The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-07-06
THE FIRST DAYS PROCEEDINGS OF THE
NATIONAL CONVENTION
A DAY OF TALK AND LITTLE WORK
Permanent Organization Affected-An
Afternoon Session That Did Not Con-
vene-A Row at the Meeting on Gre
at Work on the Financial Plank.
Three Propositions Submitted - An
Ovation TO D. B. Hill.


of July and the opening day of the
democratic national convention Early
the crowds began to turn towards con-
vention hall and all the approaches to
to the vast edifice were filled with an
eager and excited throng, surging to-
ward the many entrances, and seeking
to gain early admission to the build
ing. With them came bands, marching
clubs and drum corps, and to the con-
fusion of the crash and hurrah was
added the constant crack, boom, siZz
of bombs ard crackers as the conVen-
ton enthusiasts and the small boy
We'd with each other in celebrating the
day. The surrounding streets present
ed the appearance of a state fair under
full headway, with scores of tents and
improvised restaurants giving evidence
that a good share of this sweltering
mass which has descended upon the
town is living upon sandwiches and
lemonade. A huge tent, large enough
to accommodate a two-ring circus,
spreads it's white wings opposite the
main entrance to the building and dis
penses foaming beverages to the weary
a huge sheet-poster announces that
the long-horned champion steer Of
Kansas can be seen inside.
Further away there are evidences of
desolatiOn left by the great fire which
swept away the convention hall just
three months ago today-here the tall
spire of a church with the chancel
mass of ruins, and there the debris of
a school house, only the dignified ia
cade remaining.
The convention hall itself, at first
glance, looks crude and imperfect, but
this is only in it's external ornamental
ton of cornice and column. The sub
Stantial elements of the structure are
complete, ready to hive the delegates
and legion of OnlOokerS-One of the
most perfect convention halls ever
offered to the gathering of a great
party. The Stars and Stripes snap
proudly from a hundred staffs along
the gables and at intervals surround
ing the entire building. There are hun
dreds of these flags topping the struc-
ture, giving an idea of it's vastness, $40
feet long and 1913 feet wide. Only yes
terday an army of men were busy Te-
moving the debris OF construction and
they have succeeded so we'll that there
is not a vestige remaining.
Squads of policemen were early on
the grounds keeping back the crowds
and maintaining quiet.
Another part of the building present
ed a gorgeous spectacle of color, alike
a tribute to tae patriotic sentiment of
the day and to the party about to as
semble in convention. The disposal of
flags, bunting and shields is quite ef-
fective but here there is too great
spread and tangle of steel to be sub
dued by patriotic devices. The great
steel roof supported by massive grid
ers, is partly obscured by flags loOped
into TOsetteS. The same scheme of flag
roSettes makes a rim of color for the
gallery, forty feet above, sweeping en-
tirely around the hall. Lower down, the
front of another gallery is flaming
with the coats of arms of the states
and territories with here and there
long streamerS caught up into bows
and rosettes, 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 HagS,
each thirty-seven feet long, which are
canopied from the top of the building
to the sides, two of these monster en-
biems flanking the chairman's plat
form like the wing of a stage.
The auditorium is shaped like a great
bowl, with the presiding officer almost
in the center, while the seate rise tier
on tier on every side back to the re-
motest corner of the building. In the
hollow of the bowl, the real business
is to be done, for here the delegates
and alternates are seated and the plat
form is located. The area of delegates
is paved with stone. The seats are ar
ranged in a great oval, the side toward
the platform.
The platform itself presents evidence
of elegance, even gorgeousness, and IS
far more elaborate than the counter
part at Philadelphia. Beneath the
chairman's feet stretches rich Turk
ish rug of crimson hue, while great
leathern seat accommodates the man
who holds the gavel. Instead of table
before him, the gavel fell upon a
strange wooden pedestal similar to
those used in supporting catafalque
The secretary of the convention has
another raised platform with a huge
chair of leathern elegance, while the
lesser officials, clerks, Stenographers
have the usual spread of pine before
them, Altogether the arrangements are
admirable in their detail to combine tc
give the most perfect machinery fol
the transaction of the business of the
convention.
TIT nrOOInN DCnINO