The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-07-09

The crush of visitors around the doors
and inside the Coliseum last night at $
o'clock the time set for the opening OF
| the convention. was greater than at any
previous session. 1t was something rarely
paralleled at any national convention.
| Every seat and every place TO stard In
| the entire hall was occupied. To prevent
possible panics it was finally ordered that
| the doorkeepers refuse admission TO all
applicants. whether they were ticket hold
| ers or not.
It was crowd that. Judging from pre-
vaiing symptoms. came with the full in
tention OF participating In the proceedings.
for cheers. applause and comment were
forthcoming upon every occasion.
The first reception OF the evening was
given TO Senator Hill of New York who
made his first appearance In the hall.
General Nelson A. Miles was also pres
ent for the first time.
! At o'clock there was not a vacant seat
IN the vast auditorium from platform to
| topmost gallery. 1t was packed with DEL
| egates. alternates and spectators The
heat was already intense. On the outside
| the crowd was even greater than within
| the Coliseum. So far as the interest of the
| masses was concerned last nights session
| was what all strove to witness. 1t had
| been rumored that the doors were to be
thrown open to the public.
| MANY BOUGHT TICKETS
FOR THE PAST SESSIONS.
This was not true, but tickets sold so
| cheaply that they were within the means
OF all. The only trouble was that the
cheapest tickets were for past sessions,
and the buyer took his own chances on
getting by the door-tenders. Many of the
bogus ticket-holders got in and others
less fortunate blocked entrances The
streets on the four sides of the Coliseum
were impossible. Street cars got through
with difficulty. and with danger to hui
manity. The police endeavored without ef-
feet to keep passageways Nothing how
ever. affected the pushing mob. for 1t
was known that hundreds passed through
doors who had no right TO enter. and that
served to work the throng into a frenzy
Long after the hall was filled the crowd
pressed against the entrances. loath to
give up the hope of getting in.
Frequently half dozen persons would
be allowed to enter on single ticket.
BY the time the chairman called the con-
vention to order the hall was filed TO the
danger line and beyond,
The passageways under the building
were cofhpleteiy choked by a pushing.
struggling mass with which the sergeant
alarms and police were utterly unable to
cope. Several thousand persons were
packed underneath the main floor vainly
trying TO gain admission to the auditori-
UNI. The congestion here was highly dan
gerous in itself. but still the crowd poured
through the entrances and still no effort
was made to keep them back
CLARK HAD DIFFICULTY
IN STARTING PROCEEDINGS.
series of energetic thumps on the pre-
siding officers table were given by Chair
man Clark at s:03 o'clock in an endeavor
to call the convention to order. The
reading clerk ordered the floor officers to
clear the aisles. AS Mr.. Clark stood at
the desk Senator Daniel of Virginia
chairman of the Resolutions Committee,
made his way to his side with copy of
the platform in his hand.
Without delay 1t was announced that
the report Of the committee would be re-
ceived
At this statement the convention seized
the opportunity to vent its satisfaction at
the unanimous report to be made. A
great cry went up. great many dele
gates jumped to their feet. and the first
demonstration of the night session took
place.
Becoming impatient at the delay Sena-
tor Daniel began his announcement in the
midst of the uproar.
Il am instructed to make to this con-
vention," he began, this unanimous re-
port from the Committee on Resolutions"
The Senator's persistence had the de-
sired effect, although ii was several min
utes before the convention composed itself
and warning had to be given by the read
ing clerk that quiet must be preserved.
Cries of Louder were repeatedly made
as Senator Daniel proceeded, for his voice
seemed inadequate to the hall.
A great hum of conversation and an
all-pervading noise of shutting feet. mov-
ing bodies and scraping chairs mingled to
drown the Virgnian's voice. Powerful
as 1t is he could not be heard ten rows
of seats from the stand on which he
stood.
An Ohio delegate mounted his chairsand.
after repeatedly addressing the chairman
in a, loud manner, demanded order.
we viii bave ordep ana eie Mr. sue carE
Then, turning to the clerk he directed
again that the aisles be cleared. Senator
with the Resolutions Committee was APP
parent. To the vast audience which faced
him. he was but a silent figure with NOV
Ing gsn lips; s;ru,ss went hv with the same dis.
order the reading of the platform not
being heard, when another interruption
was made. but 1nenectuaiiy.
SENATOR DANIEL PERSISTS
DESPITE THE BAD ORDER.
Disturbances resulting from cries for
order from various portions OF the hall OK
hausted the patience of Chairman Clark
and he gave personal directions to have
several persons quieted put out. SEN
ator Daniel, however, refused to be dis
turbed. He proceeded with the reading of
the platform. regardless OF the fact that
not one soul in the hall. except perhaps
the stenographer who stood at the steps
just beneath him, heard word.
Senator Daniel said:
IT am unanimously instructed by your
Committee on Platform TO move the previ-
Gus question on its adoption. and l now
make that notion
1t was adopted by viva voce vote,
two or three delegates voting in the mega
tive, and they apparently in spirit of
fun.
Chairman Clark then put the motion to
adopt the report and another viva voce
vote carried it.
Temporary Chairman Williams mounted
swung his hat around his head, and the
delegates following his lead roared their
applause again and again. while the band
now call the roll Of States for the nemina-
ton of a candidate for President shouted
the chair. wild cry of delight came
from the galleries. who seemed to think
the whole thing show run for their en-
tertainment
Alabama" shrieked the clerk.
Alabama yields to the Empire State of
Alabama, standing in his chair, one arm
grasping the standard of his State marker
Martin w. Littleton of New York, of
u% f edn hsshs sSsSsn and as sssdy Ts Ere Th Sshv
mass of dark brown hair tossed back