Seward daily gateway., 1924-09-18
DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION ATTENDED BY MANY
 OLD--TIME ALASKANS

When the Delegates to the Nation al Democratic convention began to arrive, it was found that everything was in readiness for the reception and entertainment of the Delegation from Alaska. Under general auth ority of the National Democratic Committee and the general auspices of the New York Convention commit tee, a special Alaska committee had been designated and placed under the able chairmanship of R. s. Ryan better known to oldtimers as Dick Ryan, with James c. Gaffney as vice chairman and Bruce Rogers, secre- tary, all particularly we'll known in the Seward peninsula. Other names as members were Eugene Allies, Rex Beach, Stephen Birch, Frederick R. Coudrt ,jr., James J. Godfrey, Geo. L. (Tex) Rickard, ex-Governor Thos. Riggs, A. L. Scheuer, c. T. Ulrich, H. D. Walbridge, Herbert Wall and J. c. Weir.
 By resolution the Alaska Commit tee had recognized the geographical isolation, the political difficulties un- der which life in the territory pro- ceeds, and the hardshps endured by it's pioneers. The committee itself was constituted and officered for the most part by oldtime Alaskans, re- gardless of political affiliations and who had themselves mushed the long trails of the North, who had heard the howl of the malamutes un- der the stars bejeweling the high vaulted northern skies, of other sour doughs who in more recent years have seen the ice come and 20, and of still others residents of New York City, whose principal interests are identified with the we'll being of Al aska. And it had been duly deter. mined that neither time, expense nor effort should be spard in preparing for the comfort and entertainmnt of our friends and former neighbors of the Northland, who were delegates and alternates to the convention.
 Accordingly an official "Igloo" was established and opened in suite at the Hotel Belmont, the heartiest well come extended to arriving delegates their alternates and their friends and from this "Igloo" the latch-strinp was never withdrawn in all the three grinding weeks of the memorable convention, but kept open continu- ously after the fashion of true north ern hospitality.
 It was found with much regret that several of those who had been off cially elected as delegates could not attend. Among these were the names of James McCloskey, J. J Connors, Thomas Ashby, W. w. Ca sey and Simon Hellenthal but theil places had been filled by assignment of proxies to former Governor Thos Riggs, Judge Robert W. Jennings, J 5. Powers, who had journeyed from his distant home in Eagle, Alaska and Oscar Ashby, who with John w Troy eminent Alaskan editor from Juneau, and the Honorable George E. Grigsby of Ketchikan, comprised the delegation as it finally entered the convention.
 A formal housewarming at the "lgloo" was rendered to the delega- tlon on the eve of the opening ot the convention, Monday, June .23rd with buffet luncheon of an abund- ance of viands, cracked ice and White Rock water as auxiliaries to such good cheer as can be provided in these Volsteadian days.
 Two hundred or more oldtime AL askans and their friends attended the reception to join their cordialitv with that of the Committee provid- in rousing welcome to the dele gates. The lavish arrangements pro- vided abundantly for everyone who came and joyous time was had un- til the wee hours of the morning.
 On Tuesday following the first session of the convention formal dinner was rendered the delegation by the Alaska Entertainment com mittee at the historic old Lafayette cafe and this was followed almost daily by similar function, includ- ing dinner-dance at the Cascades, Biltmore Hotel, and a Box Party to the Milk Fund Boixng contest at the Yankee Stadium, etc. Meantime continuous open house was maintain ed at the Belmont 'Igloo,'' with in variable refreshment and to which the delegates always repaired when their convention labors for the day were over. Casual visitors continu- ed to come and advantage was taken to renew old time acquaintance with delegation and to spin "reminiscences of the gold stampedes and the sights and scenes of other days No finer