New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-09
NIGHT SCENES IN The CONVENTION.

St. Louis July s.--The Democratic National
Convention tonight adopted platform by a
speeches for President. Judge Alton B. Parker
was named by Martin W Littleton and William
Randolph Hearst by D. NJ Delmas Both orators
were applauded at length, Anti Parker delega-
tions tried to create enthusiasm for their can
didate but the Parker men remained undis-
turbed and unconcerned. Hearst delegates pa
raded the hall. but the showing was small in
comparison with the Parker procession, which
had preceded IT,
Nominating speeches for favorite candi-
dates and seconding speeches for both Parker
and Hearst occupied the convention for several
hours The convention seats about ten thousand
five hundred persons, but from appearances
hundreds more had been admitted. The floor
and lower and upper galleries contained thou
sands Of sweltering men and women. oblivious
the fact that the crowded condition of the
hall endangered every life.
The crush Of visitors around the doors and in
side the convention hall AT o'clock the time sex
for the opening of the convention was greater
than at any previous session. II was something
rarely paralleled al any national convention.
Extra papers had spread the news over the town
that a nomination was 20 be expected tonight
and the crowd was greater than at any previous
session At two or three entrances the pressure
on the doorkeepers and policemen great
that the lines broken. and many persens
without tickets forced their way into the hall
1t was a crowd that. from all appearances
came with the full intention Of participating in
the proceedings. for cheers and comment were
forthcoming on every occasion.
II is doubtful IL before in the United
States were the rules governing admission to a
large convention utterly ignored. considera-
tions for the safety Of the public thrust aside
as they were at the convention tonight. The
doors were practically thrown open TO the pub
lie and by $50 o'clock the aisles were packed
that one could pass through them I'm either
direction. In the gallery there not
occupied inch OF standing sitting
The passageways under the building were
completely choked by a pushing. struggling
mass. with which the sergeants- -at-arms and the
police were utterly unable to cope Several
thousand people were packed underneath the
main floor, vainly trying to gain admission TO
tho auditorium. The congestion here was highly
dangerous in itself. but still the crowd poured
through the entrances and still effort
made 20 keep it back.
The first genuine reception of the evening
given TO ex-senator Hill, of New-York. who
Nelson A. Miles was also present for the first
time.
At o'clock there was not a vacant seat in the
vast auditorium. From platform to topmost
gallery it was packed with delegates. alternates
and spectators. The heat was already intense.
on the outside the crowd even greater than
within the Coliseum. SO far the interest of
the masses was concerned. to-night's session
was what all strove to witness. II had been
rumored that the doors were to be thrown open
to the public This was not true. but tickets
sold so cheapIy that they were within the means
of all The only trouble that the cheapest
tickets were for sessions gone by. and the buyer
took his own chances getting by the door
keepers.
CROWDS BLOCK THE STREETS.
Many of the bogus ticket holders got in and
others less fortunate blocked the entrances. The
streets on the four sides of the Coliseum were
inopassable Street got through with diff
cuIty and with danger to humanity. The police
endeavorcd without effect to keep passageways
clear Nothing affected the pushing mob Hun
dreds passed through the doors who had no
right TO enter, and that served to work the
throng into a frenzy. Long after the hall was
filed the crowd pressed against the entrances,
loath to give up the hope of getting in.
Frequently half dozen people would be al
lowed to enter on a single ticket. There
no attempt made at many entrances to restrict
chairman called the convention to order the haly
was filled to the danger line and beyond
TONVFNTTTON OPENED