New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-20
REPUBLICAN GATHERING.
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REPUBLICAN GATHERING.
TBY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBrNpl
Philadelphia, June 19.-If you are content to
accept as your own the opinion of the average
Philadelphian to-day, the Republican Conven-
ton Of 1900 met at IN what one gentle
enthusiast called "the most beautiful as well as
the most adequate building which has ever held
g National council of the party" Making all due
allowance for little bdsstful exaggeration which
II seems almost impossible 10 divest ones self Of
IN the presence Of substantial success there re-
mains enough TO Justify the committee charged
with the comfort and safety Of the city's guests
70 congratulate itself the successful solution
O. a difficult problem and 10 challenge compari-
son with what other cities have done in the past
under conditions infinitely less difficult than
those which presented themselves here Indeed
II is not too much 10 say that IN more respects
than one Philadelphia has set a standard 70
cities hereafter called upon TO entertain Ma
uonal conventions which it Will be hard to
equal and impossible perhaps, for others TO
excel.
Disulissing at the outset as slightly absurd
the claim Of beauty set up for the interior Of
this or any other building in which National
Convention ever met. # is not TO be denied thar
the Exposition Building. IN which the delegates.
alternates and spectators gathered at noon to-
day satisfied for all practical purposes the de-
mands Of convenience and safety. Instead of a
long and narrow structure. the interior pre-
scented as near as possible the appearance Of a
large square dTygoods box the ton NJ which
had been removed 70 give room to a coDven-
tional glass and metal roof This in itself. while
perhaps not improving the acoustic properties Of
the hall had the effect at least Of bringing the
personality of the speakers within +ba 1,tsfo- 20
the average spectator and making what was
said on the platform understood over a larger
area than would otherwise have been the case.
THE CONVENTION HALL.
Imagine, then, this hollow cube divided nv
double row OF wooden columns supporting the
roof; place at one end the platform for me
speakers and the clerks; behind them in ascend
ing tiers, the seats for the members Of the Ma
uonal Committee and distinguished guests; in
front OF them the tables and benches for the
workers Of the press; on the other three sides
OF the hollow cube row upon row OF chairs de-
scending 10 the floor proper Of the hall, reserved
exclusively for delegates and alternates and
you have pretty fair conception Of a practical
and effective character, Of the interior arrange
ments. Add 70 these. however. the committee
rooms, within easy reach Of the central hall,
the facilities for the press in the way Of tele-
graph and telephone service, the refreshment
rooms, the thousand and one details designed
70 insure the comfort and safety of every one
and it is not too much 70 say that no cuadren-
NAL assenLage Of either Of the great parties
was ever satisfactorily or DELIGHTFULLY."- lodged
as this IS
The decorations were Of the conventional" |
character-hags and bunting. the coats OF arms
OF the different States the pictures Of the Presi-
dents Of the United States. etc A huge crayon
portrait Of Mckinley banignantly overlooked
the multitude from the rear of the speakers |
platform serni-circular fringe Of palms and |
ferns adorned the latter. giving speakers the ap-
pearAnoe, as they STROBE up and down Of walk |
Ing up 70 their knees in q miniature tropical for
est Chaste garlands, too of evergreen hid the |
provoking and aggressive nakedness of wooden
rafters and columns. Everything was well done |
from the practical point Of view. OF originality
there was not the slightest trace. however.
The intensely practical character Of the sur
FOundings seemed reflected in the PROCEEDINGS
The applause which greeted the appearance Of
public favorites was critical rather than liberal |
Not even Governor Roosevelt easily the most
conspicuous idol Of the hour. was able to bring
from the severely decorous audience more than |
half minutes round Of applause. On two oc- |
easlons only did delegates and spectators ap- |
pear TO break through their reserve It WAS
Senator Wolcott who aroused the enthusiasm, nv |
his eloQuence. Senator Hanna's short address |
was well received, but It made no distinct sue |
cess.
CALLED TO ORDER BY CHAIRMAN HANNA
It nearly 12:45 O'Clock before the Conven-
ton was called TO order by the chairman Of the |
National Committee. Facing him were the dele
gates seated in alphabetical order by States and
Territories, leading off the right with Ala
bama, and ending away OF on the LEFT with |
the representatives of far distant Alaska This |
arrangement brought the New-York delegation |
vel TO the front, little to left Of the plat
form and directly behind New-Jerseys repre- |
sentatiyes. In aisle seats sat Senator Platt B. |
3. Odell Governor Roosevelt and Senator De- |
pew. Frank H. Plat occupied a seat beside his |
father, and modestly IN the background ap-
peared Cornelius n. Bliss.
HANNA's REMARKS WELL RECEIVED. |
The prayer was delivered by the Rev Dr. J. |
Gray Bolton, pastor of the Hope Presbyterian |
Church Of West Philadelphia, in & voice scarcely |
audible ten feet away. II was followed by the |
reading Of the call by Secretary Dick and then |
came the first incident Of Importance and in
terest In the proceedings speech Of Senator |
Hanna To the vast majority Of those present |
the speaker was probably unknown except |
through pictures and carfcatures. Few, in all |
Likelihood, had ever heard him speak. Fewer |
still. no doubt, had ever thought Of him in the |
character Of a Convention orator. It speaks vol
nines Tor the Ohio Senator that the manner OF |
ms oellVery, no less than the substance what
he said Immediately commanded The attention
OF the vast audience. Direct, cordial and bust
hessIlKe IN tone the speech interested all and |
oIIehdeu none Punctuated II by ap-
pause aJter every well turned phrase and hap
PLY expressed sentiment il served admirably
70 key the Convention up to the more formal
and exhaustive address by Senator Wolcott
WOLCOTTS AASTERLY SPEECH.
The Junior Senator from Colorado was not.
perhaps, al his best to-day. His voice certainly
cid not seem to possess that carrying capacity