The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-08-13

been removed from the acre of skyIights in
the roof and sheets OF canvas hung below.
electric lights outlining the sweep OF the
rafters which rose over solid acres of
heads. The platform was a. small affair.
the center Of one of the broad arcs of
the oval. hardly more than twelve feet
ican fiass. The decorations We're simple
and not elaborate, but in good taste con-
sisting entirely of the national tricolor fes-
with a mammoth crayon portrait of the
presidential nominee at the right of the
platform and of his colleague on the ticket
as companion piece on the left
WHERE THE CHIEFS SAT-.
The center of the pit was furnished with
several hundred chairs for the leaders of
the local Democracy. and the boxes rising
in triple tiers at both ends of the chairs
were reserved for the Tammany chiefs of
the citys thirty-five election districts. The
most distinguished Democrats members of
the national committee and Of the notifica-
ton committee, with their friends, were as
signed to the section of the lower balcony
rising from the iiag-covered platform.
The first corners to the hall were police
platoons of blue coats. who. marched in at
the main entrance and dispersed into every
aisle and corner. After them came two or
three hundred privileged and enthusiastic
Democrats, who piled into the front rows
of chairs in the pit. and proceeded to di-
vest, vest themselves of coats-few men have
The hands of the clock marked Z when
the main doors down by the west of the
opening by the thrush of a yell like a war
cry. Then with roar came the people
pouring through the entrance and spread
ing over the floor like the loosing of a flood
OF water. Men and women-they swept
down to the center OF the hail. climbing
over chairs and obstructions like an in
Ch fh.a al1fa
down upon them ana dispersed the crowd
with an admirable skill down the various
aisles TO which the tickets directed. This
first contingent were the holders of re-
served seats and they scattered themselves
through the aisles on the floor and swarmed
up through the boxes. The galleries rising
tier on tier TO the roof from the oval arena
gave the hall the likeness of an ancient
coliseum, wonderfully bright with light
hued dresses and cleaning shirt fronts of
CCatiesS men.
Over in far gallery a band playing un-
noticed and almost unheard at the national
airs, while the crowds gave cheers for the
local favoriteS ard studied the Democrats
of national reputation who walked into the
gallery back OF the platform. Two or three
times some enthusiast rose in the gallery
and proposed three cheers for Bryan which
exhortation brought the expected shouts
MAKE WAY FOR MRS BRYAN"
The first real demonstration of the night
was given TO the wife of the presidential
candidate. 1t was o'clock when a police
man in the doorway under the stand was
heard ealing Make way for Mrs. Bryant
Those nearest heard the call and climbed
into their chairs. Others did not hear. but
| they saw that a sensation ahoat, and
| they promptly followed suit, leaving their
seats rank after rank as though answer
ing to word of command Mrs. Bryan
was seen climbing the steps that led to the
! first box rallied off at the platforms right
I'm
| John. treasurer of the Democratic national
committee. and host of the Bryans during
\ their stay in New York. She stepped down
/ into the box from the back and faced the
mammoth audience. giving New Workers
their first sight Of the woman who had
| won her way into quick popularity on the
! trip across the continent with her husband
| As Mrs. Bryan swept her eyes across the
1 hail they had A weary look, and her face
/ smile at the roar With swept across the
/ floor and onward through the galleries, and
which grew into a swelling cheer and rose
/ and fell in half a. dozen waves. Twice
! Mrs. Bryan bowed to the right and left,
/ and then she was seated. To the masculine
! eye her gown was a inen-lke material,
| striped with jet black. and she wore small
| bonnet of jet and green. Mrs. Bryan was
| followed into the box by Mrs. Bland. with
Governor Stone, with Mr.. F. ID. Campau. of
Minneapolis. and Mrs. Macy, with Mr..
| Clark Howell OF Atlanta
! Following came Mr.. Bryan on the arm
/ OF Chairman James K. Jones. followed by
/ Mr.. Sewall, with Governor Stone of Mis-
souri,. and by Mr.. Bland with Mr.. Elliott
/ party occupied box No. A. within the
! special inclosure, and Senator John p.
Jones occupied box No. 81. The cheer for
] Mrs. Bryan had not ended when the fore
most parsonage of the hour the Demo-
/ cratic candidate for President. in the midst
of small group of his chief supporters
appeared and pushed through the same
doorway. The first glimpse was of a black
/ coated, broad-shouldercd man with a roll
OF manuscript held al his side. stepping
with quick, light stride through the shorf
/ flight of stairs. At his side and towering
over him was the strong figure clad in
/ gray, or Senator Jones, of Arkansas, the
/ chairman or the Democratic committee.
CHEERS FOR THE CANDIDATE
AS the smoth-shaven, strong-faced young
statesman from the West stood at the front
! of the platform a flag was raised and
waved just above him in the gallery so that
! its folds swept down "A background for
lis form and made i'm he che figure of the
/ whole assemblage. The cheer that broke
forth was of tremendous force. Certainly
| its recipient had never heard its like but
once before. and that other was the cheer
| which followed the close of his now famous
speech before the Chicago convention.
This time it was fans and hats and hand
kerchiefs that fluttered in the thick. sultrv
| repeated until the great crowd wearied
| The candidate bowed several times en-
/ bracing the different points of the compa IS
/ in his Acknowledgement. 1t was only when
/ he had sat down at the right of the stand
that the people took notice of the men who
accompanied him. Foremost among them.
| seated at the lett, was Arthur Sewall, the
| Bath shpbuilder and candidate for the vice
| presidency. a vigorous-looking man. whose
| frame tod of the New England air There
was Governor Stone, Of Missouri q thin
| faced men, ministerial in his bearing and
the presiding officer Hon. Elliott Danforth n
| ex-Treasurer OF the State of New York
There were no vacant chairs in the hal
| when the nominees mounted the platform
| and all standing space filled but the
| aisleS were clear and there was no crowd
ing. for the police had promptly closed the
| doors when they saw that the seating ca
pacity of the hall had been taken. Amons
| the prominent Democrats arrayed back OF
| the platform were: Senators Blanchard OF
| Louisiana, German of Maryland Roach OF
! North Dakota. Tillman of South Carolina
! congressman Richardson and McMiliin OF
| Tennessee Livingstone of Georgia Rusk ot
| Maryland. Governor Hogg Of Texas and
! many others who had borne parts in the
! convention which nominated Mr.. Bryan.
1t was $40 O'Clock when Senator Jones
| stepped 10 the front Of the box and lifted
his hand for order. The response came In
the form of calls for Bryan. After a mo.
ment the Senator was able 10 hear himself
| introduce Mr.. Danfcrth as the chairman OF
the meeting. Mr.. Danforth in his turn
pounded with gavel on the railing, and ir
| turn was showered with calls for Rryan
Mr.. Danforth's speech was a brief one
a mere formal introduction of Governor
Stone
TEN MINUTES OF CHAOS.
Governor Stone read his notification from