Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-07-26
A CONVENTION HALL.
A BIG ONE NEEDED FOR AUGUST
THE 14TH AND 18TH.
Richmond Theatre. Mozart Academy OF
Music, First Regiment Armory-
which?

here on August 14th and will be in session
at least two days.
Its membership will number about 1.52O,
and there will be an alternate elected for
each delegate.
With delegates and alternates and distin-
guished visitors there will be certainly
1000 persons present entitled to seats on
the floor. Then there will be scores OF
newspaper-men and numerous personal
friends Of the candidates who Will desire 10
witness these proceedings.
Largely because Of RichmOnd's capacity
TO handle such a great crowd this city was
selected as the place Of meeting. Here
we have a dozen hotels TO feed and quarter
the visitors. Here we have several halls
that will hold the convention.
WHICH "a THE BEST HALL?
The hotels will make ample provisions
for the entertainment of the people. No
doubt about that. They did il so as 10
meet the rush at the opening Of the Expo,
siton; they will do it for August l4th and
18th.
The next question is whether the con-
vention should be held in the Theatre,
Mozart Academy, or First Regiment Ar
mOry.
The convention which nominated Hon.
T. w. NJ Holiday for Governor was near
~ as large as this is going TO be, and II was
held in the Theatre-but one or more con-
gressionai districts had to be seated upon
the stage. the orchestra and dress circle
were packed. and the alternates could
scarcely find room in the family circle.
If We choose 90 repeat this arrangement
we can have the convention at the Theatre
this year.
Or we can 90 TO the Mozart, which has
r. 4 L.. I,s+ lacu n
the galleries and probably less ON the
stage.
FIRST BEGIMEST ARMoRY.
The First Regiment Armory has a floor
upon which 1900 chairs can be placed.
II has a gallery that will hold three or
four hundred more.
Are the acoustics good?
Mr.. Moody thought they were fair. He
preached there twice a day for about ten
days.
The Knights Of Labor Convention sat
there about ten days and the delegates were
well pleased.
More recently for about a week Mr..
Wharton preached in the Armory and easi-
ly made himself heard on the floor and in
the gallery. So did the clergymen who as
sisted him.
Mr.. Moody had his platform against the
north wall. Mr.. Wharton had his against
the east wall. and the latter location seem
ed the better one, both for acoustics and
ease in seating the crowd.
Obviously the ArmOry Hall Is the place
for the conventions Here the delegates
and alternates Will have plenty of elbow
room. Here the spectators can have com
Portable seats. and here spacious plat
form can be erected that viii give the
amplest space for the president, vice-presl-
dent secretaries, members of the press,
&c. &c.
The Theatre and Mozart are both fine
places of amusement; but the Arm0ry
Hall Is "A larger and better and alricT place
for a great political convention, and when
it Is filed with people the human voice
or the sound of any musical instrument
can be heard well enough all over the hail.
CAN THE ARMoRY BE OBTAINED?
What q question:
OF course II can.
Ii il city property, and is under the con-
troll of the City Council, or one Of its COM
mittees.
Men Of both parties concurred in voting
that IT. should hc granted Tor the use OF
the Knights of Labor.
But it is argued that if il is allowed to
the Democrats now il will have 90 be given
the Republicans under BIKE conditions.
That may or may not be. but the Demo
cratic convention VIII bt HFil itit '4l
August I4th. The Republican Convention
will be held at Norfolk on August 22d, and
there will he no more guberuatorial con-
veutions held in Virginia for four years.
SPFAK Up.
If the party authorities here who are
charged with selecting hall wish the Ar
mory they ought to press the matter at
once.
When the Knights Of Labor wanted it
for their National Convention they sent a
letter 10 the Council Committee on
Grounds and Buildings. and though there
was some objection after elaborate argu-
ment the reasonableness Of their request
was seen and the use of the hall was
granted them and no harm done.
Time after time it has been used for
| church and other fairs, and 1t cannot be
doubted that If needed il will be put at
the services of the State Democratic Con-
yentlOn.