The Portland daily press., 1892-06-13

THE CONVENTION HALL.

proceedings. Neither will the smoke
from the engines find access into the
building and clog the throats of the
orators, as was the case at the conven-
tons held in the old Exposition building.
There was some talk of utilizing that
historic structure again this year, but
the fiat had gone forth for its destruc-
ton, and the old time discomforts of
delegates and spectators within its walls
were strong enough in the memoirs Of
the local managers to deter them from
petitioning for a postponement Of its
fate. The Auditorium was also sug-
gested, but commodious as that mag
nifcent hall is it was pronounced in
sufficient for the requirements Of the
occasion.
Chicago had made no effort to secure
the convention-it came to her as the
voluntary gift of the national commit
tee. She readily accepted the unlocked
for honor, however, and determined that
ample provision should be made for the
vast throng to assemble within her hos
pitable borders. For convention pur-
poses proper the wigwam on the lake
front was devised to accommodate 49,
900 people. It was afterward estimated
that, including the delegates, nearer co.
600 would desire to E'assist" in this great
council of the Democratic party, and
the first plans were accordingly en-
larged. The improvised auditorium is
probably the largest in the world, and
it's acoustic properties and seating ar
rangements are declared to be unsur-
passed.
The building, which is of wood, fronts
on Michigan avenue, where there are
four large entrances. These will be used
exclusively by the delegates, newspaper
men and persons invited to seats on the
stage. On the north and south side are
doors for the admission Of the general
public. The stage is on the Michigan
avenue side. It will accommodate 800
or 400 people. A commodious rostrum
is in front of the stage, facing east. This
is for the accommodation of the officers
and speakers.
East of the rostrum are the desks for
the official reporters and the stenogra4
piers of the Associated Press and Unit
ed Press, which will supply their patrons
with a verbatim report of the proceed.
ings. The newspaper workers have $50
seats on either side of the rostrum, so
arranged that every man can see and
hear without straining. Editorial spec
tators-those from country papers and
those who have no actual work to do
during the proceedings-will be as
signed good positions in the galleries.
One thousand seats have been set apart
for the delegates in the pit Immediately
in front of the stage. To prevent con-
fusion, the alternates will be seated in
convenient places in the galleries. 1t
has been decreed also that they shall
not be allowed upon the main floor or
pit unless they are to serve in lieu of
regular delegates. The seats rising from
the outer edges Of the pit will accommo-
date 5000 people; the galleries above,
5000 more. Admission, as usual, will
be by ticket, and there will be an ample
force Of police to keep the various en-
frances clear and preserve order on the
outside. The exits have been SO arranged
that the building can be emptied in a
few minutes in case of an emergency of
any kind.
To break the squatty appearance of
the wigwam there are towers sur
mounted with fagstaffs at each corner.
AS the structure has to be torn down
within two weeks after the convention
finishes its work, very little pains will
be given to either exterior or interior
decoration. There will be national flags
and bunting galore, pictures of leading
statesmen and wreaths of flowers and
evergreens wherever they can be dis
posed to advantage. No effort will be
made to otherwise please or bewilder the
eye, since our people, who are eminently
practical, do not deem it wise to enter
into more elaborate adornment for a
temporary building. The comfort and
convenience of both delegates and Wis
itors have been kept steadily in mind,
however, and I think it is safe to say
that in these important respects the con-
vention hall will prove eminently Salts
factory.
Some little trouble has occurred be-
tween the local committee in charge of
the arrangements and the national COM
mittee in regard to the number Of tickets
to be allotted Chicago. At the last Dem
ocratic convention here complaint was
made that the local allotment was I'M
fair and that certain outside gentlemen
were permitted, or rather took upon
themselves th1 liberty. to pack the hall
with followers Of certain candidates. In
order to prevent anything Of the kind
occurring this year, the local committee
has demanded 5000 tickets to dispose
Of as in their Judgment they see fit. The
national committee rendered 5000 at
first, but the Democratic press of the
city objected so vigorously to such a
slight recognition of Chicago's rights ia
the premises that the national commit
tee drew back their proposal. Up to
this writing the question has not been