Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-06-26
BIC OPENING EVENT
DELAYED TOSP.M.
10000 Seats on Floor or on
BIeachers-LaviSh Use of
Flags and Bunting.
By BYRON PRICE,
Assoc, ated Press STAT Writer.


HOUSTON. June 2s.-Under new
convention plan. made to order for the
are of radio, party managers clipped
In two the program for todays noon
Say opening session, leaving delivery OF
the KEYNOTE speech. always first-day
drawing card. for a second session to
be held this evening at s O'Clock, East
ern standard time,
Thus the preaching of this Demo-
cratic gospel will coincide with those
hours when the great audience OF
listeners-in is at its maximum. Inc
ARRANGEMENT left for the noon session
only a few dry and dusty formalities.
consisting chiefly Of setting to work the
committee machinery by which the
convention shifts many Of its troubles
TO other shoulders.
Wooden Hall Dressed Up.
Like the convention il was built TO
house. Sam Houston Hall is IN itself
s UNIQUE establishment to party his
tory. Erected against time after the
Democratic national committee had sur
prised Houston itself and the whole
political world by deciding suddenly to
nominate a presidential candidate IN
this south Texas city. the great wooden
auditorium stood today dressed in
thousand flags and redolent with the
pleasant scent Of clean new pine.
Half of its 10000 seats were at ground
ievel-wooden theater chairs on a con-
crete floor: the other sloped upward
around the edges like base ball bleach
ers. the highest but so feet of the
ground. Prom this 30-foot level up
ward TO the low-arched roof. the sides
were open TO the breezeS. in token OF
q Southern thoughtfulness for those
visitors who are not accustomed to
June in Texas.
Decorations as spick and span as the
hall itself draped the walls and ceiling
with the national eoiors striking the
dominant note High against the west
wall, at the rear of the platform,
mammoth reproduction Of the great seal
OF the United States stood fianked by
l3 American flags TO form background
for the scenes that are to be enacted on
the convention rostrum.
Rows of State Flags.
Hanging free, high above the delegate
section. their poles standing out from
the rafters, two rows of State flags
formed the center piece among the
abundance of color lining the body OF
the hall itself.
Under the call of the national COM
rnittee. issued months ago, noon, central
standard time, was sent as the official
opening hour of the convention. But
the arrangements committee had stolen
an hour. and the three bands with sta
tons in the bleachers on three sides Of
the hall were ordered into action at IL
O'Clock to delight the ears of the early
arrivals and lend festive atmosphere
70 the hot and complicated business Of
getting the crowds assorted properly
and each delivered TO his proper row
and number.
To the national committee chairman.
Glenn Shaver of West Virginia, fell the
honor of gaveling the big convention
into order. New in national politics but
four years ago. Shaver became head Of
the party organization at the instance OF
his fellow West Virginian, John w.
Davis, whose campaign for the presi-
dency ne managed. He was armed to-
day with a hickory gavel made from a
tree at the Hermitage. in Tennessee,
the home of Old Hickory himself. who
vas nominated by the Democrats an
even century ago.
Methodist Bishop Prays.
The opening prayer by Bishop S. r.
Hay Of the Methodist Episcopal Church
South was followed on the convention
program by the reading Of the official
call by the national committee secre-
tary, Charles A. Greathouse of Indiana,
also secretary of the convention. Then
came the purely perfunctory business
of ratifying selection Of the temporary
officers. including Claude q. Bowers,
editorial writer for the New York Eve
ming World, as chairman and keynoter:
Col. Edwin A. Halsey of Virginia, the
rigat-hand man Of the Democratic or
sanization in the Senate at Washington.
as sergeant-at-arrns: Representative
Clarence Cannon Of Missouri as parlia-
nsentarian, and Pat Haitigan, who in
tones IN thunderous fashion the bills
and resolutions that come before the
National House Of Representatives, as
chief reading clerk. The appointment
of committees came last
The recess until o'clock tonight was
. respite for virtually everybody but
members OF the platform committee,
who face many hours Of discussion
and understanding before they can
hope TO present finished product for
considers ton on the convention floor.
Prohibition is the big trouble. with
both ultra-wets and the ultra-dryS
threatening 10 appeal 20 the conven-
ton Itself unless their demands are sat-
1sfled Even 80, the leaders hope TO
have platform ready by Thursday. and
70 make nomination and finally adj
1ogTYl py FRIDAY night