The Appeal. [volume], June 11, 1892, Image 1

About The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??

Image provided by: Minnesota Historical Society; Saint Paul, MN

                
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CALLED TO DBDEB.
The Tenth National Repub
lican Convention Called
to Order.
J. Sloat Fassett, of Nsw
York, Elected Tempo
rary Chairman.
The Harrison Men Do Not
Oppose the New York
er's Election.
An ugly threatening day, delegate* in
thorough fighting mood and everybody ill
natured almost to the point of savagery
that was the opaning of the Republican na
tional convention to choose a candidate for
the presidency of the United States. The
Mississippi in huge murky yellow flood
plunging sullenly over the falls within sight
of the main entrance of the convention hall,
sweeping all sorts of wreckage to more
complete destruction was the gloomily sug-
gestive spectacle that had presented itself
as the hurrying hundreds poured into the
building.
Probably never hefore in the history of
American political conventions, so thou
sands seemed to feel, had an opening prayer
of record-breaking power been more urgent
ly needed than when soon after 12 o'clock
this afternoon the words to the Almighty
that marked the opening of the proceedings
were heard by the listening thousands who
all morning had sileinfy or otherwise been
cursing the rain and the mud and the t:\n-
gleu situation as to presidential candidates.
Before the prayer the.e had been only one
thing which anybody seamed inclined to
look at with even half-pleased eye.)-'thein-
terior of the big hall that was from today to
be famous for years to come in the annals
of the Republican party. The eagle-sur
mounted chair of the presiding officer was
left until almost tiie List moment
to be placed in position, and the
task fixing it exactly right upon the magnifi
cent 20 feet square covering the speaker's
stand was watched with interest by most of
thope in the hall while others scanned the
sealing arrangements and decorations, for
everyone wishe 1 to remember, but which
might bo lost sight of when the battle royal
that was expected to begin almost at the
fall of the gavel, was once fairly under way.
A sudden burst of sunlight helped to dis
pel the intense blueness of the 203 foot long
skylight as well as the blueness of the rap
idly arriving delegates and spectators and
enablod the more cheerful light coloring of
the broad ceilings in the wings and the har
monious tinted seats and aisles to show to
advantage, obstructed only by four large
national flags, artistically drapedone each
side of the immense square auditorium.
The old-gold pillars, each bearing a sheaf of
golden grain, were scarcely distinguishable
against the maze of 12,000 chairs, while the
JfATlONAL COWTEWTIOH ^CALLED jfiTO OBDEB C7^.IK
single floral decoration was a great vase of
green ferns and white lilies on the platform.
This and the noble looking canopy of golden
silk at the main entrance were the only fea
tures'to distract attention from the instant
and lasting impression of
VASTNESS, SIMPI.IPITY AND COMPACTNESS
that was the first idea to make itself felt on
nearly every mind.
Notwithstanding a large number of people
were in the hall an hour or more before the
hour set for the convention to be called to
order, the big notablesthe McKinleys,
Forakers, Uepewu, the Platts and the like
were atUL conspicuous by their absence. The
sergeants-a'-arm", up to this point, were the
most conspicuous personages present, as
with beribboned batons of brightly polished
rose wood they rushed about seating dele
gates and spectators, and keeping down the
din of hammers of the carpetlayers yet busy
in the aisles. Telegraph messengers caused
momentary excitement at times by jumping
on chairs and yelling the name of some dis
tinguished citizen for whom they had pre
sumably dispatches
OF LIFE AND DEATH IMPORTANCE
to some candidate for presidential honors.
"Joseph B. Foraker," snorted one little
blue-uoiformed fellow, holding aloft a yel
low envelope. Every newspaper man in the
hall, and there was a swarm from all parts
of the.nation, looked up expectantly, and
the people in the galleries pricked up their
ears. Gen. Foraker, however, did not an
Bwor this initial popular call for him, and
the reporters put an extra sharpening to
their fabers and reserved themselves for the
moment when the champion stump speaker
should really be called for
It was now past 12:15 p. m., and fully one
third of the chairs were filled, and many
more hundreds of people than enough oc
cupy the remainder wero moving about the
floor, while the orchestra were pealing forth
one national anthem after another.
The white and gold banner of the Califor
nia delegation was brought straight into
their old time place to the right of the sneak-
er. Their division as to presidential prefer
ences deprived their entrance of the furore
that marked it in former conventions.
INGALL's WARMLY GREETED.
A moment later a storm of cheering broke
out in the back of the hall. Whether a
largernumberof peo
ple were now present
or for what reason, it
certainly was the
greatest outbreak of
enthusiasm thus far,
and everybody looked
to see thecau?e. A slim
man withwhite closely
cropped hair, pecul
iarly retreating fore
head, with goggle
like spectacles, was
seen stepping along a
side aisle, and pre
serving an appear
ance of utter uncon
cern whether he was applauded or not. It
was the peppery ex-Senator Ingalls, of Kan
sas.
At 12:25 a formidable-looking manuscript,
which proved to be the roll of the conven
tion, was being unfolded at the speaker's
desk, a momentary hush fell upon the con
vention. The band oeased a stirrinp "Yankee
Doodle," and a feeling that the start was at
last close at hand was evident.
Broad-shouldered, pushing Tom T.-sed, of i
Maine, was the first man of national fame
to peep into the hall, but slipped out again
bofore being generally observed. Naturally
enough, however, exactly coincident with
Reed's trrival the music began. It was
only the orchestra pulling themselves to
gether, though out of sight above the golden
canopy, and preparing for the first number
on their prdgram as soon as the carpet
layer* seemed willing to give the cornets
a chance. This was at 11:35 a. in. and the
convention hall now presentid a decidedly
lively appoarance, with animated groups
eagerly discussing the outlook.
Powell Clayton was in close confab with
Senator Hiacock, Delegate Kohlsaat, of Ilii.
mm
JO HN J.lNGALLS
KAS
At 12:39 the reading of the call was
concluded, and Chairman Clarkson arose
and announced that he was instructed by
the committee to present to the conven
tion, for its temporary chairman, Hon.
J. Sloat Fassett, of New York. There
was a round of applause at this an
nouncement, led by the New Yorkers.
The following- officers were then an
nounced as having been selected by the
national committee:
Secretaries Charles W. Johnson,
Minnesota Carson Lake, New York
George Lee, California Joseph
Brown, Pennsylvania W. P. Brown
low, Tennessee: F. M, Allhuhret, Ohio
Albert Clark, Mass.
Assistant SecretariesTheo. F. Sim
mons, Colorado Phillip Q. Churchman,
Delaware Aaron Bradshaw, District
of Columbia Charles Hopkins, Ohio
A. W. Monroe, Maryland Charles S.
Morris, Kentucky J. W. Demmick,
Alabama James Blaine Walker, Mon
tana T. V. McAllister, Mississippi
Otto Gramm, Wyoming.
Reading ClerksCharles F. Haney,
Minnesota James H. Stone, Michigan
H. S. Oliver, North Dakota Charles
Curtis, Kansas Charles Partridge, Illi
nois Thomas B. Miles W. E. Riley,
Kentucky.
These temporary officers were select
ed by acclamation, and it was ordered
that, until the permanent organization
should be effected, the convention
should be governed by the rules of last
preceding republican convention.
Ex-Senator W. J. Sewell, of New Jer
sey, presented the following':
I Hi A-IttCSOIV.
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