The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-06-09
FOR BIG CONVENTION.
Sergeant-at-Arms Byrnes C0mplet-
ing His Preparations.
Decorations Of the Auditorium Arc Now
Nearly Completec.

ST. LOUIS, Mo-, june 9.-Sergeant-at-
Arms Brynes and his first assistant, q. N.
" Niswell of Milwaukee visited the conven-
tion auditorium today and decided upon
a number of details, such as tho station
ing OF inside doorkeepers and assistant
sergeants-at-arms, and distributing the
force OF ushers and pages. Four door
keepers will be stationed at every door,
two. outside TO inspect the tickets as the
crowd passes through and two inside to
tear of the coupons In this way the
crowd can:be hapdled promptly.
Each division will have four ushers,
and they are TO seat all comers, or, at
least, inspect their tickets. There are 40
divisions In the dress circle and gallery,
making force there of 160 ushers. The
space for the delegates, alternates, ma
tional committeeman, newspaper workers
and prominent guests has ii divisions,
and each will be provided with four
ushers. Then there will be a small army
OF pages and several hundred sergei IS
alarms.
Chief Harrigan has promised Colonel
Byrnes a couple OF hundred policemen,
who will te- ready TO lend assistance II
called upon. They are to take no part in
more.of.tne colonePs assistants. A good
many of the policemen will probably be
attired as private citizens and known
only to the convention officials and en-
ployees. The work OF decoration OF the
aunitorium Is about finished. The port
rats of,General Grant and Admiral Far
ragut were put up yesterday. The great
naval commander will Look down on the
members of the convention from the gal
lery railing at the east end of the hall.
Directly opposite Is portrait OF General
Phil Sheridan, representing the army's
greatest leader; Lincoln and Grant are on
the two sides, the first almost directly
over the speakers stand aud Grant at the
center OF the south gallery opposite.
Higher than ell, Just above Lincoln, In
Washington. Ii is surrounded by Ameri-
can flags.
The absence of pictures and notices.
representing leaders OF the Republican
party of today, Will be noticed. The
omission was Intentional, the local COM
mittee having been placed under restric-
tion IN this matter. the decorations
will be ali in place before Wednesday
evening, the time set for the dedication
of the building. fire company Is ON
duty in the auditorium and Will be until
after the convention. Tnis fire apparatus
includes a chemical engine with capac-
ity OF LOG gallons OF water, IL shoulder
Babcocks, 500 feet of hose attached to
water plug at each OF the four corners of
the building and a mum Der OF ladders,
hooks, axes, wire cutters, ropes and
buckets. The building has also nxe
alarm box connected with the central
Office of the fire alarm department..
The American Telegraph ~ Telephone
Company will have two loug-distance
telephones in service at the convention.
Thirteen telpehone wires in all will be
run into the building.
Gpnqral (Olaman Of he iuraau of In for
nation is preparing complete list Of all
the houses and rooms that have been
registered with bin for the accom- moda-
tion of strangers This list ho witt sub
nit TO chief of police Harrigan in order
that the police may make personal in
spectior of each place.
General Coleman has taken this action
to assure himself that no one coming to
st. Louis during the convention Will be
thrown into bad company.
There are more than 200 houses regis
tered at the bureau, besides hotels and
halls. Daily others ire registered, while
requests for accommodations OF small
parties Of visitors also continue to
come in.
"Those men who are having troub bile in
getting rooms for colored delegates have
only themselves to blame" said s.. NJ.
Kennard, president OF the business
Mems League, today. "When we got the
convention, we pledged ourselves to take
care of ( he colorcd men and we are going
to do il. But those who waited until
the last minute will have 10 take what
they can get, SO long as Ii is clean and
good. White men cannot get accommo-
dation at the hotels now. They are all
filled up for convention week. But we
will take care of the col bred men, as we
said we would"
"You may say positively" said Major
Rainwatef' '.that we can get places for
the lodging and feeding OF all the colored
delegates who apply. i know this and
can show it. II Hill VIII come to me,
which he has not done, VIII refer him
to places where re can put bis colored
delegates, and good places, too. 1 do not
care what difficulties may stand In the
way, the pledges we made the national
committee when we asked for the con-
vention will be carried out to the letter.
"For weeks past l have bombarded
the national committeeman with letters
and telegrnms ask ing them 10 let me ar
range for the accommodation OF tho del
egates. Especially did pay attention TO
the Southerners, because i forsaw the
difficulty we might have In placing the
negroes at the last minute. Many of
them did not reply and now they cannot
get the same quarters they might have
had had they let MS arrange IL weeks ago.
"But every one OF them will have good
place to sleep and plenty 10 eat. Dozens
OF restaurants will feed. colored delegates
during convention week.