The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1884-06-26
NOTES OF PREPARATION

For the National Democratic Convention
at Chicago-Remodeling and Strengthen
ing the HaIl-The Capacity TO he II 900
Peoplc-An Episode of the Republican
Gathering.
CHICAGO, ILL.,, June TO-
The Democrats are actively preparing
for their Convention, which opens in this
city July Sth, and have architects and
workmen busily remedying the defects of
Exposition Hall. First, it will be made
safe. The uproar of the Republican Con-
vention during the nominating speeches
of Thursday night was so grcEt
that few persons heard the
crash of timber near the platform, and
probably only one or two besides the
sergeant-at-arms and Mr.. New under
stood its cause. The truth was the cnor-
nous weight of the thousands Of people
packed in the east gallery had sprang the
great supporting beams over six inches.
Mr.. New AT first determined as quietly as
possible to clear the galleries, but
architects being summoned they
feared that any announce
ment of the danger would result in un-
comfortable panic likely to be accom-
panied by frightful loss of life. Though
scarcely believing it themselves, they
which the galleries hung would give even
an inch or two further without break
ing. Few people, however, imagined
that while they chcered and stamped
at burst of eloquence from an
orator or jeered at some new dis
sension in the District of Columbia
delegation, workmen were quietly tight.
ening up
THE SUPPORTS OF THE GALLERIES
lest the whole thing should drop and the
great convention hall become a scene OF
destruction. At last it was on account of
u whispered word from Sergeant-at-Arms
Sexton that Chairman Henderson on that
memorable Thursday evening so quickly
decided the meeting adjourned ON viva
voce vote after the question had just been
decided in the negative by call OF the
roll of States and was in fair way to be
so decided again.
All chances of repetition of such
scenes will be removed before the Demo-
cratic leaders meet. large force of
workmen are now making radical
changes in the general arrangement of
the auditorium. The stage which form
erly occupied the north end of the build
| Ing is being placed in the center OF the
hall on the west side, so that all can see
and hear the chairman and speakers.
The seating capacity of the chamber will
| be enlarged on the south to a total ca
! pacity of about l4,500 people. The
sounding boards which produced such
dlsagreeable double echoes will be over
hauled and the one on the south side
win be set back some seventv-Ave
feet. This is expected to mate
rally improve the acoustic proper
ties OF the great hall. The
/ al. ....rN Ia.
rendered more comfortable and the en-
trance and aisle signs, which were left by
| the May festival people and which so
confused holders of tickets to the Repub-
lician convention, will be removed. Last
| but not least, press tickets will be given
only to working reporters and not dis
| tributed as at the Republican meeting to
men who came simply to look on, and the
space will be rallied off so that it cannot
be encroached upon. The platform will
be occupied only by officers Of the con-
vcntion and the Associated Press,
A subcommittee of the National Com
mittee meets tomorrow, Judge w. Q.
Goudy, chairman.
Applications by newspapers for seats
should be made to Austin A. Brown,
Chairman of the Committee on Press
and Telegraph, at indianapolis or Chi
cago.
Talks with prominent Democrats who
are now in the city making preliminary
arrangements for the great assembly and
laying wires for favorite candidates de-
yelop the fact that the sage of Greystone
was nearly the unanimous choice Of the
party. But Mr.. Tilden's declination has
started wonderful activity in the ranks
of all the various booms and it is now
conjectured that the struggle will be
long continued and more or less acrl.
monious.
THE FRIENDS or BAYARD,
Randall, Field, Mcdonald, Morrison,
Thurman, Harrison, Palmer, Carlisle,
Dorsheimer, 1'rumbull and Slocum are
dropping into the city day after day, ar
ranging for headquarters and making
figures on the possible chances.