The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-06-17
IN THE CONVENTION HALL.
An Ideal Day for Grand Opening-A
tirl lisnt show.

An ideal Day for Grand Opening-A
Bri liant show.
Convention Hall. st. Louis. June 16.-
1t was an ideal day for the opening OF
the convention. A cool southeast breeze
famed the millions of flags and count
less miles of red, white and blue which
covered the city with a haze of color.
BY s o'clock the streets were black with
people. Clubs with brilliant banners
were rendezvousing. bands with gor-
geous uniforms were playing in front
of the hotels. From the convention hall,
the great oblong box-like structure.
which covers a block, fiuttered a my
Rad of flags. The great gilded Ameri-
can eagle at the main entrance glisten-
ed brilliantly In the dazzling sunlight.
Gordon of blue-coated police guarded
the entrance. Within, the officers and
employees We're performing the final de-
tails. Staffs of state delegations In the
low, fiat pit facing the speakers stand.
were In place, while chairs In the dou-
BILE galleries mounted steeply from the
edges. There was in the galleries a
seating capacity for 1000 spectators.
The great pillars were swamped In
bunting: the rough eel ing, Is feet above
the pit, was a mass of color. Round
the galleries. at intervals. blazed the
coats Of arms Of the various states.
The speakers stand. from which. on
either hand. stretched tables for the
press, was ornamented with beautiful
silk flag while from the gallery In the
rear. which overhung the seats reserv-
ed for distinguished visitors. looked out
the faces Of many republican heroes.
In the center was the immortal Lincoln,
fanked by Grant and Sherman. Fac
ing each other across the east hall were
large portraits of General Phil Sheridan
and Admiral Farragut.
At 10 o'clock band OF 40 pieces took
its place in the gallery above the
speakers stand, and at 1920 struck up
the rousing air BLACK America" Soon
after. the spectators began to stream
through the entrances which opened in
to the lower gallery. Hundreds Of as
sistant ergeants-at-arms and ushers
were scattered about the hall and gal
leries. Just before II O'Clock the thun-
der OF arriving clubs outside the hall
was heard. The Alabama delegation
appeared at the main entrance and
marched 10 seats.
The Higgins-Addicks contesting dele
cations from Delaware, both in full
force, were among the first to arrive.
While Higgins was conversing with the
doorkeepers as to where he and his fell
low claimants TO seats should go. the
Adaicks people found their way to the
Delaware section. The Higginites fol-
lowed promptly. There was a dispute
as to which crowd should have the
seats. They settled the matter tempo
rarily by taking the first chairs at
hand. with Addicks occupying the place
Of chairman. Higgins stood aloof. and
I when one Of his followers asked him %
( have the sergeant-at-arms put the Ad-
/ dicks crowd out. he declined to inter-
/ fere. saying IL was case OF squatters
rights.
A few delegates and alternates strae-
| ried IN and soon the plt became anl-
mated. but the clubs and spectators
were restrained on the outside 20 await
Scrgea ~ -at-Arms Byrues' order tc
] open the doors TO the public. The out.
/ side Of the hall resoubled a bcleagusr.
ed fortress when the order was given