New Britain herald., 1928-08-21
OLD TIMERS TELL OF 1884 CEREMONY
Grover Cleveland Notified Of
 Nomination at Albany

Albany. N Y, Aug. 21 UP)- From yellowed manuscripts and the recollections of half dozen old timers comes thls story of demo- orat who was notified in Albany fl years ago that he had been nomin- ated for president,
 Today, while hordes of strangers were streaming into the New York capital for the Smith notification ceremonies Wednesday night. there were only handful of persons who could recall that day in 1884 when Grover Cleveland accepted the nom ination. Those who did recall it were quick to point out that Cleve- land won the election. The contrast between that went of July 29 forty-four years ago and the ceremony planned for Gov ernor Alfred E. Smith is striking in almost every detail,
 Less than 100 persons heard the address of notification by William F. Villas of Wisconsin and the ac- ceptance speech of Cleveland, To- morrow night it is expected that | 100, 900 will see the event and that millions will hear it over the radio. The notification address of Villas was composed in less than 200 words. Senator Key Pittmans is nearly 2.00o.
 Cleveland's acceptance was con- tained in 500 words. Smiths will require 5000 words
 Cleveland accepted in less than eight minutes: Smith will take an hour
 Cleveland was not photographed and less than dozen newspaper men were present. Tomorrow night more than 200 correspondents will report the affair and a barrage of movie and still cameras will be in action almost continually.
 Cleveland raised no issue. Smith has promised to discuss many of l them.
 Cleveland was to have received his notification on the capitol steps but drenching rain. which lasted through the day and night caused transfeence of the ceremony to the executive mansion.
 The notification committee made it's headquarters in the old Delevain House, then Albany's leading hotel and which burned few years later with the loss of number of lives.
 Fevershly the committee worked in parlor 57 preparing the notifica- ton speech.
 'The national democracy seeks a president not in component for what the man is, or reward for what lie has done. but in just expectation of what he will accomplish as the true servant of a free people, the speech said.
 They place their reliance upon the evidence derived from the serv- ices you have performed for the state Of New York"
 Meantime Cleveland had written out his speech of acceptance. As the rain continued, he bathed and shaved. with his manuscript before him. momorizing it and practiclng his delivery before the mirror.
 At 3:3o p. m, with the ceremony scheduled half an hour later. the skies frightened and the rain slackened. but a few minutes later the downpour began again. The Al bany PhalanX." democratic march ing organization. lined up in front of the hotel to escort the notification committee to the mansion. it having been determined to hold the event indoors,
 The committee members, repre- senting 3S states and 10 territories, climbed into open victorias, drawn by spanking teams. and drove up to the mansion.
 There, in the east salon. Cle'e- 7 lands friends numbering less than 2 1no were awaiting the commlttee : Promptly at 4 p m. Cleveland came !, down the stairway Of the mansion { into the salon. Accompanying him s were Mrs. Folsom and her daueh- ] ter who later became ms pll0e " = the White House. and his nieees
 and two sisters.
 The governor took his place and 0 received his honor. Then in clear y conversational tone he accepted $ His statement was confined entirely
 to good government and demo , cratic principles" He discussed nc II issues and made no attack.
 With the end of his speech. th' Y ceremony came to an end. and th' u big doors of the dining room wer,
 opened and refreshments were
 served