Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1912-07-03
WEDNESDAY, JULY 3, 1912
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.

Baltimore, June 29.-An effort
to report or give an adequate idea
of national Democratic convention
in one issue Of county paper would
be as futile as would be the attempt
to veil the monument on the square
at Edgefeld with a ladv's handker,
chief. Even a report of one of the
nine sessions, the sessions lasting
from four to eleven hours would
be impossible, and yet / want The
Advertisers readers who do not see
the daily papers to get at least
glimpse of this great convention,
probably the largest in size ever
held in America. A professor of the
University of Illinois told me yes
terday that he had attended a num-
Der of large conventions, both edu,
cational and political, among them
being the recent Republican con.
vention in Chicago, but that he has
never before attended such a gather.
ing as this.
The Convention Hall.
Fortunately, Baltimore did not
have to erect special hall in order
to provide accommodations for the
convention, the 5th regiment ar
mory being used. It is probably the
largest auditorium in America, COW
ering an entire city block. As the
roof is supported by steel arched
girders, equaling almost the span
Of a rainbow, there are no columns
or supports to obstruct the view
from any part of the room. There is
but little doubt that the attendance
upon several sessions was over
10000.
A Baltimorean who knew by rea'
son of official connection with the
committee OF arrangements told me
that l5,s00 folding chairs were
PLACED in the armory, and some ad-
ditional seats were provided besides
these. Several thousands were seated
in windows, standing against the
walls and in the aisles near the
doors. Dozens of policeman were on
duty outside to prevent the great
throng that could not enter the hall
from blocking the sidewalks, ropes
being stretched to keep the streets
open. Through well arranged plans,
by having large number of ushers
and by providing about thirty OF
forty places Of entrance and exit,
the crowd was handled with com
parative ease and dispatch.
The danger from fire was practi,
cally eliminated, as there was moth
ing infammable in or about the
building except chairs or clothing.
The heat think of being in such q
crowd seething June day. was SC
intense, almost to the point of suffo,
cation, that dignifed, sedate middle
age and old men did not hesitate to
remove their coats. The ladies would
likewise have removed "a garment OF
two but they we've already so scanti
ly clad that any removals would
have caused their election from the
building.
An Unwieldy Body.
Except in deciding questions al
issue and in parliamentary matters
it may be said that the body OF
convention rules the chair. When
feeling ran high and pandemoniuI.
1eigned during the contention be
tween Judge Parker and Mr.. I:rvar
for the temporary chaIrman>hip
Mr.. Norman E. Mack, the Chairman
of the national committee, WIS Ut
terly ,powerless to restore order.
His commands, demands, appral Is
and rans with the gavrl were al.
together ignored. At other times
when enthusiasm reached a white
beat a,noug the friends of Spealle!
Clark or Gov. Wilson, particularly
The latter and "vations and demon,
stralionS would last for an hour, TIE
chairman conId do nnthing but
stand and look on. Even the pound
ing of his gavel was drowned. Judge
Parker is lacking in the e'emerl-
or qualities that make u successful
presiding officer. Mr.. James, the
permanent chairman, held better
grasp of the situation. lie is tall,
broad-shouidered and has q cum.