Evening star., 1924-06-24
Convention Off
to COlOrful
Start.
HINT OF LATER
FIGHTS HIDDEN
Record of G.. 0. P.Is
Bitterly Scored
by Harrison.
By the Associated Press.
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press
BY the Associated Press
MADISON SQUARE GARDEN
June 24.-Rolling along on a grea
wave of party enthusiasm, despit,
its deep differences over candidates
the Democratic national convention
at one brief session today gave itsel
over to cheers for the party ano
roaring approval OF Temporar,
Chairman Pat Harrison's lamba stine
OF the Harding Coolidge administra
ton
While the contest over delegate!
and platform principles temporaril,
was laid aside, the $4,000 delegate!
and visitors at the convention gath.
cred under the sizzling roof of Madi
son Square Garden-home OF man,
great show, but none greater thar
this-to go through the formalitie
OF getting the convention under wav
Cheers for Jefferson, Jackson ant
Cleveland rose in a growing cres.
cendo until Chairman Harrison men
toned the name of Woodrow Viii
son. That was the signal for th,
first big demonstration and everv.
body went to it regardless of sym.
pathy for Smith or McAdoo. Il
was nearly half hour before the
great audience was quieted again
and Chairman Harrison went back
to finishing his keynote address.
Asks For Party Harmony.
Closing with plea for harmony and
united Democracy. whatever the de-
cisions Of the convention might be,
Chairman Harrison said:
1T would seem that we can hear
the voice of sweet reasonableness
coming to us from Monticello: the
voice of Old Hickory coming across
the Blue Ridge, and from the historic
crypt at st. Adams we hear the
mighty voice of Woodrow Wilson
calling to us, TO you from falling
hands we throw the torch;
Hold it high! Garry on; carry on
hcep lHe IdlIn keep Jne taIth
In succession, and while the conven-
ton cheered each new point of attack,
Senator Harrison turned the guns of his
best oratory on the Republican admin
istration for all it's policies, ranging
from foreign to domestic, and centered
his attack on the developments of the
congressional Investigations at Wash
ington.
FOrmalities Attended.
n al 1f
was the principal part of today's
business in the convention. The re-
mainder of the proceedings was per-
functory and connected with the or
ganization machinery.
Until the convention reassembles
tomorrow, various committees will
continue their work. Tomorrow's ses-
sion will see the temporary organi-
Zation given over to permanent
one, with Senator Walsh of Montana
as permanently in the chair.
Opening Delayed.
The convention came to order for
its first session at 12:43 o'clock. Aft
er delaying the opening to allow the
police to straighten a traffic jam out
side which was keeping hundreds of
delegates and visitors from the hail.
Chairman Hull, looking refreshed and
better after his attack of exhaustion
and heat stroke, brought down the
gavel. In brief words he called the
great assembly to order and gave
way to Cardinal Hayes, who offered
the invocation. The great audience
stood in silent reverence as the voice
of the prelate penetrated to the fur
thest part of the big garden.
At the conclusion of the prayer the
band struck up THE Star Spanged Ban
ner." and from the recesses of the bunt-
ing and flags up on the rafters thousands
of little American flags were released
and f1uttered down over the heads and
shoulders of the delegates. Then while
the band softly played the national an
Opera Company sang it, and the great
audience Joined in the refrain.
Delegates Come Early.
Both the delegates and the conven-
ton guests, anxious to miss nothing
from the drop of the hat, were early
in assembling. A half hour before
the opening bang of the gavel many
of the seats on the floor were occu-
MED and the aisles were crowded With
delegates who were asking their
friends from other states what was in
store during the days to come. The
galleries were dotted with early ar
rivals. half hidden by the great cIus-
ters of American flags that were
grouped in serried rows about the
At I1:30 the full lighting effects
were tried out three chandeliers; aers eath aith
,wenty feet across, and studded with
electric bulbs, throwing the conven-
tion moor into bright 11asa relief; mere mone nne
III adowv under the rays of a half hum
dred drop lights, all curtained in
orangelike big Chinese lanterns.
The lighting effects brought OUT
the four portraits of past
party leaders which were hung over
he four corners of the central sec
ion where the platform and the seats
of the delegates were located. jackson
q nd cleveland faced each other across
The delegate arena, while pictures OF
Jefferson and Wilson hung above op-
nosite ends of the platform.
The seating arrangements present.
7Continued on Page 2, Column A.