The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-07-05
BIRD'S-EYE VIEW
Democratic Convention Seen by
a State Journal Reporter
Evident That Every One Can
Not Hear.
VERY NOISY CROWD.
Paid Nc Attention to the Pre-
siding Officers.
scout and Dried Feature is Very
Evident.
Especial to the State Journal

n
The state Journal correspondent, IN
the convention hall. sat 100 feet from
the speakers stand When Mayor
Reed. of Kansas City. had concluded
his address Of welcome. the State Jour
nal correspondent had succeeded in
hearing these words:
''Glorify the horizon"
So far as the press reservations were
concerned in the block of seats between
200 and 300, those words constituted All
of the speech the reporters heard
Chairman Jones OF the nattona! com
rnittee could be seen plainly. and by the
gesticulations- it was clearly apparent
that he was making a speech
Occa sionaIly the ears Of the CORES
pondent discerned the sound of the CAV
e. but for speeches, ore might nave
been just as much edited by sitting IN
the shade Of some Kansas avenue soda
fountain.
When the opening prayer was being
offered, at least that was what was go
ing on. according TO the word passed
back from the direction of the stand, an
Indiana band marched into an upper
gallery. probably a quarter OF a mile
from the place where the State Journal
correspondent was burled,-InerrlIy
reeling of The Moon Shines Bright on
the Wabash" A cOmmOtiOn which be-
gan at the speakers stand and extend
ed across the mass OF people to the
vicinity Of the band, stopped the stir
ring strains which were being cheered
in a luSty, if sacrilegious manner. Then
the man" finished his prayer arnldSt
shouts CT down in front" get out OF
the way" and other mandatory express
siOns-
When Kansas City's mayor arose to
speak some unauthorized Individual
sitting near the chairman attempted to
break in" but was siIenced by the
crowd yelling: Sit down
The applause which the mayor re-
ceived was no doubt spontaneous and
deserved but it came from three dis
tinct parts OF the hall. and in about the
same volume, to such an extent that It
justified the opinion that it might have
been engaged for the occasion.
The first Kansas man in sight was J.
G. johnson. who helped the chairman
pound on the table for order. Then z.
sistant reading clerk. announced some
thing. Presumably it was the conven-
ton officers. because, soon after this
was done the chairman waved his
hands. and a chorus of ayes from the
delegate pit" indicated that a vote
had been taken. Murphy left the plat
form. and the crowd yelled for Hill 1t
was noticeable, as a diversion. that
when the crowd was in the saddle, Hill
was the favorite in their demands be-
cause Mr. Hill brought crowd OF root
ers along.
After the supposed vote was taken.
three men marched on the platform. The
attitude in which they appeared. at
first suggested that some one had faint
ed and was being carried out This
proved incorrect however. as a man
who had just come into the press reser-
vations announced that the scared
looking individual was the temporary
Chairman There were some fOrmalities
on the platform, as Governor Thomas
took from under his arm. a big roll of
manuscript The crowd cheered for
awhile, then the chairman waved his
arms, and gave Thomas what looked
ike push forward Then the manu-
script was unroIled and the governor
M = n Il hi
spot on the top Of his head and the
Prince Albert coat, and an occasional
reflection of light from the governor
SpectacleS were the most DrOr1fne-,r
points observed during the reading The
essay IS said to have been firSt-class and
the keynote" Of the campaign The
democrats turned down Mayor Rose of
Milwaukee because thew claimed he va
not big enough and might soil the
ivory In striking this keynote. Cover
nor Thomas is not giant, and his voice
lacks penetration
People did not go to the convention
hall to hear things. They were there
TO see and express their opinions of the
convention This was responsible for a
constant buzz Of conversation It was
more IN the nature Of a woman's af-
terIoon party. where neighbors critf-
elsed each other. abused the spea ker
Tor not having stronger voice. and
conducted itself in a manner thorough
y BETTING the Fourth of JULY
Ihe convention brought out thousa nds
OF photographing machines One could
hear the constant click" click of
the machines. large and small. The
representatives Of the eastern papers
had monster instruments at their sea IS
and seemed to be taking shots at
every turn Of the speaker
Before the close Of the reading the
chairman was freqently interrupted
with calls of louder from all over the
convention hall Outside frecracker
oonoS were booming bands playing.
street car gongs changing. and every
noise known TO mankind seemed to be
coming from every quarter.
The Organiza ton of the national ron
Vention had little interest after the first
novelty had worn of. That lasted but
few moments, and not a man from
Kansas will say today that he would
not rather go into state convention at
nome, where all are acquainted and
where everybody gets a chance to take
hand- There is considera BILE satisfac-
tlon- TO be sure, in gaining admission 70
convention of such irnports nee but
the glamOr Of anticipation soon CifsaD-
pears one Is located in the midst of
confusion; unable to hear what the
speakers say; compelled 10 work TO
keep some human hog, from roofing
him out of the chair: and able only ~
stare at the flags and decoIa tons and
imagine that the zenith of earthly glory
has at last been reached. But it hash t.
A national convention is disappointiug
to those who expect much. and a very
tame affair to those seeking excite
meuI-
Prolonged cheering announced the
close Of Thomas address Two men
hurried upon the platform and a bust
OF Bryan was unveiled. Turn him
around yelled the crowd
Wen do that for you in November ~
shouted q crowd OF men huddled in a
corner, a block from the unwilling
These enthusiasts came near being put
out. because they were noisy in theil
demonstrations for Republieanism.
Jones and Johnson thumped the table
for two or three minutes. but the CROWD
grew more noisy, coudescending to give
some attention while a man delivered