The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-05

cratic National CONVENTION Was SAAco "
order this morning by Chairman Jones OF
The National Committee.
Governor Thomas OF Colorado was intro
6uced as temporary chairman. He made
speech. dwelling much on the silver issue.
Sessions were held in the afternoon. and
evening. Al the latter reports were re-
ceived from the Committees on Rules and
on Permanent Organization. Both were
adopted.
Representative Richardson OF Tennessee
was presented as permanent chairman. in
accepting the honor he made an address,
showing sixteen reasons why the Repub!i-
cans should be ousted from control of the
national Government. He closed with a
eulogy OF Bryan which set the convention
wild with enthusiasm.
The demonstration was frantic. Amid a
deafening roar from the delegates and audi
snce a rush was made for the platform.
After the pandemonium had been quieted
the convention adjourned until tomorrow.
Tie plan to nominate Bryan on the
Fourth of July failed because the Commit
tee on Resolutions had prolonged strug-
gle over the question Of Platform
A feature Of the proceedings was the re-
peated outbursts Of cheers for Hill of New
York, which stopped the conventions bust
ness.
Crowds Gather.
Early in the day the crowds began to turn
toward Convention Hail. and all the ap-
breaches to the vast -eGifice were filed with
an eager and excited throng, surgins
toward the many entrances, and seeking to
gam early admission to the bulIcing. W th
then came bands, marching clubs ard
drum corps, and 10 the confusion CT their
crash and hurrah was added tho constant
crack, booTn sig of bombs and crackers, as
- enthusiasts
boy We'd with each other in celebrating the
day.
The surrounding streets presented the ap-
pearance OF State fair under full head
way, with scores Of tents and improvised
restaurants giving evidence that good
share OF this sweltering mass which had
descended upon the town is living upon
sandwiches and lemonade. A huge tent.
large enough to accommodate a two-ring
circus spreads its white wings opposite the
main entrance to the building and dis
penses foanlng beverage TO the weary and
thirsty wayfarer. while next door huge
sheet poster announces that the 'long-
horned champion steer Of Kansas can be
seen inside.
Further away there are evidences Of the
CeSoiauon left by the great fire which swept
away the Convention Hall just three months
ago to-day-here the tall spire of a church
with the chancei a mass of ruins, and there
the debris of a school-hcuse, only the Dig
nified facade remaining.
The Convention Hall itself at first glance
looks crude and imperfect, but this Is only
In its external ornamentation OF cornice
and column. The substantial! elements of
the structure are complete, ready to house
the delegates and the legion of onlookers in
one of the most perfect convention halls
ever osfered 10 the gathering of a great
party. -
The Stars and Stripes snap proudly from
a hundred stats along the gable and at in
tervals surrounding the entire building.
There are hundreds of these flags topping
the structure, giving an idea OF its vast
ness. $40 feet long and lss feet wide. Only
yesterday an army of men were busy re-
moving the debris Of construction and they
have succeeded SO well that there is not a
vestige remaining. Squads OF policemen
were early on the ground, keeping back the
crowds and maint aiming quiet.
There was little disorder, however, for
the crowds were good-natured and their
patriotism was tempered with discretion.
portion Of the gathering throngs were
made up Of women, who profited by the
warm day to put on their gayest raiment
thus adding another element OF color and
beauty to the blaze of bunting everywhere
apparent.
Inside the Hall.
Inside the Convention Hall the officials
were early on hand to make final prepara-
ton. The eergeant-at-arms gave a closing
drill to the 800 ushers under his direction
showing that they performed their duties
gers and pages were likewise drilled in
their several duties and all was made
ready for the rush soon to occur.
Inc interior OF the building presented a
to the patriotic sentiment CT the day and
TO the party about to assemble in conven-
shields is quite effective. but here and there
IS too great spread and tangie Of steel to be
subdued by patriotic devices.
Tho great steel roof, supported by mas
sive girders is partly obscured by flags
l0oped into roeetes. The same scheme Of
flag rosettes makes a rim Of color for the
around the hall Lower down. the front Of
another gallery is flaming with the coats
OF arms OF forty-six States and Territories
with here and there long streamers caught
up Into bows and rosettas, while just back
OF the platform Is a box bearing the red,
white and blue inscription Of the New
York High School Boys"
But the eye leaves these details of color
and rests on the ten magnificent American
nags. each thirty-seven feet long, which are
canopied from the top of the building to
the sides. two of these monster embIems
thanking the chairmans platform Ike the
wings OF O stage. In the center of these,
what an opportunity IL offered for a coup
d'oeu in this scheme of color, with the
portrait of the party's idol and coming
nominee. But. strangely, it is not here;
the National Committee has forbidden the
hanging of portraits of any living man.
Bowl-Shaped Auditorium.
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 to the remotest corner
of the building. In the hollow of this bowl
the real business Is to be done, for here the
delegates and alternates are seated ana the
platform is located. The area for delegates
Is paved with stone, there will be no
sound of shutting feet. The seats are ar
ranged IN great oval, the side toward the
platform The folding chairs for the dele
gates and alternates make little lake of
yellow in the bottom of this bowl. marked
here and there by the tail standards indi-
eating 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 plat
form is fanked on either side by the rows
OF press seats. stretching back 200 feet In
either direction
The platform itself presents evidence of
elegance, even gorgeousness, and is far more
elaborate than the counterpart at Phil
adelphia. Beneath the chairman's feet
stretches a rich Turkish rug of crimson hue
while great leathern seat is ready to ac-
comnodate the man who holds the gavel.
Instead OF table before him. the Gayel Is
TO fail upon a strange wooden pedestal SIM
ilar to those used in supporting q cata-
falque.
The secretary Of the convention has an
other raised platform. with a huge chair
OF leathern elegance, while the lesser off,
Gals, clerks and stenographers. have the
usual spread of pine before them
All together. the arrangements are admir-
able In their detail, and combine to give the
most perfect machinery for the transaction
OF the business Of the convention.
Thousands i'm the Streets.
At 1870 o'clock the streets surrounding
Convention Hall were densely packed and
every minute added hundreds more to the
eager. surging mass. Lines of wire cable
had been thrown around the building. ten
and within this area policemen maintained
q clear space, while the tide of humanity
pressed up to the cables and threatened to
take the building by storm.