The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-07-13
BRYAN GETS AN OVATION.

US lNGt{Oudl SOUfCuttUN 2VON
Four Days to Do Its Work,
but Did it Well. Bryan
a Prominent
Figure.
The Democratic National Conven-
tion convened at St. Louis wednesday.
Long before the doors were swun
open vast crowds thronged the streets
in the vicinity Of the main entrance
to the exposition building, where the
convention met. In the surglng line
were men and women, and visiting
political organizations, eagerly seeking
entrance. Those who have charge Of
the distribution Of the tickets Of ad-
mission have been deluged with re-
quests for them, but as cards baVe
been provided only to the extent OF
the seating capacity Of the hall, many
persons were ClSGppOluGeu.
The decorations Of the hall were un-
dertaken on most elaborate scale and
the pleasing and effective scheme has
been carried out to the minute de-
tails. The great dome ceiling which
rises high above the floor is covered
with fabric Of solid yellow, with
here and their founceS OF a white ma
terial carrying out the architectural
design. Within each Of the sections
OF the ceiling is the seal CT one Of the
states and a stand Of colors, while in
front Of the gallery spaces are festoons
Of white cloth. The walls are adorned
with the national emblems forming a
frame from the colossal color picture
over head.
The splendor Of the various colored
gowns worn by the large number OF
ladies occupying seats in the galleries
and the ever moving fans gave the
finishing touch and completed scene
both spectacular and picturesque.
Flowers were eliminated for the
scheme. With the exception Of bo-
ucuets on the tables, on the chair
mans platform, plants and blossoms
were not in evidence, preference hav-
ing been given by the designers to
more enduring decorative materials.
AN nnIENsE AMPsTHEATRE.
The hall is an immense anphithe-
atre admirably arranged for a nation
al convention and especially arranged
so that all available room nay be uti-
lized to the greatest possible advan-
tage. Those charged with the prepar-
alton evidently grasped the situation.
The accornmoda odatious for the general
public. End especially for the press,
are much more complete than they
were ct the Chicago convention and
the best for the latter that have ever
been provided at a national conven-
tion, every facility for the reporting
Of the proceedings and the prompt dis
patch Of the rews Of the world at
large being afforded.
a stream of visitors and 6riZz, e Of
delegates and alte:nates were p 'uring
into the hau an hour before The time
set for the opening Of the convention.
The big men, the directors Of political
strategy, were net as prompt in ar
irving. Beside the novelty of viewing
great convention, many Of them are
constantly haunted by the dread that
conspiracy is afoot to deprive them
OF their seats, and, fearful Of a catas-
trophy in the great demand Tor tick
cts which has existed for the last few
days, the anxious oneS hurried to
plant themselves in their seats before
any other person should pre.empt
them. The hall itself is not well
lighted by the sun, there being win
dows on but three sides, and these are
close to other buildings
There is no opening in the roof to
permit the escape of the heated air,
and even before one-tenth of the dele
gates had arrived it became uncomfort-
ably warm. The windows open but
half way, and are on the level of the
top row Of seats in the gallery. By
the time the hall was cne-third filed
the heat began to increase to a notice
able degree. The great majority OF
the delegates and visitors had pro-
vided themselves with fans, aud the
auditorium, viewed from the speakers S
desk, was ore yellow hutter as the
palm leaf fans bobbed back and forth
The delegates lost but little time in
getting outside Of their coats and the
complexion Of the lower part of the
hall, black at first, because lighter and
lighter as the coats disappeared and
the shirt sleeves become evident.
FIRST RIPPLE OF APPLAUSE.
The first ripple Of applause that
went across the convention came from
the galleries when the Texas deleea-
ticn marched in bearing their flag OF
red, white and blue with the single
star.
A white silk banner beariog the in
;scription: Florida Democracy, safe
and sound" was borne into the hall
shortly after Texas had arrived and
was also greeted with applause. This
was FIVE minutes before -, and up to
that time not a hand. clap had been
offered to any man who had entered
the hall. The platform was crowded
with members Of the national COM
mittee, but the crowd paid 10 atuen.
tion. The Philippine delegation came
in with their banner, which was not
floating free like those that had en-,
tered before it. 1t was an American
flag Of silk wrapped closely around the
staff ard tied hard ard fcst. This
was done, according TO one Of The
Philippine dele2atian with delib
crate INTENT" as if to show that the
Democratic convention did not recog
nize the Philippines as part Of tht