The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-06-06
THE FIRST SESSION.

THE FIRST SESSION.
The Scenes I'm the Hall During the Assem-
bling of the Delegates.
10 the Western Associated Press.
ST. LOUIS. Juno 1.-The Democratic national
convention began to assemble in the early hours
of the morning although the eavel Of Chairman
Barnum, Of the national committee. did not an
nounce its opening until noon. The trickline
stream Of humanity which began to run into the
big Exposition building as early az o'clock soon
grew torrent, which surged in and filed the
great nave OF the hall to OVERLOOKING. and long
before noon 10000 human faces gazed upon the
high desk reserved for the presiding officer Of
the convention, with its cleaning white silver
eavel-a gift Ct the Nevada delegation-full Of
curious interest for the expectant multitude.
The noble proportions Of the hall struck one
at once with admiration. II Is oblong in shape,
relieved upon either side by balconies reaching
back 200 feet, above which. stretching entirely
around the auditorium. Ia q broad overhangine
gallery. An ample stage resches from the rear
of the charman's platform fifty feet to the east
wall Of the hail and accommodates 40 OF the
gathered leaders and fathers Of the national De-
mocracy, who thus are enabled to overlook off,
GERS. delegates and spectators. The decorations
are simple but effective. The stage 10
hung with red, white and blue bunting, relieved
by festoons and borders Of evsrgreeus. Upon
pedestal, on the right of the entrance to the
stage, stands q bust of the President. and sus-
pended upon the face OF the gallery above the
stage. heavily framed In gilt 10 a large portrait
fine President in oil. On either side are simi-
lar portraits Of Cleveland. Hancock. Tiden,
Hendricks and Ex-Governor Marmaduke Of
Missouri The balcony and gallery pit, the face
of the long. winding galleries, and the
fronts Of the balconies, are profusely
decorated with American flags, in
alternate long and short festoons,
caught up with large red. white and blue ro-
settles. Festoons OF American flags and red,
white and blue bunting hang from the open
wood supports. The rafters are boundswith
encirclng earlands and ropes OF evergreen.
Bending gracefully from the caps of the col
umns which uphold the gallery are dropping
branches Of cedar and pine, and upon the faces
of the columns above hang bannerettes bearing
the arms of the States Of the Union. In the
background of the long hall is . more elaborate
attempt at decoration-a heroic statue Of Wash
ington horseback. framed in Q festoon Of
large American flags, which are caught in
tho centre OF the frame above the head of
tho statue by an American shield, surmounted
by an American eagle with widespread pinions.
grasping in his talons sheaf Of green wheat
The statue, which has the appearance of marble,
is highly relieved by . background of rich
brown silk plush. draped in curves. The hail 10
amply lighted in the day time by long sky.
light in the roof. and at night by $50 Hesler and
300 Edison incandescent electric lamps very
striking effect is produced in the gallery above
the stage. in full sight OF the delegates and
spectators, by an enormous shaded drawing of
the Capitol at Washington upon background
OF sky-blue canvass Potted plants
and green shrubbery are around about
the base of the picture, so as
to give the effect Of Q terraced park, sush as
leads up to the Capitol at Washington from the
east The illusion is about perfect, and the
striking picture. sixty feet long and twenty
eight feet from the base to the cap Of the God
dsss of Liberty a. the summit Of the DOME is
the browning feature of the decoration of the
hall. The delegates seats are arranged entirely
across the nave OF the hall, and stretch ninety
feet IN front OF the platform. They are arranged
with two aisles, and in alphabetical order, be-
ginning with the Alabama delegation at the ex-
treme front and ending with the Wisconsin del
eeation at the extreme left front The large
New York delegation Is nearly in the center.
and the Pennsylvania delegation two-thirds Of
the distance back on the lefthand row Of seats.
The Ohio delegation Is the extreme southwest
corner.
Al noon AL Of the delegations had arrived at
the convention hall except those from New York
and Missouri The absence OF the New York
delegation made large gap in the central of the
space reserved for the delegates, and the con-
vention waited with mingled feelings of curios.
ity and impa.ience for the appearance Of the
Empire States representatives They came in
TO the convention headed by ex-Mayor Grace Of
New York city. Conspicuous as the delegation
venticn fixed upon 1t, was the distinguished
| figure OF Daniel Doueherty. who is to
place Cleveland ia nomination, and he WAS
eheered. At the same moment California del
eeate mounted . chair and, unfurlipg red
handkerchief placed it upon the banner-pole Of
the delegation. This was the signal for the APP
| pearance OF hundreds of the "Old Romans"
| standards, and in almost an instant the banner.
| poles OF Peunsyl vania, Wisconsin, Nebraska,
West Virginia, Florida Utah. Mexico. Ohio.
| New Hampshire, New Jersey, Delaware, Oregon
| and Nevada were decorated with red handker
| chiefs. and from gallery. balconies and the nave
Of the hall proper the red bandanuas were oil
over the auditorium A cheer burst from .
thousand threats in the galleries, which was
caught up by the convention And grew in vol
| ume until the blare of the band and the noise OF
| the drums was drowned 10 the greater volume
| OF the conventions full-throated voice
| 3 Chairman Barnum, of the national committee,
| appeared az this moment upon the platform and
| was instantly recognized. and amid the general
applause, voices crying "Barnum' were heard
all over the hall. The Hendricks Club. OF In
| dianapolis. increased the volume Of cheering a.
| II marched up to the east gallery and placed lite
| banner by the side Of the Cleveland Democracy
banner. Chairman Barnum looked M TO see
| what was going on above him. and when he
caught sight OF the two friendly banners. nodded
| approval
| Congressman Scott. his face wreathsd In
smiles. - though everything had been arranged
20 his sassfaction, marched In ut shs head Of she
] Psnnsylvania delegation sud looked % the gath