East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1908-07-07

The Auditorium, Denver Colo.
July THE democracy Of the eas
and west taday Joined hands within
the shadow Of the snow clad Rockies
20 name candidates for president anC
vice president, and to formulate a Sc
OF policies upon which TO appeal tC
the voters of the nation.
For the first time in its history the
party had recognized the claims of the
far west i'm the selection of a meeting
place. Denver, justly proud of the
honor conferred upon her, had pro-
vided a brand new auditorium, the
best equipped of its kind in America
The building cost the taxpayers of
the city 100000. In addition, they
subscribed to a fund of 100000 for
the entertainment Of the delegates
and othar visitors, who have been
pouring into town by the thousands
in the past three days,
Long before noon. the hour set for
the initial session of the twenty-second
quadrennial democratic convention,
the streets in the vicinity of the big
god-domed building were jammed
with people waiting for the doors to
be thrown open. Trim, carefully
groomed easterners, clad in long
coats, plug hats and derbies,
Knocked elbows with less punctilious-
ly dressed representatives of the
mountain and Pacific coast states.
The Merry Widows" of the Denver
women and the merry Cowboys" OF
the western delegates, lent pictur-
esqueness to the scene.
In order to prevent confusion about
the entrances, the police had roped
off all of the thoroughfares leading
to the structure. Signs over the door
ways indicated the direction which
each holder OF the much-prized cards
OF admission should take. Mayor
Speer had assumed personal charge
of the handling of the crowds out
side, and a small army of policemen
was detailed to preserve order, their
work making the task OF the ticket
takers comparatively easy.
Famous "Cowboy Band"
During the assembling and seating
of the delegates and spectators the
famous cowboy" band of Pueblo and
Alamosa, perched up next to the roof
in the rear of the hall. rendered a |
mixed program of patriotic, classical ,
and "rag-time" airs.
AS the audience edged its way into
the building II was greeted with
Kaleidoscope panorama of color. The
decorations were probably the most
elboratc as well as the most artistic
ever attempted for similar func-
ton. Up above the stage of the
chairman, dropped from n steel rafter,
was magnificent oil painting of
George Washington, framed in gilt
and measuring eight by 10 feet.
Draped behind 1t were two huge AM
erican flags, while festooned about II
were yards upon yards of tri-colored
bunting. To the right was a similar
ly draped picture of Andrew Jackson,
and to the left one of THOMAS Jeffer-
son, On the opposite wall was }
portrait of the last democratic presi-
uGHl, bIONeI 1leNeldIlu, DOTOfTeu
with black in mute evidence Of the
prevailing feeling of sorrow, both
party and national, over his recent
death.
Back of the platform upon which
were seated the members of the ma
tional committee was a row of Cali
fornia palms. Twenty stuffed Amerl-
can eagles, carrying in their beaks
long streamers of red, white and blue
were suspended from the ceiling i'm
over the stage. Around the
front of the balconies and galleries
were strung $4,000 yards of bunting,
while at intervals Of 10 feet had been
placed American shields. Studdng
the ceiling were tri-colored stars, each
10 feet In diameter, representing the
various states, territories and insular
possessions. In the corners and
about the sides of the main floor ,
we're more palms,
The total number of seats was 49, I
300. The space Immediately in front
and at the sides of the platform had I
been equipped for the use of the 400 7
newspaper correspondents who have
come to tell the world all about It, As :
In the recent republican convention