The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-06-29
Arrangements Made for Directing
the Labors of a Large
Clerical Force.
PRINTING DELEGATE LISTS.
Stenographers to Relieve Each
Other at Three Minute Inter
vals-Preparing the
Ballots.

Just now the busiest man in st. Louis is
the secretary of the Democratic National
Committee. who. with his corps If as
sistants. is in the midst Of his troubles ar
ranging the final details sor the clerical
work of the National Convention.
C. A Walsh. the secretary Of the COM
mittee. is looking after the matters of
greater import but in the questions of de
tail, the compilation OF the many blanks
and lists OF delegates. assistant clerks and
those who will be responsible for the rou-
tine work Of the convention. W. \. Deford,
Mr.. Walshs assistant, is up to his eyes at
the headquarters in the Hotel jefferson.
In the first place. 1Ir. Deford. with his
clerks. Is preparing a list by States and
Territories of the delegates who have been
certified to the National Committee by
the various state and Territorial conveu-
tions and who are recognized by the COM
mittee as prima facie delegates
To each member of the National Com
mittee previous to the opening of the con
vention the list OF his STATE representa-
tives will he sent for verifcatiOn. together
with a blank for sending in to the SaCre-
taTy the names Of the new National Com
mitteemen and the members Of the several
committees OF the convention. These last
mentioned lists are to he returned when
the roll of States is called at the time OF
the temporary organization of the con-
veutiOn.
The verified list of delegates is to he re-
turned at once and a roll will then he pre-
pared Of all the delegates. This roll will
he submitted to the National Committee
at its session Of July .. At the same time
the names of all cOnteStiug. delegates will
be reported to the committee. and after
the hearing of the merits of the contests
another roll which will be the official tenn
porary roll of the convention, will be pre-
pared. The Credentials Committee acts
on whatever contests are brought UU for u
hearing, and after they have reported and
the report is accepted third roll is made
and this becomes the permanent roll OF
the delegates to the convention.
FOR RECORDING BALLOTS
Another important feature of the pre-
liminary work IS the preparation of the
blank tally sheets for recording the bal
lots of the week. One blank Will he used
in ballotiug for candidates and will con-
tain the names of the States and Terri
tories and the number OF votes to which
each is entitled. with blank spaces for
each candidate.
Another blank will be used for ballots
in which the ayes and nays are taken. as
upon organization or, upon the adoption
OF a report or motion. Three tally clerks
are TO record the votes as they are an
nounced by the Chalrmen of delegations,
and il their totals check up together. then
the secretary Of the convention accepts
their figures and announces the result.
A feature which has heretofore not been
used in national conventions is the prep
aration of poll votes of the different dele
cations. At previous conventions the re-
suits Of their Ia abors have been so well
fOreCasted before the sessions began that
there was little chance for a contest or a
close vote.
At this convention. however. no line on
the proceedings can be drawn, and the
secretaries are preparing for all emer-
gencies. They will prepare lists of each
delegation with a place fer recording the
individual vote of the delegates on any
proposition. so that in the event Of a de-
mand for the poll of any delegation the
reading clerk will be able to at once Sc
cure the list Of the delegates for that par
ticular delegation. This saves him the
trouble OF looking through the creden-
tials and finding the desired list. In the
present state Of affairs it is possible that
these lists Will come into frequent use.
The proceedings of the convention are
to be reported to two filing clerks by bull
letinS sent from the desk of the secretary
every three minutes. Verbatim reports
will be made by the official stenographcrS.
minute intervals. In the event of a de-
bate from the floor. extra stenographers
will be on the floor. in order TO reach each
speakers chair, the moment he secures
recognition from the chairman OF the con-
VentiOn, and thereby secure an accurate
report of his remarks Clerks and stem
ographers are provided through the Of
flee OF Secretary Walsh for the Commit
tees on Credentials, Permanent OrGaniZa-
ton, Rules and Order OF Business and
Resolutions.
ton in the duties of their respective posi-
tiOns