Daily Kennebec journal., 1908-07-08

the scene of the next four days ac-
tivities.
On two Of the streets fronting the
auditorium great banks of snow gave
cool greeting to the visitors. From
the mountain heights the snow had
been brought down to this mile high
level on a special train. The day was
by no means hot however
The doors of the hall were unbarred
at lilo o'clock nearly one hour be-
fore the gavel of the national chair
man, Tom TagGart, was scheduled to
call the signal for the beginning of the
initial session.
Nebraska. as beftted it's prominence
in tie convention proceedings, was
placed directly in front of the speak
er's stand. Minnesota was less advan-
taseousy placed. the johnson BOOM
ers being located far in the rear of the
left center of the group of states The
Gray men from Delaware We're on the
left Of New York with their friends
from New Jersey close by them
The marker of the standards which
designated the delegations commenced
his lettering on too large scale SO
that when he came to Alaska, and was
compelled to drop the last two letters.
the standard spelled the mournful
ejaculation Alas" and provoked much
merrimcnt.
The days session was looked forward
to as one of preliminary formality. the
adpdress of Temporary Chairman
Theodore A. Bell being the feature.
The announcement of committees and
an early adjournment out of respect
t. the memory of the late President
Cleveland completed the announced
program.
E,X-Judge Alton b. Parker of New
York came to the hall with sharply
revised Cleveland resolution to be Of
fered in case he should secure recog-
milton by the chair. AS the session
began. however. it was understood that
closer friends to Mr.. Bryan would in
troduce any resolution that was to be
adopted. No contest of any sort was
to be made.
An oil painting of Mr.. Cleveland
faced the rostrum, having a position of
honor second only to that of Thomas
jefferson.
feature of the seating arrange
ments. new in political conventions
was the labelling of all seats. This
small detail did away with much Of the
confusion incident to former conven-
tionS.
This plan of designating seats was
amplfied on the speakers platform,
where chairs for the members of the
national committee were placed, every
one being plainly marked with the
name of the man for whom ii had beer,
set apart.
AT 11.3O when the hall was less than
one third full, the first music of the
convention crashed from the upper
balcony. A splendid band of some
60-odd pieces uniformed in costumes
of the Western plains played series
of patriotic selections to the applause
of the incoming crowd.
When the band swung into Dixie"
the Southern delegation rose and
cheered The mass of delegates and
spectators followed National Chah.
man Taggart reached the convention
hall at 11.45 o'clock, accompanied by
Temporary Chairman Bell and they
We're literally applauded as they made
their way to the patform.
When the Georgia delegation reach
ed the hall it was announced that the
position they will take on the Presi-
dental nomination will be determined
at a meeting to be held at $50 tomor-
| row morning. At IL o'clock promptly
Chairman Thomas Taggart of the ma
tional committee brought down his
gavel and called the convention to or
| der Cheers followed.
Chairman Taggart, as soon as they
had subsidized spoke briefly
After nearly all the delegates had
been seated the Nebraska delegation
marched down the center aisle holding
high a large banner of red. white and
Continued on Page Twelve.)