The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-06-18

100 delegates in the convention hall.
Little By little the seats began to ill up,
but it was after half past 10 o'clock be-
fore there was a sufficient attendance to
justify temporary Chairman Fairbanks IL
opening the session.
After whack of his gavel PRAYER was
offered. Then trim-buit man arose on
the east side OF the space allowed by dele
gates. He was dressed in natty business
suit, and wore closely cropped side whis-
kers and beard.
His appearance and nasal twang be-
tokened the Yankee. and his dress indi-
Gated young merchant of the New Eng
land style. 1t was Henry Cabot Lodge of
Massachusetts, United States Senator
from that State. As spokesman for the
committee on resolutions, he announced,
amid cheers that the subcommittee on
resolutions had completed the rough draft
of platform and hoped to complete it's
labors in the afternoon. Further time
was granted the committee.
The report of the committee on perma-
nent organization was not ready, and after
a few angry expostulations by delegate
from Maryland, whose luckless name is
"Mudd," the convention adopted the re-
port.
Senator Sewell of New Jersey and
Serene E. Payne of New York then
escorted Permanent Chairman Thurs
ton to the platform. THE CALLS read
ers all know that John NJ. Thurs
ton is a Senator from Nebraska. He
is tall, sparely built man, wearing
mustache and spectacles. As the trio
marched down the aisle delegates and
spectators arose and waved flags, hand
kerchiefs and hats. Then Mr.. Thurston's s
address was delivered in voice that pen
etrated every corner OF the great conven-
ton hall. Tremendous applause greeted
his utterances.
The address of the temporary chairman,
Fairbanks, yesterday was very tame
and tamely delivered in comparison. The
convention did not recover from the frost
of yesterday until Senator Thurman spoke
to-day. His speech was magnificent. It
aroused the convention to high pitch of
enthusiasm, which continued throughout
the mornings s session. At II :23 the con-
vention took recess until o'clock.
The officers of the convention, delegates
and spectators were slow in reassembling.
At 2:25 not more than half the seats in
the convention hall were occupied.
The weather for the past week has been
tolerable, and some days pleasant, and
visitors to the convention had begun to
congratulate themselves that the climate
of st. Louis had been misrepresented, but
by O. clock it was oppressively warm.
The convention hall is very inferior, both
in comfort and architectural beauty, and
the glorious climate of Missouri was not
in evidence.
An amusing. incident occurred at the
main door of the convention hall. A tall,
gaunt, spectacied individual, with bundle
of newspapers and big wad of 'scopy
paper under his arm, was standing before
the door set aside for officers of the con-
vention, distinguished guests and press
reporters. looking like a poor boy at a
frolic. "They won't let me in" said he,
appealing plaintively to CALL CORE
spondent, who was properly badged and
| ticketed for admission.
''This is ex-senator Ingalls, of Kansas. "
explained the correspondent. The careful
doorkeeper then made obsequious and
profuse apologies and John J. Ingalls,
once shining light of the great Republic
can party, once an ornament of the Senate
of the United States wiggled his passage
| through the crowded doorway and taking
a seat in the press gallery surrounded by
his fellow newspaper workers, spread his
paper and sharpened his pencil prepara-
| tory to commencing his syndicate reports.
This incident was commented upon as a
remarkable and pathetic illustration of