The morning times., 1896-05-24
TICKETS TO Be WON BY WIT
Guessing Contest of National
Democratic Committee.
CLEVER WOMEN S CHANCE
Decorative Suggestions for Conven-
ti0n Hall Requested in Return
for Souvenir Admission Cards.
Chica1o Tinaes-Herald.

OF ali institutions to catch the prizes Civ
ing fever, almost everybody would have
guessed the national campaign committee
of one OF the big political parties to be the
last. But the realm of politics has actually
been smitten with it, and an almost limit
less field OF possibilities is opened thereby.
The managers OF the Democratic party are
the first TO evince bona fide symptoms. They
have given the lie to the popular theory
that the practical politicians are entirely
Cold-blooded-a wholly schcIning, calcu
lating lot, who leave sentime ut IN govern
mental affairs to the rabble and hold them
selves aloof from the devices to attract
popular interest that the tradesmen and
private men Of affairs find prOfltGble-for
they have shown their gallantry by making
the ladies, who cannot even vote, the bene
ficlaries Of their prize offerings.
1t is expected that from this time forward
the ladies will assume a decided interest
in the national Democratic convention to
be held here in July. Recognizing the gen
eral superiority of the sex in matters in
tended to please the eye-the harmony ofef
fectS and kindred thingS-in the carrying
out of which gross man might be guilty OF
aesthetic barbarisms and sOlecisms, the
ladies are appealed to to furnish sugges
tions for the convention decorations.
And the reward for the suggestions will
be tickets OF admission to the sessions in
the Coliseum-not a single ticket to each
priZe-winnsr, but ticket for an escort
as well, and each ticket a handsome SOU
venir to keep, as well as good for one of
the very choicest seats during the conven-
ton.
TICKETS OF A WONDERFUL VALUE
The ladies, in their innocence OF national
political convent ons, need not think
lightly of these bits of pasteboard as
prizes, Their husbands Of male friends
can undeceive them if they do, for two
tickets to the Chicago convention will be
worth more than bicycle. Tickets en-
titlng the holder to a good seat have sold
for from $50 to $500 i'll national con-
vention time, as far back as can be Fe-
membered and, with the interest there is
going to be in this years event in Chicago
and the scramble to get in, on account of
the bitter contest between the gold and
silver factions, good seats can be disposed
of for enough, not only to buy a high
grade wheel, but to defray the expenses
of trip to the seashore.
OF course it Is supposed that the majority
of the successful fair ones will appreciate
more highly the privilege of seeing and hear
ing the great men OF the party in the role
OF platform and Presidential candidate
makers than the sordid material gain to
be had from The tickets, but when they get
them the ladies themselves will be the
judges Of what disposition to make of
them.
The contest is to be limited to amateurs.
To the professional decorators will be
awarded the contracts for doing the work
but the suggestions they make will receive
no prizes. Just where the idea had it's ORR
gin is in doubt. Chairman Harrity was ND
North fishing during the past week and
failed to stop in Chicago on his return to
the East so that he could not be conferred
with, but the plan is said to have his ap-
prevail.
COMMITTEEMEN OF GALLANT MEN.
The chairman is a handsome man of fine
proportions, with classical, curly hair,
such as women rave over, aud he is not
such a steel-hearted politician that he
could not rise to In act Of gailantry even
in connection with the national conyen-
tion. Ben Gable is member of the su boom
mttee having in charge the decorations
and music, but he, too, fitted away East
and Col. T H Sherley of Kentucky has been
left here alone to cope with the problems
arising.
Col. Sherley is chairman Of the decorations
and music committees and has been having
a great time of it wrestling with both
subjects He has found arriving at con-
clusions about as hard as making a plat
form that every one can stand on. After
much consideration over the music question,
it was settled that a band of sixty pieces
was what was wanted, and the matter Of
selecting the sixty musicians from the list
of proposals submitted has been left to
the local committee.
The other matter was not SO easy, and it