Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-06-17
THE LEADERS.
The Greatest Interest in Yesterdays
Meeting Centered About the Repre-
sentatives of Republican Thought
Gathered in the Convention Hall.

St. Louis. Mo, June 16.-The main in
terest to-day centered in the personal
ity of the great men who assembled in
the convention hall. That hall to which
the vast procession wended its way, al
though unpretentious in exterior. is ad-
mirably adapted for the purposes to
which it is put. 4 vast oblong struc-
ture it is. about 500 feet long by $50
feet wide and about 100 feet high. The
two galleries, which extend all about
the interior. descend abruptly to the
edge of the broad pit from which to-day
goo delegates and as many alternates
looked up into the face Of the speaker.
The decorations are simple but effect
i've. Bunting and flags conceal the
trusses and pillars, the galleries are
adorned at intervals with the coats of
arms of the States. while in cOnspic-
uous places hang the portraits Of Grant,
Lincoln. and other heroes Of the past.
The galleries to-day were we'll filled,
but not crowded. il being estimated that
about 5000 persons were present. The
campaign clubs which had marched to
the hall to the c,ang Of martial music
were present in uniform, and a very
large proportion of the spectators were
ladies. The band. stationed in the gal
lerv over the platform, enlivened the
brilliant gathering with popular airs at
intervals.
But. as stated above, the real interest
in the first session was centered in the
personnel Of the convention. On the
platform ranged behind the chairman
sat his colleagues on the national COM
mittee. a notable group of astute party
generals. In his front sat the dee
gates. the chosen leaders IN their States
and communities. Most prominent i'm
med.ately below the stand was the big
four of Ohio. Hanna, the king maker,
the dashing Foraker, Governor Bush
nell and Gen. GrOsvenor Directly IN
their rear were the Indiana delegates
clustering about Gec. Lew Wallace,
a-ure and war. while to the rear OF them
we're tie Pennsylvania delegates,
headed by the majestic Hastings and
the silent sph,nx-liks Quay, the con-
oueror Of so many hard fought political
battles. The next tier of seats held
the New York contingent with Plat,
the old associate with the imperial
Ccckling. at the head Cf the dominant
faction and the sUave Depew and War
ner Miller. the leaders OF the opposition.
Massachusetts,. with Senator Lodge in
ccDmand. was just beyond. While 10
the right of the stand sat Senator Tei-
Ter about whom the radical silver forces
clustered. his face grave. stern and de-
te-mined. Scattered throughout the
nj. we're others no less renowned in the
councils Of the party, Governor Brad
lev. of Kentucky. who seconded Grant 5
nomination in 1850. and who. like Sen
ator Wellington. of Maryland. who sat
l,nDOsite. succeeded last fall in wreSt-
ing his State from Democratic rule;
Gen. Dave" Henderson, the brilliant
Iowa orator. ard his colleagues, Ssna-
tor Gear and Col. Hepburn, who took
charge of the Allison boom, eX-Goyern-
or Merriam. of Minnesota, the cham
MON of gold; the venerable white
haired Dick Thomson, Of Indiana. who
has figured so conspicuOusly in the his
tory of his party, now 81 years old, but
seemingly with many years of life and
vigor vet before him; Gen. Falker, OF
Virginia. who succeeded to "Stonewelr'
Jackson's command; Powell Clayton.
The old Republican war horse Of Ar
kansas: the genial Hobart, OF New Jer-
sev and Evans. CT Tennessee, both as
D;rsnts for the vice presidential noml-
nation. VIM. Pitt Kellogg, OF Louisiana,
VINO was Governor Of his State in the
wild days of the H3yes-Tilden return
ing board: Gen. Russell A. Alger Of
Michigan. who was an aspirant for the
nomination in the bitter struggle OF
1888: Kerens. Patterson, Tanner, Buck
lev and a host of others.
Altogether il was a magnificent body
OF men. but many Of the notable fig
ures Of the past we're sadly missed.
Co1kling. Frye and Hale, Cameron,
Pictures. Billy" Malone, IngersoI,
Harlan. Plumb. Garfield were not there.
Ex-S Ssnstor ingalls, was not in the pit,
but on the platform reserved for the
newspaper men. reporting the conven-
ton along with such Cd journalistic
veterans as "Fleld Marshal Halstead,
Joe Howard and others, as brilliant as
t-oruuar 5epe~QffOu