The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-07-07


exterior adornment 10 the big convention
building today. Bunting was draped
above the lobby entrance and flags were
flying at all available points, but the
structure is so vast as to defy elaborate
adornment. 1t covers i've and one half
acres, and is said to be the largest perm
snent amusement and exhibition build
ing in the world. Instead of the rough
board wigwam which greeted them four
years ago. the delegates found a substan-
tiai building OF graceful proportions, built
of Milwaukee buff brick with light
stone trimmings, with all the equip
ments necessary for great gathering.
Sergeant-at-arms Martin was on hand
at an early hour with his staff Of 600 as
sistant sergeants-at-arms, door keepers
and pages, who were admitted to the
building while the crowd clamored out
side. At 10 O'Clock the doors were
opened and the wild rush for admission
began. 1t was not until within the
building that its full size became appdr-
ent. Everything was on the mammoth
order, even in the decorations.
From the lobby the crowds entered an
enormous enclosure, free OF seats and
serving as a common ground for dele
gates to greet each other before entering
the convention hall beyond. This outer
u
which was too large In Its entirety for
the convention.
Within the main hall the decorations
were artistic and effective. Instead OF
coffin like inferior such as former conven-
tion have had, the hail Is square, with
the seats on oil sides at the rear and
above equal distances from the presiding
officers desk. 1t is about the size of the
Madison Square Garden interior with two
galleries strei eiching 2000 feet, or almost
halt a mile each, and with 2S5,0 square
feet of floor room.
The most striking features of the
decorations on entering the hall were
the pictures OF the seven Democratic
residents-Jefferson, Jackson, Van
Buren, Polk, Tyler, Buchanan and
Cleveland-done In heroic size, and
arranged above the desk OF the chairmen,
looking down on the delegates. That of
Mr.. Cleveland was In the middle with the
fathers of Democracy on either side.
tion Of tho American eagle with the shield
of the u. s. in its talons. Further up
the great steel girders which span the
building were found bunting and from
between them hung myria ds OF hags and
semi-circular rosettes.
The platform and presiding officers
desk was tastefully decorated with bunt-
Ing and festoons of evergreen, with a
backing OF large palm trees. Thanking
the chairman on each side, ran the press
seats four deep, encircling the entire
front and sides of the arena reserved for
the delegates. Back OF the chairman
were many tiers of com Portable chairs,
reserved for the distinguished guests,
about 400 in number and for the honor
ary vIce-presidents and secretaries. At
- L.. 49,.
OF seats for the spectators and above these
the two galleries.
As the delegates entered the hall they
were not greeted by the usual pepnants
bearing the names of States to.locate.the
seats Of delegations. The pennants OBJ
structed the view, and instead OF them
each States location was marked by an
upright staff with tho name Of the State
arranged perpondicularly on each OF Its
three faces, 80 as TO DO seen from all di-
rections, and yet not to obstruct the
view. Michigan had drawn the point OF
vantage on the front seats Immediately
before chairman's desk. Back of them
came Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri,
Nebraska, New Jersey and others. New
York was to theleft and in the rear. II
was not choice location from which the
expected protestsof the gold forces could
be made effectively.
Massachusetts, occupied the front seats
to the right and Pennsylvania to the
left. Indiana was far in the rear. The
locations had been made alpha habetfcslly,
with strict impartiality and Alaska WAS
better off than New York. II was the
general feeling that the day might bring
Interesting developments, although the
opening convention dny IL usually one
OF formalities. The outlook. however, was
for a struggle from the start sn early test
OF strength and possibly the execution OF
the vague threats that have teen made to
leave the hall under certain circum-
stances. The sentiment that participa-
ton in n convention bound those present
led TO the belief that IL there were any
Withdrawals they would come early.
The clash between Senator Hill and
Senator Daniel over the tompora nv chair
manship was awaited with eager interest.
IL was a strange coincidence, showing
tho shifts OF politics that four years ago,
when the Democratic convention met
here, Senator Daniel seconded Senator
HIPS nomination for tho presidency.
Among tho Presidential candidates the
most that could bo said was that Bland
maintained the lead, but 1t was not ono
commanding certain majority, nlpch
less two-thirds vote, and tho delegates
looked for doadlocks and dark horses.
In front of tho convention hall, the
army of subordinate officials contributed
largely TO the disorder. They formed a
Longtime four sbreast TO gain admission
at a single cltrRncc, whore f,veral excited
mon were distributing the badges and
the doors were BAKED to the pebliss sFS