The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-05-10


SIOUX FALLS, S. D., May 9.-The ma
honal convention of the Peoples party
began business at 2:2O o'clock today in
The big tent wigwam on the top of the
hill on the western side OF the city of
Sioux Falls. There have been larger
crowds in attendance upon national con-
Ventions and possibly there have been
questions upon which more enthusiasm
has been manifested, but there have been
few similar events which have been
marked with more evident sincerity of
purpose or more pronounced decorum of
behavior. 1t was evident that delegates
We're there for a well-understood pur-
pose and that whatever that purpose, it
was to be carried into effect.
The big tent was arrayed in full dress
attire for the reception and entertainment
Of its guests, and the structure proved in
every way equal to the service required
IF it. The naturally leaden outline of the
wigwam walls was broken on the west
side by silhouette of trees, which was
east upon the canvas, which in turn
caught up and presented them as a Sc
ries of life-lke pictures. The interior of
the tent was made further Respondent
by a lavish display Of the national col
prs. From one end of the huge wigwam
10 the other streamers We're thrown
across it at irregular intervals The cen
ter poles were buried in bunting, while
the side supports upheld the coats of
arms Of the various states. The platform
was also literally decorated with the
stars and stripes, and the uprights of
this structure bore aloof excellent black
Q11 white ff- of Tor
ferson, Lincoln and Bryan
The accommodations for delegates. for
distinguished guests, for the press and
for ordinary visitors proved exceptionally
good-equal to those Of most conventions
held in buildings of more permanent
character. A floor was laid over the
space assigned to delegates, and com
Portable seats were assigned to all in
attendance.
The acoustic properties Of the tent
proved to be equal to those of most con-
Vention halls of equal size, and it is need
less to say that the lighting and venti-
lating facilities were frst-class.
The weather was ideal in all respects,
the sky being entirely free from clouds,
the air perfectly quiet and the tempera-
ture all that the most exacting could
demand. 1t was conceded upon all hands
that Sioux Falls had made good all her
promises made in behalf of the climate.
FIVE HUNDRED DELEGATES.
There were probably 500 delegates in
their seats, and surrounding them there
. was fringe of alter~ ~ates and visitors
numbering $50 to 500. Seats had been pro-
Vided for much larger number, but the
attendance did not appear meager, and
1t may be tritely remarked that what was
lost in attendance was COMPENSATED for
in enthusiasm. From the arrival of the
minnesota delegation, bearing Bryan and
IoWne banners, there were outbursts of
applause at every convenient opening.
and upon the least provocation.
United States Senators Butler, Allen
and He-tfeld received liberal greeting.
while Senator Pettigrew was overwhelm
ed by the cordiality OF the welcome ac
corded him. There was also generous
applause when the name of Mr. BRYAN
was mentioned by the speakers of the
day. Many sentiments were cheered to
the echo, and this was notably the case
with Gov. Lees reference to the Beers
was also applauded.
The audience was representativa
American gathering. Probably nine
tenths Of the delegates, and far larger
percentage of the visitors We're from the
Northern Mississippi valley states. This
circumstance served TO give the convcn-
tion Western hue, but as other sec
tions of the country were alse represent
ed the West was not allowed to monopo-
lie appearances in the convention hall
Few or the picturesque characters of the
St. Louis convention of 1896 We're present.
but there Were some broad-brimmed hats
there from Texas and the Southwest
There were also occasional "whiskers.'
but even these seem to have thinned out
in the party. All told, it was a we'll
dressed, good-manered and thoroughly
well-behaved assemblage of people
BY no means the least noticeable char
acterisic of the gathering was the pres
enee of number of ladies' Colorado
led the list IN the number of female dele
gates, three being present from that state
They were given front seats Kansas.
Idaho and the District of Columbia also
sent lady delegates, who took their places
as If accustomed to participating in pub
lie affairs. 1t was noticeable too that
while the lady delegates We're treated by
the men with the Difference due their
sex, they were received as a matter of
course, showing that Populists are ac-
eustomed to their presence at political
meetings.
CALLED TO ORDER.
1t was but a few minutes after the
hour for the opening of the convention
when Chairman Butler, of the national
committee, attended by Secretary A. ]
Edgerton, of Colorado, and George F.
Washburne, of Massachusetts, stepped