Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-07-04


| him the gavei Is to fall upon strange
wooden pedestal. similar to those used In
| supporting catalogue The secretary
! of the convention has another raised plat
| form with huge chair of leathern ele-
| gance. while the lesser officials. clerks and
| stenographers have the usual spread of
pine before them. Altogether, the arrange
| ments are admira BILE In their detail and
| combine to give the most perfect machinery
| for the transaction of the business of the
convention.
Scenes Outside the Hall.
] AT 1870 o'clock the streets surrounding
| Convention Hall We're densely packed 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
4 take the building by storm. The doors
| were not opened until late, the door,
| keepers Were being drilled. and there was
no relief for the waiting multitude. Inside,
the building officials We're shouting orders
| to their armies of attendants, pages and
| messengers were being sent to their sta
| tons and the last details of preparation
| were being executed. At 1915 several of
I the doors were opened and the great sweep
| of seats began to be dotted with groups of:
| spectators Soon the aisles leading from
| the public entrances became moving cur
| rents of men and women hurrying to the
points of vantage. Gradually the huge cir
! Gle took on motion. animation, color and
| the hum of many voices echoed through
| the hall An unusual number of ladies
| was in the assemblage. their bright sum-
| mer dresses vying with the splendor of the
| decorations. 1t was evidently free and
| easy gathering, as the large proportion of
the men Invested themselves of their coats
| and sat in shirtsleeves, hopping their shin
ing faces and welding palm-leaf fans
| Delegates Slow Coming In.
The state delegations were slow in put
| ting In an appearance, and at IL o'clock
| the North Dakota contingent was the only
| one within the area reserved for the dele
| gates. From that time on, however they
| began coming singly and in pairs, and occa-
sionaily in full delegations. But there was
| little opportunity for heralding their ar
| rival. they were emptied through tun-
| nels into the delegates area, giving the
| crowd little chance to recognize the we'll
| known faces. The leaders, however, were
| not among the early arrivals and .ne spec
| tators looked in vain for the conspicuous
| figures of the party. Shortly after Il
o'clock the Third Missouri Band of Kan
| sas City, forty-fve pieces. broke out with
| lively and inspiring air, which brought
| cheer from the crowd. But it remained for
| the strains of Dixie to call forth the
| first real demonstration Of the convention
| hosts cheer after cheer ringing through
| the building the wel-known strains came
| to close.
Among the early arrivals who appeared
|
| Blackburn, Governor Beckham and former
| Governor McCreary of Kentucky. They
| were given cordial reception. They re-
manned on the platform only a few min
| uteS before taking their seats among the
| delegates
At 11:15 the band threw inspiration and
patriotic fervor into the assembled hosts
by playing the Star Spanged- Banner"
As the strains of the patriotic air rang
through the great hall. hundreds of the
auditors rose and remained standing
throughout the inspiring airs rendition.
Even the national banners. which every
where were arranged in gorgeous festoons,
over the steel frame work of the building.
seemed to hutter gaily in response to the
music. .. ..r .s- A
James Hamilton Lewis. from Washington
faultlessly attired, entered the hall and
was accorded cordial ripple of applause.
When the Hawaiian delegation entered
the building at 1l:3o headed by Prince
David. a member of the royal family of the
Hawaiian Islands, the members were
| greeted with applause.
AS the hour of noon approached the
time at which the convention was to be
called to order. people poured into the hall
| in living streams With confusion compara-
tive!y slight the immense concourse was
} seated. Before the hour of noon every
: delegate was seated and the 1900 seats in
the hall We're filed
Convention Called to Order.
At exactly 1902 Chairman Jones assembled
the platform.
AS the wave of applause subsidized Chair
i man Jones raped vigorously and repeated
! ly. stilling the tumult, and then above the
/ din his voice could be heard announcing:
1.-The convention will come to order. The
sergeant-at-arms will that the aisles
are cleared"
Sergeant alarms Martin advanced to the
, front and urged the crowds massed In front
of the platform to take seats.
Great disorder prevailed. The aises were
] damned with noisy crowd of subordina te
5 officials and intruders, and it took some
e time to secure quiet. The first business OF
the convention the reading of the for.
NAL cal by Secretary Walsh.
Chairman Jones now announced the pray.
er by Rev s. w. Neel.
$ Gentlemen will please be In order" sait
v Chairman Jones, the hum and bustl,
= again broke loose after the prayer. I'VE
r must have quiet on the floor. Gentlemen
$ J of the convention, l have the honor tC
4 present to you the democratic mayor Of
y Kansas City. Jaames A. Reed
I shout OF applause went up as the slert
!, | of the platform. He spoke deliberately anc
g with a clear. resonant voice that easily
n penetrated to every corner of the hal
h The first burst of applause that greeted
a the mayors speech of welcome came whel
!, ! he spoke of the universally of democratic
e doctrine, which had penetrated. he said
a ! wherever liberty was known and loved HI,
:, dwelt at some length on the progress of tn,
Is principles OF the democratic party. which
e origina ted he said, with the lberty-lovini
people OF anu i.nBianu, ana came Il
;. this continent for its larger growth an,
II ultimate development. His allusion to tn
= early leaders of the democratic party, JET
ferson and Jackson. evoked outbursts o
cheers. He declared that jefferson be
lieved In expansion only 1t made home
It for American men upon their own cont
N nent.
IT Progress of the Democrats.
II Dwelling at length on the progress mad
VI by the democratic party in the cause o
lie human rights Mr.. Reed grew impassione
d in his analogy of the good work done b.
= 1t through all the years of its existence.
'e A yell of applause greeted his announce
'e ment that the convention was gathere
ID upon democratic soil and as the guests @
lie a democratic constituency that had Away
Re been in the forefront of the political fight
< OF the country.
n When he declared that in the name G
that democracy he bid the visiting deIegs
re tons welcome and prophesied certain vi,
Oh tory at the polls in November, he wa
interrupted by loud cheers, ard the applaus
~ when he finished was loud and long. p.
TX The delegates and spectators had Iistene
l. with attention. but no very great enthus
10 asm to the address. but heartily applaude