The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-11

The old Riggs House, the famous hote corner of Fifteenth and G streets. oppo- site the treasury department is to be torn down as soon as the present lease expires, June l. When first erected 1t was the leading hotel in Washington, though not so famous as the old Willard. inc locality is possibly the best for tavern in town, and 1t is comforting to know that the office building that is to be erected on the site, to which considerable territory will be added will contain a theatre and a. restaurant. For years the Riggs has done the largest business in the line of drinkabes in town, fact that is due to the favorable locality.
 This old inn has been the home, while Congress was in session. of many fla nous men. When I first came here John q. Carlisle and James A. Garfield were it's guests. For some years it has been the stopping place of great number of southerners. rivalling the old Meropoi- tan in catering to that clientele. Ken lucky. Alabama, and Texas particularly patronzed it. as did many Tennesseans. shall never forget an occasion that took place at the Riggs the summer of 1880 As said. Garfield lived there. When he was nominated for President he re- turned to Washington a few days later and was assigned to his old quarters The nomination had not been favorably re- ceived in this town, which was for Grant and a third term. It was resolved 10 hold a ratification meeting and plat form was erected on the c street front flush with the second story.
 About sundown a large crowd assem- bed, packing c street clear down to Fourteenth. and crowding Fifteenth to the treasury. There was a brass band
 fhags Q enthusiasm. Garfield made the first speech, and of course it was magnif- cent but splendid orator that he was, even he felt the chill, which could be cut with knife. The only set that ap- peared to enjoy themselves were the dem ocrats, who composed nearly half the to- tai present.
 After Garfield closed. Attorney General Davens was introduced. He, too. was an orator, but he made the mistake of speak ing too long and there Is one thing an American crowd will not stand-it won't be bored. A little congressman from Pennsylvania came next, and he was no orator. His speech was simply fiat Then they called on a congressman from Wis consin who was an orator, capita stumper. Evidently his speech was care fully prepared for ratification of the nom ination of the "Plumed Knight" fo every time he mentioned the nominee h spoke of him as James G. Garfield One scamp of a democrat set the crow in roar with this: ''I'll bet thousan dollars he's a Blaine man.'
 Soon thereafter John A. Logan was dis covered and all the Grant men yelled lik pandemonium. He had done his utmos at Chicago for the third term. He wa of the Big Four"-Conkling, Camaron Carpenter and Logan-and If the conven { laa, unit r1I11 n1 would have nominated Grant the first bal i lot. Logan took the stand and made a few remarks and it was the first bit oi enthusiasm that night, thought it was all for the defeated candidate and none for the successful.
 Gen. George A. Sheridan of Louisiana came next. I believe he was a carpet bagger from Ohio In any event. he was hand-and-a-half on the stump. He be- gan his speech like this:
 "This ticket will be elected, though the democrats say 1t won't They said in 1SG we could not elect Abraham Lncon Pres ident but we did. They said in 1864 tha we could not re-elect him, but we did They said all these years that we coult not shoot rebellion to death and make treason odious, but we did. They said w could not strike tho shackles from 4,000 CO slaves, clOtne tHeHl Wlth citi1ehship, dii' arm them with the ballot, but we did They said in 1868 that we could not cleo that rrandest soldier of the age, U. s Grant, Here the crowd simply wen wild. It was the first mention of thu name of the favorite of 90 per cent of thu republicans present. The orator continued ''But we did elect Grant, and we re elected him four years later. They sait in 1878 that we could not elect R. B Hayes" and here there was Interruption from a thousand democratic threats, eacf