The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-06-14
DEMOCRATIC
CONVENTION
|SL|STLESS
Everything Is So Lonely Ev-
en- Delegates L. L.
Interest.
ss3pFF.
THAT GOLDEN LANE
Isuffragists, Mute, Lined the
Highway Leading to
Convention Hall.
tHy Associated press)

~ ~ tBy AssOClateu fEeSb3
ST. LOUIS, Mo-, June 14.-"Wilson
and Marshal and Victory in November
was tho program Of the delegates who
crowned into the big Coliseum here
today for the opening session of the
Democratic national convention. There
probably was not one Democrat who
went into the building who could re.
call when a National convention or
that party entered upon Its work with
more harmony than that which pre-
vailed among the more than 1000 DEL
egates today.
The candidates for President and
vice president have ben decided on
and according to leaders there Will be
mo- ojfriction over the party's declaration
Of principles. Only the phraseology
Of a{few planks Of the platform are to
belagreed on.
Those who looked for clear weather
for the convention were q bit disap'
pointed to learn that conditions were
uncertain. Ther was however one
thing virtually certain and that was
that It was warm enough to make tes
closely packed crowd in the Coliseum
swelter.
Nearly everybody who went to the
convention from the eastern part o.
ST. Louis journeyed by way Of Wash
ington street which Tor hours be.
fore the convention convened was
Transformed into q golden lane" On
either side OF the broad avenue stood
woman suffragists arrayed In yellow.
They stood or sat on stools few feet
apart and did mot utter word 10
the.passing throng making their way
To- the convention hall. The Golden
lane stretched for IL blocks from the
hotel district to the Coliseum and the
mute demonstration swas~ exp ectedS py
its originators to influence the dele.
gates in the matter OF Q declaration
for suffrage. 4
) AT 1920 o'clock 40 minutes before
the time for the Democratic national
convention to be called to order there
( were not more than 20 delegates on the
floor, only a few officials on the plat
E form and the galleries filling slowly.
There was little excitement. The
carpenters were beating tattoo In
{. finishing touches on the hall as dele
gates filed In.
The delegates and alternates had
seats on the main floor arranged like
a huge oblong wedge with the broad
side toward the platform. Their seats
were jammed together, arrangements
for both delegates and spectators be-
ing much more congested than At
either convention in Chicago.
The only picture Of President VII.
SON hung on the speakers stand.
Itwas small reproduction Of q pho.
togrsph;on shield with a background
Of flags and bore the inscription.
s"American First"
The Coliseum filled rapidly Just be-
4 ofre noon. Some day in opening the
doors to spectators preventing an
: early irflux. The bands accompanied
the delegation to hall but were not al
lowed to march into the hall. Few
\ delegations came in all together and
ther was little excitement and cheer
: ing during the half hour preceding the
opening of the convention.
Moving picture machines and cam.
{ eras were planted at every vantage
point. Because of the heat under the
glaring skylight many Of delegates
soon removed coats and 1t promised
soon to become coatless crowd.
Texas delegations tossed miniature
souvenir balls OF cotton to the CALLER
les. At 11:45 the official band began
tile opening concert In accompaniment
10 a male quartet which sang new
GoNy about American through meg.
aphone. The song brought the first ap-
: pIause Of the day.