Birmingham state herald., 1896-06-17
MARKS SHOW IS NOW OPEN But the Performance Promises
 to Be Cut. "RUSH FEM OFF THEIR FEET" The Opposition to Be Trampled to Death by a
 Mad Charge.
GOLD GLlTIERlNG IN THE PLATFORM
The Opening of the Convention Was Rath- CT Tame-Platt Got a Volley of Cheers. Hands Clapped When Cuba
 Was Referred To.

Convention Hall, St. Louis, June 16.- The first day of the convention opened with unclouded skies and with the pros pect of extremely hot weather. Although the convention was not called to order until noon, the streets in the vicinity of the hall were thronged for two hours be- fore that time with strangers who had come to the city to witness what they could of the grand spectacle, and who naturally drifted around the auditorium, but the doors were closed to all persons, including delegates and alternates, until the time should arrive for their official opening. The only exception to this rule were newspaper men furnished with badges and tickets of admission, the off, ficials of the convention and several hum dred special and general aides to the sergeant-at-arms. Conspicuous in the second class was the secretary of the convention, MT. Charles W. Johnson of Minnesota, late chief clerk of the United States senate, who arrived early and busied himself in arranging the tables al which he and his assistants, including Harry Smith, late journal clerk of the house of representatives, were to sit and transact business.
 At II o'clock the assignments were completed for all the states An hour was occupied by the assistant sergeant at-arms in instructing and locating his deputies, ushers and assistant ushers, and meantime a band of music in the gallery behind the platform played va riouS airs.
 The national chairman, Senator Car ter, was recognized as he took a seat on the stage. Owing to the vast ground space the distinguished delegates were lost in the entering and got to their seats without recognition or applause. Henry Clay Evans of Tennessee was the first distinguished participant to arrive. He came in at 11:15 and took a seat to the left of the chairman's seat. Less than 100 people were in the hall when MT. Platt appeared in the New York seats. There was volley of cheers from those In the neighborhood. Hon. Frank His cock of New York came in without rec ognition. MT. Powell Clayton was at his heels
 At 11:95 the delegations began to arrive, those of California and Maine being the first to enter the hall. They did so with out demonstrations Other state dele gations poured in rapidly and soon the sections assigned them began to fill up.
 Ootside the clash of brass bands was heard from time to time, denoting the coming of delegations. The Massachu- setts men, under the leadership of Sena- tor Lodge, wearing a smile of satisfac- tion on his face and rose colored dahlia in his buttonhole, took their seats quiet ly Prominent among the Colorado men was Senator Teller, who chatted pleas antly with those in his neighborhood and saw" Lodges floral challenge with a silver white rose in his buttonhole
 At 12 m. all the delegations had arrived and had been seated without any special demonstrations, except when MT. Platt of New York was seen, and then some cheering and other manifestations of ad- mi 1R0 O raln hn tot fx. the galleries, a fair sprinkling of ladies among them, did not fill one-tenth of the gallery space
 While waiting for the convention to be called to order the band performed some good music. In the interim of two pieces Chauncey M. Depew entered the hall, smiling as usual and got a hearty recep- tion.
 At 1920 Senator Carter, chairman of the republican national committee, call ed the convention to order By this time all the seats of the delegates and nearly half of the gallery space had been filled.
 The chaplain, Rabbi Sale, opened with prayer, the whole assemblage standing as the chaplain invoked the divine bene- diction. At the close of the chaplains prayer Chairman Carter said:
 This convention is assembled in com pliance with the terms of the call issued by the national committee on the 14th of December, 1895, which call the secretary Will HOW pTOcetQ tO Ttdu.
 The secretary did so in voice which was inaudible at 10 feet distance and amid frequent cries of louder"
 Chairman Carter said Gentlemen of the convention, by direction of the na- tional committee I present for your ap- proval your temporary chairman, Hon. Charles w. Fairbanks of Indiana"
 MT. Sutherland on behalf of the New York delegation, moved that the selection of the committee be approved, and this was carried without a dissenting voice. MT. Fairbanks, tall and very slim gen. tleman, with dark, close-cropped beard and moustache, came forward and in clear and distinct tone. with only occa- sional references to his notes, addressed the convention. MT. Fairbanks reference to sound money was applauded by the delegates from the east and received in silence by those from the west. He brought out storm of applause when he declared the free and unlimited coinage of silver at 16 to an impossibility while silver was worth but 30 to 1.
 The mention of the Monroe doctrine brought applause, and a reference to James G. Blaine aroused cheers. There was hand-clapping for free Cuba and protection. At 1:10 Mir. Fairbanks con- cluded.
 Temporary secretaries and other off, cers were named and approved.
 National Committeeman Lamb of Vir- ginia offered a resolution that the conven- tion be governed by the rules of the last convention. Also that the usual commit tees be appointed on resolutions, creden- tials and permanent organizatio and that all resolutions in relation to the plat form be referred to the committee on res- olutions without debate. Adopted.
 The roll of states was called for names and reports on various committees. There was hearty applause when Foraker was named for the committee on resolutions for Ohio. ..
 At 1:46 D. m. the convention took a re- cess until 10 a. m. tomorrow.