The Mena weekly star., 1920-07-01
WILSON IS STILL
IDOL OF PARTY
Roaring Tribute Echoes From San
Francisco to Neutrality-suspicious.
of Opening Of the Great
Convention.

oan rranclScor June ZS.--trOm the
shadow of the Golden Gate the hosts
of Democracy sent a roaring tribute
across the country today to President
Wilson. The national convention
flung aside for the moment the bust.
ness before it, while delegates carried
on demonstration that swept the
great gathering off Its feet.
1t was half hour before the out
burst evoked by sudden display of
the presidents portrait could be still
ed. Again and agin, as his name was
mentioned, the cheers broke out anew
to culminate In the shout of approval
that adopted and sent to the White
House tonight a striking testimonial
OF his party's faith and pride in the
man who has led through troublesome
years
Arrangements for the first national
political convention to be held in the
far west had been well made. The
great hall, its clean architectural lines
almost unmarried by added decora.
lions, was ready and through a dozen
wide entries, thousands poured In
with little delay or congestion.
In the center of the hall, where the
delegates sat rallied within a wide
square OF seats, an inner ceiling was
suspended, colored in soft old blue
that rested the eyes and lent some
thing Of quiet dignity to the scene.
Ral0W "A fnrngf nf cfo Ia r1e
ing the names of states and territories
was the only reminder of a national
convention of the past.
Perched high beside the organ in a
special gallery, military band whiled
away the time
AS the noon hour and the opening
time approached, color guard Of
Marines appeared on the platform. A
six-foot sergeant, with the cleaning
folds of a regmental flag in his hand.
made a vivid spot OF color on the
platform. At his side stood the armed
non-commissioned officer of the color
guard and with them two Marine bug
lers.
When Vice Chairman Kremer of the
national committee gave the signal, a
buglar sounded attention. The
sharp, staccato call rang out over the
uproar Of the convention. The first
notes of the Star, Spangled Banner
rang out from the band and organ to-
gether and as delegates, alternates,
spectators and attendants stood in tri-
butte, monster flag dropped from the
ceiling TO form a wall OF color behind
the platform. 1t obscured the view OF
the band gallery and organ loft, but
as it fell, the booming tones of the
organ rose from behind It, joining
with majestic thunder in the national
anthem. From floor and galleries, de-
legates and spectators joined in the
mighty tones.
Then came the touch that set the
convention off with q wild shout OF
exultation. The great flag was gath
cred slowly upward in the sling and
as it rose, 1t uncovered a flag-draped
and Illuminated portrait of President
Wilson, placed against the high pipes
of the organ. For moment there was
a brief pause. Then came the tumult.
A wild shout rang from the floor 1t
caught and echoed from side to side
Rising with hysterical force, the
sound grew and grew, a formless,
toneless thing that had in 1t some
thing that stirred the blood and pull
ed at the emotions. Delegates leaped
on their chairs. waving and shouting.
They stamped into the aisles, jostling
and cheering in a packed mass before
the platform.
Over In the Virginia section a dele
gate ripped the standard from the
loop and started toward the speakers
stand, waving 1t high in the air. Other
states followed. Some of them were
slower to get in motion, but as the
shouting and tumuit continued, stan
dard came up and march around the
hall began. In the New York section,
Assistant Secretary of the Navy
Roosevelt seized the standard and
rushed into the crowded aisle battling
with others who sought with eager
hands to uphold the sign. A shout Of
added intensity marked the delegates
recognition of the incident and a
cheer for Roosevelt was all but lost in
the great tumult.