Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-08-19
Public NIeetings-speakers Stan ds
Etc

AS this Is the season for large meetings,
all that relates to arrangements for getting
them up, Is of interest to committee,
speakers and the people. As the result OF
long experience ana observation, we sui
NIT suggestion in regard to the erection
of stands.
No matter what arrangements or efforts
may be made to prevent it, the mass of the
audience will as far as possible, gather
around on all si1es of the stand, and as
many as possible will climb upon It, to Che
great annoyance of the officers and dis
comfort of the speakers.-eAnd besides this,
no mans voice can reach the extremity OF
crowd OF fifteen or twenty thousand peo-
pie, seated or standing in adirect line from
him. And whenever a man after trying it
for little while, finds that he cannot hear,
he straggles off; so that at every large
meeting, it happens that q considerable
part, sometimes One-half of the audience,
are scattered over the grounds. Now both
of these annoyances may be remedied, in
part at least, by adopting the following
suggestions :Idssug-Rd! i6l so V0aYirg
GERS OF the meeting, the aged, and the
musicians, etc.. anp made so large and
strong that 1t will hold all 'climbers" with
out risk of breaking down. Then about
the estimated center of the crowd, build u
small stand Tor the speaker alone, some
four or five feet high and as MANY in di-
ameter, or in length and breadth, as it may
be made circular or square; and let It be so
constrpcted that nobody can occupy 1t eX-
cept the speaker, and one speaker at time.
If reporters are to be accommodated, rail
then on sufficient space on the ground
directly In front and made secure from in
trusion. IN this manner the audience will
be gathered in a circle around this stand,
and speaker of good voice can as easily
htrfx- 81 ,.,l =,
straight line before him. And ii an au-
aienee can hear even but n sentence or part
OF a sentence, every few minutes. it is our
experience that they will remain to the
close. The speaker having no distractions
to Interfere with him, can of course turn
| round from time to time. so that the whole
audience will hear, or at least comprehend,
the greater part OF the speech.
We commend these suggestions to the
consideration of committees of arrange-
ments. Another suggestion we submit
Also Let all Swings, Flying Horses, "Fat
| Women" Big Snakes, melon wagons, beer
stands, etc., be required to keep away from
the Immediate speaking grounds, and en-
tertain their patrons elsewhere, so as moi
| to interrupt the meeting.- .t-t..
In regard to Pole-raisings," we would
also submit word. If our friends are
wise they will not attempt to guage their
patriotism by the height of the pole. In
political campaigns it is not "the tallesl
pole which knocks the persimmon." Better
put up tall straight hickory without
splice, easily and early, than waste whole
Day at the risk of broken legs, arms oil
heads, wearying every body out, and spoil
whole meeting by attempting to raise 9
Jointed pole of a hundred and fifty or two
hundred feet in height. aoui 10 - .rt-i
These suggestions may seem to be trifiine
to some; but many years of experience
and annoyance have taught US that they
are important. And no man can speal
well unless, as the spiritualists say, the
conditions" are right. :.i-H-gtfr.
The above is from the Dayton Ledger
| We indorse every word of it as correct.