The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-07-05
A Dramatic Scene When a
Bust Of Bryan Was
Unveiled.
AN INVITATION EXTENDED TO Mr.. BRYAN
After Being in Session an Hour Ad-
iournment was Taken Till Four
O'clock. No Business Was
Transacted at the Short
Afternoon Session.


Y
Kansas City, Mo-, July At is the
fourth of July and the opening day
of the National Democratic conyen-
ton.
Early the crowds began to turn
toward Convention Hall and all the
approaches to the vast edifice were
filed with an eager and excited
throng, surging toward the many en-
frances and seeking to gain early
admission to the building. With
them came bands, marching clubs and
drum corps and to the confusion of
the crash and hurrah was added the
constant crack, boom, sizz of bombs
and crackers as the convention en-
thusiasts and the small boy WED with
each other in celebrating the day.
The surrounding streets presented
the appearance of State fair under
full Roadway, 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 ana
lemonade. A huge tent, large enough
to accommodate two ring circus.
spreads its white wings opposite the
main entrance to the building and dis
penses foaming beverage to the weary
and thirsty wayfarer, while next door
huge shot 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 chan
eel mass of ruins; and there the
debris of school house only the dig
nified facade remaining. The conven-
ton hall itself, at first glance, looks
crude and imperfect, but this is only
in it's external characterization of cor
nice and column. The substantial ele
ments of the structure are complete,
ready to house the delegates and the
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
hundred stats along the gable and at
intervals, surrounding the entire
buildings. There are hundreds of
these flags topping the structure
giving an idea of its vastness, $40 feet
long and 1913 feet wide Only yester-
day an army of men were busy re-
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 ground,
keeping back the crowds and main
tanning quiet. There was little dis
order, however, 70 rthe crowds were
good natured and their patriotism was
tempered with discretion. 1t was not
noticeable that a very considerable
portion of the gathering throngs were
made up of women, wno 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.
The interior of the building pre-.
scented a gorgeous spectacle of color,
alike tribute to the patriotic senti-
ment of the day and to the party
about to assemble in convention. The
disposal of flags, bunting and shields
is quite effective, but here there is
too great spread and tangle of steel
to be subdued by patriotic devices.
The great steel roof, supported by
massive girders is partly obscured by
flags loopsed into rosettes. The same
scheme of flag rosettes makes a rim
of color for the gallery, 40 feet above,
sweeping entirely around the hall.
Lower down, the front of another
gallery is flaming with the coats of
arms of the Forty-siX States and Ter
ritories, with here and there long
streamers caught up into bows and
rosettes, while just back of the plat
form is a box bearing the red. white
and blue inscription of the New York
High Schol Boys" But the eye leaves
these details of color and rests on the
ten magnificent American flags, each
81 feet long, which are canopied from
the top of the building to the sides,
two of these monster emblems flank
ing the chairman's platform like the
wings of stage.
The auditorium is shaped like
great bowl, with the presiding officer