The San Francisco call., 1896-06-19
CONVENTIONS AT ST. LOUIS.
Although This Has Been Her Greatest
Year, the City Has Had Many
Gatherings.

Gatherings.
Although the year 1896 is the greatest
convention year St. Louis has ever had,
the city has entertained an immense num-
Der of National Conventions of different
character during the last thirty years.
Between 1866 and 1876 st. Louis had three
conventions-River Convention in 1867;
National Commercial Convention in 1872;
National Railroad Convention in 1875.
In 1876 the National Democratic Conven-
ton was held in st. Louis, the Merchants
Exchange. Hall being fitted up for the pur-
pose. The Exchange floor made very
excellent Convention Hall. The dimen-
slons are very generous. 1t is 221 feet long,
about 100 feet wide and nearly so feet
nigh. In 1881 another important River
Convention was held, and since then
the cattlemen, who electrified the public
with their Cowboy Millionaire Band"
the National Medical Convention, the
Knights Templars' Triennial Conclave,
the Bicycle-makers' Convention and the
Grand Army Encampment have been held
there.
In 1888 the National Democratic Nom
mating Convention was again held in st.
Louis. 1t was preceded by the Saenger-
fest. For this gathering the north nave of
the Exposition building was rearrapged
and converted into an auditorium, with
seats, platforms and appurtenances. The
local committee of the Democratic con-
vention arranged to secure the use of the
fixtures, and the Democratic convention
was held in the hall. The arrangements
generally were satisfactory, but the acous-
tics were admittedly bad. 1t will be re-
membered that it was proposed to hold the
Republican convention this year il the
north nave, but to fit it up in a much,more
satisfactory manner. 1t was found, how
ever, that it would be necessary to make
number of structural alterations at a
heavy expense with very doubtful results,
and hence the building of the Convention
Auditorium on the south half of the old
Washington Park.
In 1889 there were several comparatively Y
small conventions, and it was not until
toward the end of the year that National
gatherings of magnitude were held. The
Silver Convention in the Exposition build
ing in November, and the Farmers Alli-
ance Convention the following week, were
the most largely attended of gatherings
of this kind during the year. In 1890 the
Ancient Order of United Workmen held
their convention in st. Louis, and in June
the Young Peoples Society of Christian
Endeavor held very large gathering. In
the following year there were a great
number of conventions, the most impor-
tant gathering being the meeting of the
Sovereign Grand Lodge of Odd Fellows,
with representatives from all parts of the
United States and Canada.
In 1892 no effort was made to secure
either OF the great National Nominating
Conventions. During the spring the Peo-
ple's party held conference which was
really OF greater importance than its con-
vention. Other conventions and annual
meetings held during the year included
the Nicaragua Canal Convention, the Re-
union of the Army of the Tennessee, and
National conventions of agricultural i'm
plement makers, electricians, florists,
builders, Gamers and others. The EIec-
trical Convention attracted exceptional
interest, and Tesla's demonstrations at
tracted such an immense throng
to the Exposition building that great
difficulty was experienced in handling the
crowds.
In 1898 the Interstate Sunday. school
Convention was held in the Exposition
building, followed by large gatherings of
the German benevolent societies, the
Southern wholesale grocers and other or
ganizations. Last year the American In
stitute OF Architects and the National
Music Teachers Association held their
annual conventions in St. Louis. This
year the conventions of Importance, which
commence with the Republican National
Convention, include conventions of the
Peoples party, the Silver party, the Direct
Legislation League, the International Co
operation Congress, the knights of Friend
ship, the Knights of Father Mathew, the
American Bankers Association, the Ma.
tional Association OF Democratic Clubs.
the National Vehicle Builders Associa-
ton, the American Street Railway
Association, the Women's Christian
Temperance Union and some five or six
others.