Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-04-24
Populist Convention Will be Given
Plenty of Room.
THE QUARTERS At SIOUX FALLS
Private Houses Will be Open for the
Overflow From Hotels-PromInent
Populists Will be There-Cir.
Gus Seats for Spectators.

Sioux Falls, s. d., April 21.-Siolx
Falls, with characteristic western con-
| fidence, undismayed by the magnitude
of the job, is rushing forward the
preparations for the populist national
convention. Hotels will not begin to
accommodate the crowd expected, but
private houses will receive its overflow.
Stakes are now being driven for the big
circus tent in which the convention
will be held. No hall in the city would
be adequate if the crowds reach the
number anticipated.
NJ. L. Fox, secretary of the local
committee, said recently that they were
making preparations for $4,000 people.
There were 1,400 delegates, and it is
assured that every state and territory
will be represented. There are only
three good sized hotels in the town.
and the largest hall seats 600 persons.
The only thing to do, therefore, was to
appeal to the people, and these, without
regard to political affiliations, have
agreed to throw open their private
homes, in which they will not only
lodge delegates and visitors, but will
| feed them. Several citizens who have
had their homes closed and are board
ing will open their homes for the big
lpopulistic occasion.
No Advance In Price.
| Ihe hotel men here have agreed TO
to charge nothing more than regular
rates, but there is sure to be consider
able crowding in rooms AT the pr-
vate homes charges will be made in ac-
cordance with the character of the ..:-
commodations. For shelter for the
convention mammoth "hall-shaped
tent has been ordered. It will be set
up on Summit street, between Ninth
and Tenth streets, in the very heart Of
the residence district. A sergeant-at-
arms of the national committee will be
sent here next week by Chairman
Butler to keep an eye on the prepare
tions.
| The interior of the tent will be ar
ranged with view to proper acoustic
properties. The stage will be in the
center or near it, and the delegates
will be seated in quartets for the fold.
ing canvas benches will each hold four
men.
The spectators will be perched On
seats OF the circus order and Secretary
Fox says there will be room for all,
and man, woman or child may wit
ness the proceedings at an average adj
mittance of but 20 cents. Tickets good
Tor ten admissions will be sold for So
City Raised Funds.
| Funds to the amount of S1O.5O have
been raised by Sioux Falls business
men for the needs of the convention
OF this $1,000 will be spent for brass
bands and for the purchase of 1000
extra cots. The railroads, of which
there are the Illinois Central, Chicago
Milwaukee and ST. Paul, the North
western, burlington, Cedar Rapids and
Northern and the Great Northern, gave
81 500, and this will probably be raised
to $4,000. The national committee will
have 5000 tickets and the local
|committee will have the others for
sale.
Prominent democrats from different
sections of the country have already
booked rooms, among them Willis j
Abbott, of the national democratic
press bureau. The Nebraska, Minnes.,
ia and Colorado delegations have book.
ed headquarters at the Cataract house
where Secretary Edgerton has reserved
four rooms and ordered them artistical
~ decorated.
Nominations on Saturday.
There will be sessions of the conven
tion during the four DAYS of the week
but there will be no nomination unit
Saturday night.
Senator Marion Butler has engaged
a suite of rooms for himself and wife
Cyclone" Davis is coming up her Oh
special train loaded with noisy Texans
Cyclone" proposes to cut big swatl
from the Red river to the Sioux. Gov
ernor Poynter of Nebraska has secured
the best quarters at hand. SO has G
ID. Jenal of Bloomfield, Neb. r. E. Dow
dial, of South Dakota, and j. L. yelling
of South Dakota.
/ At the head of the local committee
managing the convention arrangement.
is Mayor 3. H. Lien. Associated with
him in the arrangements are Mari
Bulge, John L. Cogan, Porter P. Peel,
~. w. Sexton, George Schlosser and NJ
IL. Fox,