Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1896-06-18
ST. LOUIS.

ST. LOUIS.
The National Committee met in st.
Louis, last Thursday, and during a two
days session settled all the delegation
contests, excepting the Addicks-Hig-
gins one from Delaware, and the one
from Texas, which they decided to allow
the Convention to pass upon.
Quay was talking for Hastings for
Vice-President Payne wanted change
made in the basis of representation in
the Convention and pressed resolution
in the National Committee favoring 4
delegates-at-large from each state and
one for each 7ooo votes. c. w. Fair
banks, of Indiana, was agreed upon for
Temporary Chairman, and John M.
Thurston, of Nebraska, for Permanent
Chairman.
On Monday some of the state dele
cations held caucuses; and in the New
York caucus there was d1ot and bitter
contest for the Craftsmanship of the
delegation. All day long the financial
plank of the platform was being talked
about by everybody. Hobart of New
Jersey, Elkins of w. Virginia, Evans of
Tennessee, and several others were dis
russed as Vice Presidential possibilities.
THE CONVENTION.
Tuesday was beautiful day, the city
was astir early, and all roads led to Con-
vention Hall.
TIE Hall was handsomely decorated,
each state was given section on the
floor. and the galleries seated 1900
spectators.
At 10 O'Clock the band of 20 pieces took
its place in the gallery, above the speak
er's stand, and at Io:2o they struck up
the rousing air 'Black Africa" Soon
after the spectators began to stream
through the entrances which opened in
to the lower gallery.
Hundreds of assistant ergednts-at-arms
and ushers were scattered about the hall
and galleries Just before IL O'Clock the
thunder of arriving clubs outside the hall
was heard, and the Alabama delegation
appeared at the main entrance and
marched to their seats in the pit.
A few of the delegates and the alter
mates struggled in and soon the pit be-
came animated, but the clubs and specta-
tors were restrained on the outside to
await Sergeant-at Arms Byrnes's order to
open the doors to the public The out
side of the hall resembled beleagured
fortress when the order was given about
1890.
At II:2o Senator Carter, chairman of
the National Committee, who was to call
the convention TO order, arrived and gave
his final instructions to the secretaries
and reading clerks. The $50 seats re-
served for the press were filled with busy
newspaper men, and the click of tele-
graph instruments already began to
carry the music of the convention 20 the
world at large.
The contesting delegations from the
State of Delaware, both in full force, the
one headed by ex-senator Higgins and
the other by Mr.. Addicks, was among
the first to arrive. They did not come to
the hall in the same carriages, but they
arrived almost simultaneously. The
Addicks people we've somewhat in ad
vance of their competitors with Mr..
Addicks in the lead, and using his elbows
vigorously to get through the crowd on
the streets outside the main entrance,
they pressed in, and while Mr.. Higgins
stood in controversy with the door
keeper as to where he and his fellow
claimants to the seats should go, the Ad-
dicks people found their way to the
Delaware section. The Higginites fol-
lowed promptly, and there was some
dispute as to which crowd should have
the seats. They settled the matter tenn
porarily by taking the first chairs at
hand, with Mr.. Addicks occupying the
place of chairman of the delegation.
Senator Higgins stood aloof, and when
one of his followers asked him to have
the sergeant-at-arms put the Addicks
crowd out he declined to interfere, say
ing it was case of squatter's rights.
The delegations of the, different states
took their places as they arrived, some of
the prominent men, being recognized
and cheered by the spectators.
The hands of the clock were at 1870
when Chairman Carter stepped forward,
and with three fierce cracks of his gavel
by way of preliminary, sought to make
his voice pierce the general rustic. The
attempt was a futile one, however. He
was exhorting the supernuineraries who
crowded the aisles between the delegates
seats, TO please retire." These gentle
men failed to hear him but his injunc-
ton was rapidly carried into effect by
hustling badged officials who swept down
the aisles with more vigor than cere-
mony.
A murinur of curiosity began at the
foot of the platform, swept across the
floor, and flowed on and up to the ends
of the highest galleries like a ripple
across pond. Then there was an in
terval of comparative quiet, while Mr..
Carter made some directions about the
seats and then announced the prayer of
Rabbi Sale. The thousands struggled
to their seats when they caught the
significance of the rabbits outstretched
hands and stood for three minutes with
bowed heads. The rabbi was a stout
young man with jet black hair, black
bead cut to a point on the lines of fashion.
His voice was better fitted for a large
auditorium than Chairman Carters and
demonstrated that the acoustic properties
OF the convention hall were to be very
satisfactory. Mark Hanna, down i'll the
front line, studied the floor with bowed
head while the invocation progressed
Chauncey w. Depew covered his face
with devout hand; Senator Quay held
fan before his features, and MIR. Plat
il was impossible for him TO give hi:
features more pious cast than nature
had already done.
Chairman Carter then presented Char
les w. Fairbanks for temporary chair
man amid great cheering
Fairbanks was elected and delivered ;
speech favoring sound money, protection
and reciprocity and was cheered eacl
time he spoke OF the best currency in tn,
world, the effects OF protection and tn,
value of the home market.
Mr.. Fairbanks declaration that tn
government by omnipotent fiat canno
make fifty cents worth 100 cents causet
the greatest applause heard in the hall,
Tue reference to genuine America
protective tariff" received great applause
Blaines name was cheered to the ech
and the quotation from Mckinley on pro
lection and currency at the close of tn
speech was loudly cheered.