The San Francisco call., 1896-06-19
THE CALLS HEADQUARTERS, !
Southern Hotel, :
Or 7 1rro NJ lima 10


At ten minutes TO o'clock tonight the
booming of cannon in front of the Con-
vention Hall announced to the people of
st. Louis that William Mckinley of Ohio
had been nominated for President of the
United States by the National Republican
Convention. Following this signal given
by the cannon, the locomotive, mill and
steamboat whistles on the Mississippi
River joined in shrill screaming. Brass
bands Immediately commenced their
noisy parades through the principal
streets. 1t was Just growing dark, and
enterprising and patriotic merchants fired
off rockets and roman candles as the bands
passed.
expected by everybody, the anticipation
of it did not detract in the least from the
great enthusiasm of the crowd in the
Convention Hall, in hotel lobbies and in
the streets.
When the result of the first ballot was
announced, the convention went wild.
Delegates, officers of the convention, re-
porters and all, stood up and cheered lus-
tily. Hats, fans, handkerchiefs and papers
were thrown into the air. Umbrellas
were raised and whirled.
The immense portrait of Mckinley that
had adorned the south wall of the conven-
ton hall was carried to the center of the
Auditorium, and great crowd Of cheering
delegates and spectators made mad rush
to the center of the building. The won-
derful popularity of Mckinley had never
before been made so apparent.
After the speech of Foraker, who placed
Mckinley in nomination, the delegates
and spectators cheered Justify for more
than ten minutes. The band would occa-
sionally strike up Marching Through
Georgia" Columbia the Gem of the
Ocean" "The Red, White and Blue" and
yankee Doodle" trying to quell the up
roar, but no sooner had the band finished
one air than the immense congregation of
nearly Il, 900 people would take up the re-
frain and sing with volume that shook
the ratters of the convention hall. The
racket would then almost subside, but
would again be precipitated by the Ohio
men in the gallery, who manipulated a
huge canvas crayon portrait of Mckinley.
Finally the great crowd, having tired
itself out, subsided and business was pro-
ceeded with.
The first two days of the convention
were quiet enough. There was not much
noisy demonstration. But to-day's ses-
sion was marked by scenes which will live
in the memory of all spectators. The
whole city is talking tonight about the
wonderful popularity of the Republican
candidate for President. Bands followed
by crowds are parading the downtown
streets; rockets and roman candles IL
Illuminate the sky in every direction. Sell
dom before has Presidential candidate
been nominated under such auspicious
circumstances.
All good Republicans are in line. The
friends of Reed, Allison, Morton and Quay
are as hearty in their enthusiasm for
Major Mckinley as if they had not es-
poused the candidacy of their own favor
ties.
Each of the chief supporters of other
candidates, namely Lodge, Baldwin, Hen
derson, Hastings and Depew, seconded
the motion to make the nomination unani-
nous. Every one of these seconds was
received with deafening cheers, and it was
with the utmost difficulty that the chair
man could make himself heard.
At 10 O'Clock this morning, the hour set
for convening. the chairs of the great hall
were not half filled, and 1t was 10 80 o'clock
before the convention arose for prayer.
offered by colored minister. The scene
at this time was an inspiring one. Four
teen thousand people. men and women,
stood up and with bowed heads listened to
the fervent exhortation of the old colored
man.
An idea of the immense area of the con-
ventiop hall will be conveyed to readers of
THE CALL when it is stated that specta-
tors in the remote gallery corners could
not hear the words of the loudest speakers.
A CALL correspondent went into corner
of the gallery and looked down upon the
great congregation, perfect sea of faces.
Those on the platform could hardly be
distinguished, while the faces of those in
the opposite gallery could not be discerned