Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-17
Kansas City is Paying Dearly for
National Convention.
COMPLICATIONS HAVE ARISEN
Labor Troubles Have Caused Much
Of the Extra Expense.
FINE HALL Blu LID N q


ventiOn, July 4. This Is due TO certain COLI
plications which have arisen since the con-
vention was secured. The original sub
scription to the national committee wnlcn
was given by the city to secure the gather
ing was $4,000 1t was estimated at the
time that the expenses of the committees
in addition would be about $4,000. 1t was
expected that 100000 would fully cover all
the expenses 1t is evident now, however
that the city will have to stand an expense
of at least $50 600 to have things in readi-
ness in July. and this sum only includes d.
rect outlay. There is no way Of estimating
how much the people of the city individ-
ually will be out. owing to the labor COM
plications which have arisen through the
rebuilding of Convention Hail.
The extra expense has come through tne
destruction of the original convention Han
by fire. the necessity of having a new
building complete within the short time
available and the fact that the building OF
this hall is being carried on in the face OF
very serious labor situation. All OF the
men engaged in the building trades IN han-
sas City are now idle.
Street Car Strike n Failure.
The reason the strike on the street car
lines has failed so far is peculiar to this
city. and would apply to no other place
The men employed on the street car system
west of here They are not accustomed to
the ways of labor agitators. and are rather
ant to think for themselves. They have mad
difficulty in the past IN securing employ
ment: many of them are men with 1amllleS,
and they do not respond readily to the de-
mands of the trade unions, especially where
such demands are not for an increase IN
wages. but for further recognition of union
ism. with which they are not familiar. the
time however, is opportune for a strike lr
ono. COR he N
conventions are IN progress and the street
car company is making extensive prepara-
tons for handling the 100000 people who
are expected here the first week in July.
Outside agitators from St Louis and Chi
cago. experienced in these matters, have
recognized the opportunity presented, and
are here al work among the Kansas City
wage earners trying to incite them to a
general Suspension Of all industries in the
city. 10 secure fayOrS which they believe
will be granted al this time where they
would not be considered under ordinary cir
cumStaucsS So far no very great progress
has been made in disturbing industrial con-
diti0ns here. but the danger Is not yet
over and the Convention Hall stands as a
constant menace 10 employers. for while
tn. union made an exception to the work
done on the hall. the committee was forced
to agree 10 pay such wages as were de-
rand-d and make every concession which
could he thought of by those managing the
unions affairs The very highest wages
are being paid on the hall, higher than
have ever before prevailed in the city. Hod
carriers are getting 80 cents an hour and
everybody else in like proportion.
High Price for Steel.
The convention hall committee to secure
the structural steel for the hall was forced
to pay about 10000 more than 1t cost In
the original building. owing to the fact
that the market was at the highest notch
just at the time the contract was made.
l. has gone down considerably since then.
but all material was bought at the high
figure In addition to this a bonus of 5000
had to be paid TO the Carnegie company to
have the roof trusses ready IN time. The
effect of the high wages paid on convention
hall has been felt in every branch of trade
in the city, and has had tendency 20 sup
port the most eXtravagant demands and
establish a scale for all work which Is con-
siderably above the normal. Even under
these conditions. however. there Is posi-
bility of work being suspended on the hail
at any time. and the fear Is constantly be
| fore the people that something Of that kind
will happen. There is no danger that the
steel work will be suspended, as the men
| EMPLOYED by the Carnegie company are
| independent OF local labor influences. and if
necessary. the city will furnish ample pro-
lection to those engaged upon the building,
Kansas City has way, however. OF do
| ing disagreeable things as though they
were thoroughly enjoyable and the COM
mittees are working enthusiastically and
| as thoroughly TO MAKE lHt CouNtLtloH d
| success, so far as the host is concerned, as
| though il was not going to cost any more
| than was originally planned The feature
| that is greatly regretted by those who have
taken an interest In the great auditorium
| from its first building, is the diversion of
, so much money from the legitimate pur-
pose of rebuilding a fire-proof and mag
nificent structure to the temporary purpose
| Of providing shelter for the democratic
| convention. for much of the money which
| is now being spent is practically lost. The
money necessary to pay the expenses OF the
| convention Is being raised by private and
public subscription and by numberless and
various kinds of benefits given by public
| spirited citizens and organizations for the
| purpose and whatever is needed will be
| forthcoming.
Fine Convention Hall.
| The hall as it Is being rebuilt will be the
most convenient shelter for a national con-
| vention ever devised 1t will seat about
! 15.00O people. and. while there is little
doubt that Kansas City will be able to take
| care of the crowd which may be in the city
during convention week. many people will
| go away disappointed at not being able to
| attend single session Of the convention
| itself AS the hall was originally built the
1 arena was in the shape of an oval. and the
stage at one end. AS 1t has now been
| designed for convention purposes the
| stage has been placed on the east side OF
| the oval and Will extend out into the arena
| which will be the delegate floor. On either
| side of the stage will be seated the news
| paper correspondents. 300 in each wing
| From the back of the stage and up into the
| arena balcony will be the seats for distin-
| guished visitors to the number of 1000
| Under the arena balcony and back Of the
| stage will be the telegraph operators. The
| Associated Press will hold the middle place
directly back of the speaker. and on one
| side will be the Western Union and on the
| other the Postal Telegraph The telegraph
companies are making extensive prepare
| m ha hlSinaSS he chr