The Washington times., 1904-07-01
DEMOCRATIC CLANS
GOING TO ST. LOUIS
Great Preparations for
Their Reception.
WHERE CONVENTION MEETS
Description of the Hall and Arrange
ments for Delegates and Army
of Visitors.

ST. LOUIS, July More than one
orator at the recent Republican ma
tlonal convention at Chicago felt called
upon to apologize for the apparent lack
OF interest there. More than one ex-
PLANTATION was made that it required a
contest 10 create enthusiasm.
There will be no need for any such
apology or explanation when the rep
rcsentatives of the Democratic party in
the United States assemble in ST. Louis
next week for the purpose OF naming
their national candidates and preparing
III platform upon which they VIII ap-
peal to the country.
AT Chicago the most prominent fea-
ture Of the decoration was large pic
ture Of the late Senator Hanna Be
cause of the pre-eminent part he had
taken in the formulation of Republican
rolicies In recent years, that was appro-
pirate enough. But at st. Louis the
central figure will be a large picture OF
Thomas Jefferson. Republicans may
say that that is another Indication that
the Democratic party is living IN the
past. But TO DemOCraJs-and this Is 10
be a Democratic cOnvenuOn-the con-
trast Will have another significance.
Shape of the Hall.
The hall itself is oval in shape. and
of substantial structure. Great steel
Orders support the roof, which is arch
ed so as to afford the greatest acoustic
properties. A tier OF seats rising from
the floor OF the hall extends around each
side, and a gallery UP nearer the roof
increases the accommodations for visl-
tors. There are seats provided for To-,
300 persons in the hall. Three thousand
Of these are on the floor itself. still
leaving ample aisle room.
In the arrangement Of these seats a
new idea has been carried into effect
by Serge1nt-at-Arms John I. Martin, OF
ST. Louis, who has officiated IN SINH
lar capacity IN the last three Demo-
cratic conventions. and who is the pre-
siding genius in charge Of every detail
here. Colonel Martin is making an eff
fort to have this convention so perfect
~ arranged that II will be a model for
he is quite liable TO make good
The speakers platform is in the CEN
ter Of the north side Of the hall. one Of
the long curves Of the oval II IS raised
about five feet from the floor.
For National Committee.
Back Of this platform is a tier of seats
for the members Of the national com
mittee and distinguished guests. A row
of boxes extends all the way around the
hall, like those in Madison Square Gar
den, New York. at the horse show, and
these too, will be reserved for distin-
guished people.
the platform are the desks for the
working newspapermen-those repre-
senting daily newspapers whose reports
must be dashed of a once 70 the tele-
graph wire. These desks number I76 on
cach side Just back of them are rallied
Of sections containing 500 chairs on
each side for the use OF the represen-
tatlves Of the weekly papers and the
magazines Altogether there will be
over 700 seats on the floor reserved for
Back Of the correspondents on each
siCe-and here Is where the new idea
comes mare the seats for the alter
etes. Heretofore in all national con-
ventions the alternates have been
stretched IN long lines from end 70
enc Of the hall back Of the delegates.
Seats Of Delegates.
The delegates themselves. in a wide
pointed wedge formation, viii occupy
the exact center Of the floor. stretching
from directly in front OF the speakers
platform to the rear OF the hall. They
will be seated on each side OF a wide
Rlsle leading straight TO the platform,
and there Will be an aisle on each side
OF them. so that delegate who is called
20 the platform TO speak, or who desires
20 send a telegraph message, can do so
without disturbing his colleagues.
At the east end of the hall a complete
postofico is being fitted I'D with letter
boxes for each delegate and alternate
ThiR VIII be under the charge Of As
sistent Postmaste- Henry 2. Wyman
OF St, Louis; William NJ Drumrn. the
efficient secretary to the sergeant-at-
arms, and Mcdonald Martin, custodian
A corps Of carriers will be in attend
ance to carry the mail 10 the delegates
in their seats, thus making the mail
delivery as nearly as rapid as tele-
grsphy as II Is possible to make it,
Eight or ten lOng-distanCe telephone
boxes are ranged on the north side in
close proximity 70 the stairs leading to
the telegraph rooms.
An Emergency Hospital
In the southeast corner Of the build
ing an emergency hospital has been
located. fitted up with all the latest ap-
planes This has been established un-
der the auspices of DIT. John Fl. Simon,
president Of the ST. Louis board Of
health Doctors. two trained nurses.
an ambulance and attendants with
stretchers will be in constant attend
ance.
An innovation IS the appointment as
officers OF the convention Of a number
OF honorary medical officers" Each
member OF the national committee has
in response to invitation, named one o.