Red Lodge picket. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1889-1907, 1896-07-11

10 fOreStall all the gold men, concerning
whose plans i'll this regard there Is muCi
mystery. the silver men intend to hol'
caucus as soon as a deadlock 4 evelops
THE CONVENTIONS FIRST SESsIO,
Wn~ Devoted Principally T." Putting
Aside Mr.. Hill.
Chicago July The day opened clear
and cool. Early in the day the down
town centers had repetition of the ex-
Citement and confusion marking he last
few days. Marching clubs with bands
and shouters We're making their last
convulsive demonstration before atten-
ton was directed to the serious work
within the convention hall.
BY clcck the crowds We're begin
nlnS to converge at the depot taking
the suburban trains of the Illinois
Central mad the Il" cars. The ride by
rail is but Il minutes from the heart of
the city along the lake front.
The scene in front Of the convention
hall Was one of great animation. y
steady lire of trains emptied loads into
the narrow thoroughfare. the crowds
struggled, as dense in the middle of the
street as on the sidewalks extending Il
square on either side OF the main
entrance.
Bunting was draped above the lobby
entrance of the coliseum and flags were
flying at all available points but the
structure is so vast as to defy elaborate
adornment. 1t covers five and one-haif
acres and is said to be the largest per
manent amusement and exhibition build
ing in the world.
Cl,,mored Outside.
Sergeant-at-Arms Martin was on
hand early with his staff OF assistants
who We're admitted to the building while
the crowd clamored outside AT IL clock
the doors We're opened and the wild rush
for admission began.
Instead Of a coffin-lke interior such as
former convention halls have had the
hail is square with seats on all sides at
the rear and above at equal distances
from the presiding officers desk 1t il
twice the size Of the Madison Square
garden interior, the two galleries stretch
ing 2OUo feet. or almost half d mile each.
and with $4,000 square feet Of floor
room.
The pictures of several democratic pres
idents--Jefferson. Jackson. Van Buren,,
Polk, Buchanan and Cleveland-done in
heroic size, are arranged about the desk
Of the chairman looking down on the
delegates. Above these arose Il mann
moth representation of the American
eagle with the shield of the United
States in its talons. The platform ana
presiding officers desk are tastily dec
orated with bunting on Il green ground
with backing of large palm leaves.
Flankng the chairman on either side
cun the press seats four deep encirclns
he entire front ana sides of the area
'eserved for delegates. Back of the
chairman We're 400 comfortable chairs re-
served for distinguished guests.
Point of Vantage.
Michigan had the point Of vantage in
he front seats Immediately before the
.harmans desk. New York was to the
eft and in the rear. 1t was not q choice
ocation from which the expected protests
II he gold forces could be made eff
ect. -r4ty The locations .a,! been at lI:lglss-
d alphabetically and with strict impair
iality.
IN front of the convention hall an ar
ny of subordinate officials contributed
argely to the disorder as they formed
n long line four abreast to gain adj
mission at a single entrance where sew
raj excited men We're distributing badg-
IS and emblems of official authority.
Meanwhile the door was barred to the
public. The policemen on guard said no
me would be admitted until the last Of
icer was at his post within. At best
he four big entrances could not admit |
more than 80 persons a minute or 5000
II hour.
At II O'Clock the line Of officials stretch
a four abreast for 400 feet Women |
loldng admission tickets stood in the |
treet hosting umbrellas to keep off !
he shower of cnGers that filtered from |
he elevated road every time a train |
numbered overhead
Suubbet the Goyprunr
Governor Altgeld, AZ the head of he H. |
nois delegation. approached the burly |
o,iceman who guarded one Of the doors. |
even Threats failed 10 Shake the sturdy |
ni1 er who vas under iron-clad orders |
rom the sergeant-at-armS. If the an |
ry populace could have placed their |
lands on the sergeant-at-arms they |
would have made snort work Of him.
When at last the entrances were
brown open, the delegates ana crowds |
.oured through them in gulf stream |
which separated and ran in rivu!eJs |
hrough a wilderness of seats filling then |
apdly.
Fiva minutes after the doors wer> open |
4 the band on the speakers stand struck |
ID a lively medley Of southern airs, |
rominent among which was stirring !
Dixie" bat only few Of the spectators |
Who were rushing breathlessly in stopped |
o applaud it.
one of the first leaders 10 enter the hall |
vas Senator Jones of Arkansas. He stood |
t the staff of his state, greeting all |
Who approached. Governor Altgeid held |
nd earnest consultation with him. Sen
tor Cockrell Of Missouri. one of the |
managers of the Bland boom. and Sena-
or White Of California We're the next |
prominent arrivals. Senator Harris, the |
amOus Tennessee octOgenarian, came in |
erspiring after tuss.e with the minionS |
f the law at the entrance.
At 1850 one Of Rlands bands entered |
he south entrance playing Dixie. |
his caused great enthusiasm.
1t was generally remarked that the east
rn delegates the gold men, were extra |
low in arriving. 1t was just noon when |
he first Empire state delegate. Frederick |
I. Coudert took his seat. The large num- |
er of ladies present was very noticeable. |
Enthusiastic BOieS men carried a oOleS |
amer through the aisles in the deleSa- |
ion pit, but there was no answer to TINS |
uggestion for a demonstration in favor i
f the Iowa candidate.
Shortly after II o'clock Whitney ana |
ill walked up the center aisle. followed |
y most of the New York delegation, who |
ook their places in silence. Governor |
Russell and the Massachusetts delesa- |
ion, in which was George Fred Williams |
he free silver defender followed and, Ike |
he New York contingent did not raise !
cry.
The members of the national committee |
nd distinguished guests took positions |
n the platform early The most con- |
picuous of the latter Senator Stew |
IT. whose long patrarchal beard made |
i'm easily recognizable to those familiar !
With his face in the illustrated papers.
Crush nt the Door.
There We're many reports OF minor ac-
idents as result of the crash at the
OorS. Senator Harris was handled !
oughly and it was said was knocked |
own by the sulging mop Senator Gerry |
# Arkansas, who has but one leg. was
ahmed against the wall and the crutch |
vrenChed from his hands.
at is about time" said Senator Jones
f Arkansas, that we had Il permanent /
fficia as sergeant-at-arms who could /
revent such outrages.