
and cisims than any people on earth.
We are divided on many questions
but are united in loyalty and modesty.
Our people are always loyal to Aber-
deems interest and modest TO a fault.
Gentlemen, owing to our extreme mod
esty it is a fact that no Aberdeen citizen
has ever been nominated or elected to a
state Office except legislative. No fed
eral appointive Office, has ever been
filled by an Aberdeen citizen when
proper men could be found without our