St. Landry democrat., 1884-07-05
NOTES OF PREPARATION

NOTES OF PREPARATION
For the National Democratic Convention
at Chicaeo-RemodeIing and Strengthen
ing the HaIl-The Capacity to be 1906
People-an Episode of the Republican,
Gathering.
CHICAGO, I'LL, June 49,
The Democrats are actively preparing
for their Convention, which opens in this
city July 9Th, 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 great
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 it's cause The truth was the enor-~
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
assured Mr.. New that the arches from
which the galleries hung would give even
an inch or two further without break,
ing. Few people, however, imagined
that while they cheered 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 hail become a scene of
destruction. At last it was on account of
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 a call of the
roll of States and was in q fair way to be-
so decided again.
All chances of a repetition of such
scenes will be removed before the Demo-
cratic leaders meet. A large force of
| workmen are now making radical
changes in the general arrangement OF
the auditorium. The stage which form
arly occupied the north end of the build
| ing is being placed in the center of the
hall on the west side, SO that sill can see
and hear the chairman and speakers.
The seating capacity of the chamber will
| be enlarged on the south to total ca
pacity of about IA, 500 people. The"
sounding boards which produced SUCH
disagreeable double echoes will be over.
hauled and the one on the south side
will be set back some seventy-tive
feet. This is expected to mate
rally improve the acoustic proper
ties of the great hall. The
various committee rooms will be,
rendered more comfortable and the en-
trance and aisle signs, which were lett by
| the May festival people and which So
confused holders of tickets to the Repub-
| ician convention, will be removed. Last
| but not least, press tickets will be givera
only to working reporters and not dis
| tributed as st 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 wilh
| be occupied only by officers of the con-
yention and the Associated Press.
A subcommittee of the National COM,
mittee meets tomorrow, Judge w. c.
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-
velop the fact that the sage of Greystone
.Yas 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 acri--
nonious.
THE FRIENDS OF BAYARD,
Randall, Field, Mcdonald, Morrison,.
Thurman, Harrison, Palmer, Carlisle,
Dorsheimer, Trumbuil and SIocum are
cropping into the city day after day, ar
/ ranging for headquarters and making
/ figures on the possible chances
/