Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-06-30
INTEREST PLENTY
In Dem cratic Convention That
Meets Next Week in
St Louis
UNLIKE The CHICAGO AFFAIR
Comfort and Convenience Of Dele
gates Anticipated In
Every Detail.

More than one orator at the recent
national republican convention at Chi
cagO felt called upon to apologize for
the apparent lack of interest there
More than one explanation was made
that it required contest TO create
enthusiasm.
There will be no need for any such
apology or explanation when the rep
resentatives of the democratic party
in the United States assemble in st.
Louis next week for the purpose of
naming their national candidates and
preparing the platform upon which
they Will appeal to the country.
All indications are that the coming
democratic convention will be one of
the most interesting political gather
ings of recent years. All the great
leaders will be present. There will be
nothing "cut and dried" about it.
The delegates themselves will decide
what they want TO do. And it is be-
cause the delegates are yet uncertain
as to their course; because there are
so many possibilities in the situation;
and because of the interests involved,
that each days session Of the conven-
ton will present a scene of feverish
excitement and wild acclaim which
will make it memorable in history.
Plenty OF Candidates.
With five or six presidential candi-
dates already in the field and several
dark horses" being diligently train
ed. 70 be entered as added starters"
at the last moment. the prospects for
i lively and spectacular contest are
great No one now ON the ground eX
poets the convention to be concluded
III three days. 1t may run for a week
But while it lasts there will be ample
opportunity for the enthusiasts to 'en-
thuse" and Tor the leather-lunged pa
triot TO shout himself hoarse III behalf
Of his country. his party and his can
didate.
The setting for the big event has
been well chosen and every prelim-
mary has been arranged. The con
vention viii be held in the great hall
of the Coliseum, which is situated in
he heart of the city OF st. Louis and
is conveniently reached by several
lines of street cars. The big hotels
are within easy distance. c. w. Mar
tin, who has the decorations in charge
promises to make the hall a bower OF
beauty. If the profuse use of flags
and green stuffs can do that, there is
no doubt that he will fulfill his prom
Use, for of them he has a plenty.
Jefferson in Foreground.
At Chicago the most prominent feat
ure of the decorations was a large
picture of the late Senator Hanna.
Because of the preemincnt part he
had taken in the formulation of repub-
lican policies in recent years, that
was appropriate enough. But at ST
Louis the central figure will be Il larg,
picture of Thomas Jefferson. Repub
Leans may say that that is another in
dicatiOn that the democratic party is
living in the past. But to democrats
and this is to be a democratic conven
tion-the contrast will have another
significance.
There will be no pictures of the only
living democratic eX-president, Mr..
Cleveland. nor any of the candidates
for the presidential nomination in the
hall. In this respect the decorations
will be non-partisan.
The hall Itself is oval in shape and
of substantial structure Great steel
Orders support the roof, which is
arched so as to afford the greatest
acoustic properties. A tier of seats
rising from the floor of the hall ex-
tends around each side and a gallery
up nearer the roof increases the &C
commodations for visitors. There are
seats provided for 1O.5OO persons in
. ha M TThran fhnnean1 of f,nGn
on the floor itself. still leaving ample |
aisle room.
Drawing of Seats.
The drawing of seats for the delega- |
tons. which is done by blindfolded |
boy who draws the name Of each state |
from a box previously VOL shaken