Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1896-07-16

1t was 1920 Wednesday afternoon
when Chairman A. G.. johnson of the
state central committee raped the con-
veEtion 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
pnder the west gallery. In the galleries
tiers of benches, from railing almost to
reiling, and extending on three sides of
the ampitheatre, were filled with yisi-
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 il 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 well 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 Minnehaha and Nc
Cook. These were at once placed in
his hands. Contests were announced
from Fall River and Lyman counties.
The Mayors welcome.
Mayor McGlachlin OF Aberdeen, in
troduced at this juncture, voiced the
welcome felt by his people for the visit
cre in a brief but exceptionally appro-
pirate and witty manner The delegates
were delighted with the bearing and
words Of bis honor, and as he concluded
and took his seat a spontaneous and ire
sistibie burst of applause, the first of
the convention, rams 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 | have the honor TO represent, /
have the pleasure of welcoming you to
our homes. You from the corn belts
of the south, aad 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
tions, 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
eety 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
filed by an Aberdeen citizen when
proper men could be found without our
gates. Why, gentlemen, they even
elected me, a man without a party, sim
ply because the ADLER and better quail
Gea men of all parties were too modest
to make the run. Now, gentlemen, /
am not going through the old moth
eaten formula of presenting you the keys
OF the city. You do not need them; the
city lie yours, go in and enjoy yourselves.
No doors are locked against you, except
the county jail and city bastile; those
institutions are and shall be reserved for
our own citizens, should any OF them be
90 unfortunate as to show you d~isrespect
while you are our guests. Gentlemen,
hoping that your stay among US may be
pleasant to YOU, your deliberations bar