Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1900-05-25
AS a Convention City


As a Convention City
Spokane does not strike western del.
egatcs favorably as Ellensburg has as
place for holding the State pow.
vows. First, the distance is much
greater; the city is literally unsupplied
with buildings suitable for holding
large conventions, except the Audito.
rum, and that, from some mistake oil
the committee, was unavailable on the
date the convention had been called
Natatorium Park is several miles dis.
tant from the city, and although the
car service is adequate, people who
travel from 400 to 600 miles on polit-
ical pilgrimage, very naturally want to
see something besides the inside OF the
hall where they meet, and, to "pass the
time of day" at least, with such
friends as may happen to reside at the
city in which the convention has been
called.
The late State Convention of the
Democratic party had much cause for
complaint. The day-Saturday-was
ill-chosen, for q convention that might
possibly want to extend its delibera-
tons over to another day, necessitat-
ing, as it did in this instance, a session
extending into the night and undue
haste in the transaction of the con.
Guiding business. This was rendered
absolutely imperative in the late con.
vention, from the fact that some OIL
the delegates had had neither dinner
nor supper, and it must be admitted
that an empty stomach is not condu-
Give to calm deliberation or good tenn.
per.
The seating capacity OF the park
restaurant is for about fifty people
and at the hours adjournment al
noon, not more than third of the
delegates could get succession at the
tables, even had they been given pre-.
ference; and when it is considered
that there were several hundred visit.
ors present, all hungry, it will be seen
that the best chance for dinner was
about as one in ten. Some of the del.
egates obtained sandwiches from the
back-door of the kitchen, at 100 per
cent advance in price, and glass OF
lemonade for fifteen cents, from a stall
near by, and under the park shade
trees tried to derive comfort and sus-
tenance out of this modified bread.
and-water diet.
Then again, the pavilion is a roof,
with two sides and only one end en-
closed. 1t was soon made evident
that Old Boreas was toying with the
silver locks of some of the delegates
in way that presaged la grippe, pneu-
monia, and kindred terrors, from sit.
ting several hours under his sportive
caresses. Steve Judson, the sage of
Steilacoom, was, however, equal to the
emergency, and cut the Gordon knot
of parliamentary propriety by asking
permission of the convention, through
its chairman, to put on his hat. This
led to a concession that bald-heads
should be extended the privilege oil
wearing their tiles during the sessions
and it would not, under the circum.
stances, be considered want of deco.
rum on the part of anybody. 1t was
surprising, under this arrangement
how many men were ready to acknowl-
edge a scarcity of hirsate covering
"On the top of the head,
The place where the hair ought to grow"
There is not the slightest doubt but
that the people Of Spokane are hos
pitable, refined and generous, bu,
many of the old-timers on the Sound
who camped in that vicinity on theil
way westward a third or half century
ago, had no opportunity OF finding i,
out. They very naturally felt tina,
there was something wanting in a trip
taken at such rare intervals and at s
considerable cost of money, time and
effort.
If the conventions are to be divided
between the eastern and western parts
of the State, let Ellensburg or North
Yakima be selected to shorten the dis
lance from the seaboard counties. The
former place, experience has demon
strated, is capable of holding thres
State conventions at once, and "ieed'
and "sleep" everybody who attends
And the meetings are held in the city
and not at arms length, as if quaran
tined as a guard bubonic plague.
GOES INTO TRAINING. - His acct
dency has employed a manager
trainer and tle-holder, all in one
to direct his "campaign." 1t is Mr.
Little, the Fish Commissioner, who
will enjoy the distinction OF holding
his accidencY BY the bit while be