The San Francisco call., 1904-06-22

SENATOR FAIRBANKS GIVEN
FIRST BIG DEMONSTRATION
OF NATIONAL CONVENTION
Chauncey M Depew Tenders Invitation for
Delegates to Attend the Worlds Fair
at Exposition's Expense.


the party's history, met in the Coli
scum at noon to-day and organized
The grand climax, the nominations.
win not be reached until the third day.
Senator DepeW calls to-day the cur
tain raiser for the more serious drama
Of Tomorrow and Thursday. The cur
tain raiser was in itself an absorbing
production. Weather predictions were
disturbing. There was suggestion OF
rain in the air and the sun had a
struggle all the morning with CLOUDS
banked up over the lake. Fresh breezes
from the northwest cooled the tenn
perature. but indoors. out of reach OF
The breeze. the day was hot. Five
acres Of seats under the arches Of the
Coliseum began TO fill by half past ten
o'clock. Black dots appeared IN the
emptiness, the videttes Of that huge
assemblage which presently shaped
into the convention. The interest that
had for two days eddied gently around
fifty State or Territorial headquarters
concentrated upon these FIVE steel COW
cred acres. or rather upon that frag-
ment of an acre of delegates chairs
painted green. in frcnt Of a crimson
carpeted rostrum set with Flemish oak
furniture The table was solid piece
III TO stand the blows to be beat upon
fl. As thin lines of delegates and other
ticket holders entered from many en-
frances. the watchers outside grew into
q multitude and some hearts burned
over fruitless plannings for admission
But most Of those outside were salts
fed with the mild thrill Of being in
the neighborhood Of where large things
were 10 be done. for the first session OF
the national convention was an impos-
ing fact, even if its general results
were certainties beforehand.
Under the rostrum and stretching
the whole length Of the basement was
one OF the most curious sights OF the
cOnventiOn-the paraphernalia and the
workers who communicated 70 the mill
lions what the thousands saw. Into
this space was let hundreds Of wires,
more than 500. that connected the hall
with the principal newspapers CT the
country and with the agencies that
transmit news over seas More than
100 telephones were working and up
ward of 400 telegraph instruments. A
thousand reporters, operators and mes
sengers manned this intelligence ma
chine.
For hours before and during the ses-
sion Of the convention the hotels. were
vacant. The large rooms occupied py
State headquarters, decorated with tri-
soIored cloth and the pictures Of dis
tinguished sons. both living and dead
were quite empty since the early morn
ing conference.
FEW EARLY ARRIVALS.
Few delegates and alternates and
practically none Of the men prominent
in the control Of the Republican party
had put in an appearance at the hail
ed II o'clock. An array of doorkeepers
was on guard at the various entrances
and numerous bodies Of sergeants-a at
arms were stationed at the commence
ment. middle and ends Of the aisles 10
guide the delegates TO their seats.
The last touches TO the hall had been
made in the night and early morning
Palms and pOtted plants were placed
around the sides Of the hall IN the
first floor and arches and bOughs, which
were fastened TO the girders just above
the upper balcony, relieved in a pleas
ant manner the long stretch of saffron
colored roofing. It had been announced
that the only picture which would be
seen in the convention hall would be
the portrait of the late Senator Hanna,
which hung Just above the Speaker S
platform. but yesterday large engraV-
ings Of President Roosevelt were
placed, one at every alternate eaten
in the draped bunting that stretched
around the ceiling. Below each picture
Of the President and beneath those
folds in the draped streamers Of red.
white and blue where the picture was
not hung We're swinging baskets OF
ferns. while the under side Of the great
trusses from the bunting TO the back
Of the seats was covered with taste
fully arranged palms.
The first applause to the incoming
delegates was a ripple Of handclaps
from the gallery given to Senator Al
lison Of Iowa. Senator DOiliYer of Iowa
came strolling down the center aisle
closely after Senator Allison had taken
his seat and the men in the gallery
from Iowa broke out into applause a
second time.
Senator Allison acknowledged the re-
ceptiOn with a smile and bow, but the
junior Senator apparently did not real
ize that he was being bonored, for he
turned his back upon his friends in
the gallery while they were still ap-
plauding him, and walked slowly back
TO the seats in the crowd. Throughout
the time that elapsed between the
opening Of the doors and that set for
the formal opening OF the convention
an orchestra in a bandstand raised
high above the gallery at the south end
Of the hail rendered patriotic music,
slternated with popular airs Of the
day.
WELCOME FOR DEPEW.
Chauncey ~ Depew was the recipient
Of a hearty welcome as he came
through the main entrance on the west
side Of the building. The Senator
walked down toward the platform en-
tirely ObliviOus Of a doorkeeper, who
did not know him and was entering to
learn if he was properly entitled to the
privileges Of the hall. Halfway uD to
the seats Of the New York delegation,
Just in the left center of the left plat
form, the Senator was overtaken and
made TO deliver.
Close behind the New York Senator
came the senior Senator Of Illinois,
Shelby NJ. Cullom. The men from Hi
nois who were in the balcony did not
see their Senator, and he was given
only a slight handclapping from those
on the main floor who knew him. Sen
ator Cullom sought the seats of the Illi-
nOis delegation without greeting.
Following closely upon Senators Cul-
lom and Depew came Uncle joe Can
non, a black felt hat jammed down on
his head He was walking back and
forth in the crowd in front Of the plat
form without attracting attention save
for few handshakes from Washington
friends When he removed his hat the
recognition by the galleries was stimuli
taneous, and the Speaker was warmly
greeted by the galleries and delegates.
BY 11:45 o'clock each entrance TO the
main floor Of the great hall was pour