Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1912-05-31
BALTIMORE PLANS
FOR MIGHTY HOST


lions Under Way
Baltimore, May 2S,-Nlth the Dem
ocratic National Convention just a
month off the alterations and deeora-
tons OF the Fifth Regiment Armory.
the great convention mall, are about
half completed and the engagements
for the Illumination Of the city on a
splendid scale are well under way.
The members of the national commit
tee are entirely satisfied with the
progress being made. number of
changes have been made in the arm
CRY, including additional exits and i'm
provements OF the acoustics. Shortly
after June / a subcommittee of the
national committee will make the al
lotments of tickets, of which there
will be about 1900.
The seating capacity of the hall
will be somewhat in excess of $4,000.
OF these abont 2240 seas viii be re-
served for the delegates and altern
ates and 1000 for representatives Of
newspapers and press associations.
The other seats will be divided into
classes according to thelr locations
aud tickets for them viii be distribut-
ed pro rata among those entitled to
receive them The local convention
committee, of which Robert Grain is
chairman, will receive about 5000
tickets for distribution Each dele
gate and alternate, beside the ticket
for his own seat will receive three to
give away.
Those remaining between 5000 and
1000 win be allotted to members of
the national committee and prominent
Democrats throughout the country.
The problem that will confront those
who have the distribution of tickets
is how to divide 1900 tickets among
5000 or 100000 visitors
Hundreds of Employees
The appointments of the hundreds
of employees of the convention, door
keepers, pages, messengers. assistant
sergeants-at-arms and other attend
ants, is in the hands OF Colonel John
!. Martin, sergeant-at-a7ms, but they
are made upon the recommendations
of the national committeeman and are
subject to their approval.
The contracts for the instllation OF
the fixtures for the special illumina-
tions of the city have been awarded
and the work is being rushed City
Superintendent Of Lighting McCuen
xr+r 10 hi Ia,
ness for test a week before the con
vention opens. The Total appropria-
tion for lighting is $4,000. The plans
include the outlining o, he dome and
portico of the City Hail and the Court
house with incandescerI lights. The
Armory will he outlined by thousands
of lights. This will he the biggest
piece of decoration in the city.
Long streamers OF light will be
stretched along Bolton street, from
of the usual across-the-street plans,
the streamers being parallel to the
curbs. presenting 4 colonnade effect.
1t is expected to be Lore beautiful
than the old plan. The shafts of the
Washington Monument and the Battle
Monument will be Illuminated, as will
the historic shot tower
The searchlight display will be es-
pecially attractive. Big searchlights
viii be placed on the Maryland Casu-
atty Companys tower the Emerson
tower and the Belvidera Hotel and
trained on the Armory, In addition
there will be great white ways,
which are now under construction
High-power lamps on ornamental
posts will be placed around the City
Hall and Courthouse within a few
days. The electrical display win be
on a more elaborate scale than ever
attempted in any other Democratic
convention city.
zens' Committee on Convention Ar
engagements, has issued an earnest ap-
peal to the business men and all pa
triotic citizens 10 raise al additional
fund of $4,000 to complete the cost
of the music and decorations for the
convention. There IS 30 doubt that
the money needed viii soon be sub
seribed, The convention is going to
cost Baltimore a good round sum. but
the merchants have responded liber-
ally. and both the politicians and bust
ness men are determined TO make #
the biggest political event Baltimore
ever has seen.