The Topeka state journal., 1900-07-04
real WORK BEGINS today

ster emblems f1anking the chairman's
platform, like the wings of a stage. In
the center of these what an opportunity
is offered for a coup d'oeil in this
scheme of color with the portrait of the
party's idol and coming nominee But,
strangely. it is not here, and Chief Dec
orator Baker explains that the national
committee has forbidden the hanging of
portraits of any living man.
LIKE A GREAT BOWL.
The auditorium is shaped like a great
bowl with the presiding officer almost in
the center, while the seats rise tier on
tier on every side back of the remotest
corner of the building. In the hollow of
this bowl, the real business is to be
done, for here the delegates and alter
mates are seated and the platform is
located. The area for delegates is paved
with stone so there viii be no sound of
shuffiing feet. The seats are arranged in
a great oval, the side toward the plat
form. The folding chairs for the dele
gates and alterEates make a little lake
of yellow in the bottom of this bowl,
marked here and there by the tall
standards indicating the various state
delegations
Raised about two feet above this
stone area, the platform juts out into
the lake of yellow like some cape in the
sea. The platform is fianked on either
side by the rows OF press seats, stretch
ing back 200 feet in either direction. The
platform itself presents evidence of ele-
gance, even gorgeousneSS and is far
more elaborate Jndn the counterpart at
Philadelphia. Beneath the chairman's
feet stretches rich Turkish rug of
crimson hue, while q great leathern
seat is ready to accommodate the man
BILE before him. the gavel falls on a
strange wooden pedestal similar to
those used in supporting catafalque.
The secretary of the convention has an
other raised platform with a huge chair
of leathern elegance, while the lesser Of
ficials, clerks and stenographers have
the usual spread of pine before them
Altogether, the arrangements are ad-
mirable in their detail and combine to
give them a perfect machinery for the
transaction of the business of the con-
vention.
STREETS PACKED.
At 1920 o'clock the streets surround
ing Convention hall were densely pack
ed and every minute added hundreds
more to the eager surging mass. Lines
of wire cable had been thrown around
the building, ten feet from the wall, to
keep back the throng. and within this
area policemen maintained a clear space
while the tide of humanity pressed up
to the cables and threatened to take the
building by storm.
The doors We're not opened until late,
as the doorkeeprs were being drilled,
and there was no relief for the waiting
multitude Inside the building officials
were shouting orders to their armies of
attendants, pages and messengers We're
details of preparation were being exc
cuted. At 10:45 o'clock several of the
doors were opened, and the great sweep
of seats began to be filed with groups
or Spectators Soon the ais1es leading
from the public entrances became NOV
ing currents Of men and women, hurry
ing to the points of vantage. Gradually
the huge circle took on motion, anima-
tion, color, and the hum of many voices
echoed through the hall, An unusual
number of ladies was in the assemblage,
their bright summer dresses and pic
ture hats vieing with the splendor of
the decorations. 1t was evidently a free
and easy gathering, for a large proper
tion of the men divested themselves of
their coats and sat in shirt sleeves,
mopping their shining faces and WELD
ing palm leaf fans.
The state delegations were slow in
putting in an appearance and at IL
o'clock the North Dakita contingent
was the only one within the area reserv-
ed for delegates. From that time on,