The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-06-26
Thousands Pack Way Into
Coliseum, Heated to
Baking Point.
SESSION TO BE SHORT
Main Meeting to Be Held
Tonight; Bowers Will
Sound Keynote.
BY CARL d. GROAT
United Press STAFF Correspondent


United Press STAFF Correspondent
CONVENTION HALL, HOUS-
TON, Texas, June 26.-The cohorts
Of Democracy began their national
convention here today.
Bent on nomination of Governor
Alfred E. Smith of New York as
presidential contender, thousands Of
delegates and guests swept down
on the vast coliseum, which had
been erected as a monument to the
Democrats and to Houston enter
prise. Beneath a baking Texas sun,
they marched.
Harmony had come to them in
advance, and while there we're yet
points of difference to be cleared,
the convention assembled in a spirit
that promised avoidance of any
serious clashes.
Smith Sure Bet
The naming Of Smith was taken
as a foregone conclusion. AS his
running mate, Senator, Joseph
Robinson, minority leader of the
United States Senate, was largely
discussed.
Prohibition, which had bidden
fair to be a real thorn, was assured
of satisfactory solution. Advance
agreements envisaged dry plank
calling for enforcement of the pro-
hibition and other laws.
This, it seemed assured, would
have the conventions approval.
But today. the convention had
only preliminaries to dispose of.
Tie noon session, with its program
Of prayer, welcome, and selection
of temporary officers and commit
tees, viii be followed tonight by a
session in which Claude Bowers of
New York will sound the party's
keynote" for the 1928 battle.
Harmony Is Cry
Harmony and heat were the battle
cries of the opening meeting.
The thermometer was mounting.
Convention hall, beautiful in its
setting of American and State flags,
bunting and evergreens was hot,
though its openwork sides let in
some air.
Bands began their blaring at mid
forenoon, but paused from time to
time for rest. 1t was too hot to
keep up their putting. THE Old
Gray Mare" and martial tunes
tipped up the early proceedings.
At Convention hall, delegates be-
gan to come in. Pages in white
scurried about. A band on one side
of the hall tuned up early and then
another on the opposite side crashed
in. They kept things lively for a
while, though the program called
for them to begin only at IL a. m.
The radio chainmen tuned in with
the bands test tryouts.
Shirt Sleeve Session
Carpenters were doing some last
minute hammering.
The ventilator fans were whirring,
but it was hot.
Early comers stuck bravely to
their coats, but it was foreseen that
Chairman Glenn Shaver's suggestion
for Shirt sleeve session" would
find favor.
The scene was colorful. In the
forward portion of the great hall, a
forest of markers denoted the State
delegation places. Behind that we're
special reserved seats and then
around three sides stretched gall
leries.
The hall was decorated with State
flags, while forward above a massive
shield Of the United States, fringed
in evergreen, a dozen American flags
were draped like a plaque.
Festoons of bunting hung from
the edges of the balconies and at the
front and rear ends of the hall.
Women There First
Women were the first comers.
Down in front several Alabamans
we're the first to arrive in the del
egate section. Connecticut, YER.
mont, Oklahoma and South Caro-
lima delegates were next to appear
BY 10 a. m. the march on the hal.
was in swing. Rice Hotel head
quarters resembled the New York
subway in the rush hours, and the
streets leading to Convention Hall
were beginning to crowd.
The vendors of horned toads, soft
drinks, Al Smith banners, flags,
popcorn and other things that go