Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1912-06-29
POOR MANAGEMENT
AT THE CONVENTION
Arrangements Nothing Like As Eff
cient AS Those At Chicago
600 Badges Lost"

Baltimore Md, June 27.--Com.
parison of the management of
the Democratic convention with that
of the Republican gathering in Chi
cago demonstrates that the Democrat
ic party management is far less eff
cient In such work than the Republi-
can party. Moreover, the contrast is
made the greater because in Chicago
the bitter feeling among the delegates
was far stronger than even at the
height of the Bryan and anti-Bryan
fight here.
In Chicago the number Of tickets
was limited TO the number of seats.
Several entrances were provided for
the $500 delegates and alternates.
Badges appropriate to their positions
were given to the officials. No one was
permitted to stand in the aisles The
order against smoking was rigidly en-
forced. Except at one door on one oc-
casion the crowds were handled ex-
peditiously and with minimum of
discomfort No matter at what hour
the convention adjourned a generous
ly sufficient supply Of trolley cars
was on hand to carry the people away.
Doorkeepers were watched with eagle
eye. and several who permitted friends
or others to sneak in were fired" so
fast that their heads swan The ad.
mission was limited strictly to the
comfortable capacity of the vast hall.
Unnecessary Jam At Doors Here
On the other hand, in Baltimore g.
600 delegates and alternates are as
signed entrance through one door,
through which hundreds, if not thou
sands. of other persons also are re-
stricted. The first result of this mar
row policy was the detention of hun
dreds of delegates on the outside until
long after the proceedings were open
ed.
ASK Chairman Mack to wait went
message to he rostrum hundreds
of delegates are caught in the jam at
the door and can't get in for half an
hour"
The aisles were damned and packed
and crowde dand the police appeared
powerless to clear them.
mo one is allowed to stand in the
aisles; it's against the rules of Mary
land" said an officious little badge
bedecked youth in the press stand as
he showed reporter to one side
The rule of Maryland" did not APP
ply to the main floor, where the jam
defied the police.
Six Hundred Badges Were Lest
Six hundred Officials" did not have
badges. They were lost" No mem
Der of the Mahon-Preston regiment of
Vice-Presidential boosters, however,
had any difficulty in obtaining his dec
Grafton and his credentials.
So lax We're the arrangements. in
deed. that james d. Preston, in charge
of the press arrangements at both
Chicago and Baltimore and head of
the Senate press gallery at Washing
ton, was moi supplied with badge or
ticket, and vas Obliged to beg mes
seRger boys badge to obtain admis-
sion to the hall and the press box Mr..
Preston's sulphuric criticism voiced
the sentiments of hundreds of other
persons.
Some persons were detected smok-
ing and were stopped Others smoked
like chimneys, without molestation.
Finally, despite the intensity of the
feeling at Chicago and the bright
prospect OF actual riot, Chairman Root
kept the Republican convention in
hand at all times and never did it
break from his control Here bolster
GUS delegates had their own way at
the opening session, and almost de
fed the chairman.
AS to the trolley service, before and
after theafternoon sessions to say moth
ing of other hours on the various
streets, it hardly could have been
worse, and visitors did not hesitate to
say things that should bring the blush
TO the cheeks of Lord Baltimore.
Eighteen minutes from Baltimore and
Charles streets to Baltimore and Eu-
taw streets was the str ct car time
about $3.50 In the evening. and 40 or
45 minutes were consumed on trims
usually made in 20 or % minutes.
1t is not too late 10 remedy some of
these shortcomings Others cannot
be rectified at this convention.