The Washington herald., 1908-01-12
DENVER GETS READY
Seeks to Make Good with
Democratic Convention.
MUST HAVE HER 100000 BACK
Would Have spent More Willingly
for Republicans. but WIZ Try 20
lie Happy with what Is Bestowed.
Delegates VIII be Tempted to
Leave Money in western City.


track. Twenty fast trains a day went
by and behind every train, yelping, bark,
ing. swapping his teeth. ran Peters's brin-
die dog. And I'm a-wondering." said
Peters, what thet durn fool dawg would
do If he was TO ketch one of them trains. F"
This well-worn tail illustrates just how
Denver feels to-day over having 'captur-
ed" the Democratic national convention
at a cost Of 100000, says a Denver special
to the New York Tribune The city as a
whole did not want the Democratic con-
vention. 1t did want the Republican one.
The party of hunters with the 100000 am
munition bag which went cunning and
promised to bring back the elephant. and
now that it's booty turns out to be the
jackass, enthusiasm IS hard TO find.
The only persons here who are really
joyful are the gamblers and the saloon
keepers. Denver has a Democratic city
administration, and the town has been
wide open" for many years. Lately
sentiment has been growing in favor Of
more civilized conditions. but with the
national TON Taggart party coming it
is argued that the only way 20 get that
100000 back will be through the various
games and the saloons.
Denver Is further West than the Dem
ocrats have ever gone before, and the
Tammany braves Of Gotham probably
have not yet awakened TO a realization Of
just what il means. When they learn the
price of d railroad ticket from Broadway
IlrnNnp q
tremendous shock
The Democrats have frequently come
part way West, and the delegates rather
enjoyed the trip into new lands. That,
however was in the days of railroad
passes. Even the leaders. unless they
are lucky enough 60 be railroad pres
idents-and most railroad presidents arc
Republicans-wIll have to pay fare this
year, thanks TO the activity Of the IN
terstate Commerce Commission.
With crusades against honest graft
under way ia all parts Of the country,
politics have not been as profitable the
last four years as in the good Old days.
The Democratic politicians are particular
ly hard up, and already urgent appeals
have been made 10 the Denver commit
tee TO force the railroads to put the fare
at the lowest possible notch.
A Mile Above Sea Level.
Denver is particularly proud Of the fact
that she is 800 feet above sea level,
and the Democratic convention will find
itself higher in the air than ever before.
whether it renominates William Jennings
Bryan or not But lurking in the little
matter OF altitude is a sad blow for the
20 NH al
convention IS an occasion for celebration.
Il can't drink here like I could In the
East" Is a complaint which Denverites
have heard until they are tired. There
is something more than theory or illusion
In the declaration highball in Denver
is the equivalent Of three OF four In East
18th street A quart OF wine will go twice
as many heads in the cafe OF the Brown
Palace Hotel as Il viii in a Tsmmany
saloon in New York.
The altitude is likewise hard on invet-
crate smokers. The have 10 cut their
daily consumption Of cigars in half or
they will find themselves topping over
in dead faints or going to the hospital
with overstimulated hearts.
The altitude is also blamed for spirit
Of unrest which comes 10 strangers
few years ago they found the mummy Of
a cliff dwellerin Mancos Canyon and took
Il to Denver for exhibition in the State
Museum. which occupies a part Of the
Capitol building. After a few nights the
mummy apparently grew tired Of sleeping
on her back and turned over on her side
This strange turning in the mummy s
long sleep occurred within a locked glass
case and has never been explained.
May Not welcome Guests.
Denver has taken care Of other con-
centions as large as the Democratic Ma
tional Convention is likely TO be-the
Grand Army Of the Republic and the
Elks, for example-but a very large part
Of the numbers represented by these
gatherings were the wives and daugh-
ters OF the delegates and visitors. Only
a few Of them found accommodations in
the hotels, and the rest were apportion-
ed to private houses. Now it is one thing
10 open ones house 10 a Grand Army
veteran and something entirely different
TO show the same hospitality to bunch
Of Tammany braves or members of the
Cook County Democracy, with their at
tendant Tags"
Besides this, OF all that came to the
other conventions, only q small proper
ton were actually interested in the for
nal proceedings, and the rest came along
to have a good time visit around, and
swell the great parades. So that, by
running breakfast from $50 a. m. until
il: dinner from IL until 1880, and supper
from until 9, the hotels and restaurants
were able TO feed all the multitudes. But
if the convention is TO have any time for
proceedings at all there must be more
regular meal hours
Apart from the regular business, Den
yer has transient hotel accommodations
for about 1900 persons The restaurants
and boarding houses can take care of
about as many more. It is estimated
that 15,O00 persons Will be brought here
directly or indirectly by the convention.
Where will they eat and sleep?
II has been suggested that the Demo-
cratic leaders plan convention that Will
be so exciting that no one viii want TO
sleep. Denver entertained the Elks with
out trouble, but they did not come to
Denver to sleep.
In the gambling-hOuses and saloons,
say the wide open element" what
good Democrat cares whether ne is
asleep or awake when he can get next to
a game? What Bourbon desires mere
eating when there are liquors, with a
free lunch accompaniment"
It is admitted. of course, that the pres
ent gambling accommodations of the city
will be wholly inadequate to the pres
sure. One group of capitalists" there
fore, is arranging for a mammoth race
track and meet, with a bOOkmaking aux
iliary, of course. Another bunch plans
a temporary casino on the outskirts OF
the city which will leave Monte Carlo
somewhat in the shade. The rivalry be-
tween the various elements is already
growing bitter Just the other day two
leading eXponents of Democratic thought
came to blows in tie street after an eX-
change Of biIlingsgate, which grew out
OF dispute as to which should have the
main pull with the big racetrack.