The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-06-25
CONVENTION IN
WORKING ORDER
Opening Prayer Was Offer
ed BY Cardinal Gibbons,
the Crowd Standing
announcement OF PARKER
FOR TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN
Was Signal for the Fight That Had
Been Brewing for Days Between the
Progressive and Reactionary Wings
OF the Party.

Convention Hall. Baltimore. Md.
June 25.-A wealth of decorations in
white and gold and the national col
ors greeted the early arrivals on the
scene of the democratic national con-
vention. The big hall, ordinarily
huge steel beamed, brick walled ar
mory. was transformed by thousands
of yards of bunting. The ugly steel
girders under the roof we're hidden
From the galleries hung the banners
of the various states and the terri
tories and insular possessions.
The crowd came slowly and when
the band began to play at II o'clock
the galleries and the guest sections
surrounding the delegates on the floor
held but scattered few.
The delegates, as usual on the op-
ening day Of a convention. we're slow
ing rain and a scarcity of vehicles
made progress from the headquarters
hotels to the armory a somewhat seri-
GUS problem.
Everyone was expecting a great
demonstration when Mr.. Bryan ap-
peared in the hall and was quiet in
anticipation. Word came to the con-
vention that Mr.. Bryan was continuing
hts conferences right up to the hour
OF convening. -'s ~
stage Settings.
The committee in charge of the con-
vention arrangements had given the
most prominent places on the floor to
the states having avowed candidates
in the field.
TO the right of the main aisle and
directly in front of the stage was
Missouri-the home state of Speaker
Champ Clark. To the left was New
Jersey with Woodrow Wilson as a
favorite son.
Pack of Missouri came Ohio with
Governor Harmon in the field.
Back of New Jersey was Alabama,
the home of Representative Under
wood.
Indiana did not fare SO we'll, but the
members of that delegation did not
regard this as in any way diminishing
the chances of Governor Marshall.
A few minutes after noon Chair
man Mack of the national democratic
committee took his place at the pre-
siding officers desk preparatory to
the formal calling to order of the
convention which is to pick the party s
candidate for the presidency for 1912.
The convention officials began taxi
ing places on the platform a few
minutes before noon and the hall was
we'll filed with delegations, New
Jersey. Missouri and Nebraska not yet
having arrived. however.
A heavy rain fell in Baltimore all
morning.
First Applause.
The first wave of applause came
when the Texas delegation entered
waving Wilson banners.
Bryan came onto tho f,,ct
at noon and shook hands with Car
dinal Gibbons. who was waiting to
pronounce the opening invocation.
At 1916 the convention was called
to order and comparative quiet soon
followed. Judge Parker accompanied
by the New York delegation. entered
Just after the proceedings opened.
There was little demonstration.
North Dakota which is nominating
Governor Burke of that state was
no more favorably located than Indi-
ana. both being in the fourth or fifth
positions from the front.
At 1885 1t was discovered that the
slow arrival of the delegates was due
in part to the close scrutiny of the
tickets and credentials by the door
keepers. long line Of delegates and
building. Senator John Sharp Will
Jams of Mississippi had a great deal
of difficulty in getting in.
The hrst cheer of the convention
went to Governor Wilson. As the
delegates seats began to fill up a
standard bearer marched up the CEN
ter Of the aisle carrying a big white
silk banner bearing a gold lone star
and the inscription "Grand Old Tex
son. the peoples choice"
Aa the hannar onnoornS a .h.>,