The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-03
ARRANGEMENTS PERFECT.
How the Hall Is Viewed by Men Who
Attend All Conventions.

The Associated Press men who are here
are the same who attended the previous
conventions this year, and many of them
ave attended all national conventions for
twenty years or more. The following is
the report on the hall arrangements which
they have sent to outside papers:
Tomlinson Hall, in which the National
Democratic convention is being held, is
situated at Market and Delaware streets, in
the center of the city, within easy reach
of all the hotels. The hall takes its name
from Mr.. Tomlinson, a wealthy citizen of
indianapolis who contributed most of the
funds with which it was constructed, the
remainder of the expense being furnished
by the city government. 1t is capable of
seating comfortably about four thousand
people: and is admirably adapted for the
purposes of large public meeting. 1t was
erected in 1886, and has been a popular
place for large demonstrations ever since.
The Commercial Club of indianapolis and
the Board of Trade of this city have placed
the hall at the disposal of the national
committee.
The interior and exterior of the building
are handsomely draped with bunting in
the national colors, intersDersed with the
stars and stripes and other patriotic and
is ornamented with life-sized cabinet por-
II ats of Jefferson, Jackson and Joseph Nc
Donald on the one side and Cleveland,
Tiiden and Hendricks on the other. In the
center and over the head of the chairman
is a large eagle with shield and flags. The
rear of the stage is curtained off with
white and blue bunting. To the right and
left of the stage bunting is arranged to
represent q sunburst with curtains made
of inmense national banners. Fan-shaped
curtains of the same material extend from
the right to the left of the stage overhead.
The stage itself is raised some four feet
above the general level of the floor so as
to give the officers and the distinguished
citizens and guests who occupy the plat
form with them a conspicuous position for
observation. The front of the stage is
handsomely ~ornamented with palms, ferns
and smilax. a conspicuous feature OF all
these decorations is the gliding of all the
picture frames and shields and slaves
which ornament the hall. An immense vase
containing golden rod sets at the right
hand of the presiding officer. Gold is every
where on all the on which 1t
can be appropriately placed. On the walls
on the upper and lower galleries are gol-
den wreaths, in which are the names of
the various States of the Union orGa-
mented with a shield and flags, making a
very handsome appearance. The ceiling Is
trimmed with red, white and blue bunting
in canopy shape.
The accommodations for the press are
venience of the newspaper men than at
any of the three preceding conventions.
The area in front OF the c~hairr1an'S plat
form is SO arranged as to permit each
newspaper correspondent to see and hear
what is going on, with ample facilities for
transmitting bulletins by wire. The teie-
graph companies have carried Il large num-
Der of wires into the building and have
furnished operators sufficient to handle all
the matter which may be furnished for
the newspapers of the country and also for
private messages and such bulletins as are
necessary from time to time to keep the
people posted of the progress OF the con-