The Washington times., 1936-06-23
PARLEY OPENS
WITH NOISY
ENTHUSIASM
BY EDWIN C. HILL
Copyright, 1895. by international
News SerYicel


CONVENTION HALL, PHILA-
DELPHIA, June % G.N.SO O-The
first session of the Democratic
conventioned opened and rolled
on with a bang of enthusiasm, in
q tumult of gayety. For the first
time since delegates and visitors
came drifting in to Pens woods
the party gathering got the feel
Of great, national political con-
ference.
All through the proceedings
there was no miStaking the ardor
these people displayed for Presi-
dent Roosevelt and the Demo
cratic cause. All through Conven-
tion Hall, from the 1,106 delegates
and the same number of alter
mates to some $4,000 people be-
hind them and up in the galleries,
NOBODY could discount the lively
spirit which animated the open
ing session.
Lively Session
1t was much nvelier, indeed,
than the initial session of the Re
publican convention out in Cleve-
land. The Republicans went to
work in some uncertainty and
puzzlement, not knowing whether
they were in for a fight or
trolic, casting apprehensive eyes
on Borah, Hoover and the Old
Guard.
In Philadelphia here, these
Democrats know exactly what they
want and what they are going
to do. Their eggs are all in one
basket, and happy days are here
again.
From first to last, it was a
noisy, band-playing, singing. hur-
raining aSSemblage quick to cheer
on the slightest excuse.
New YOrkers Watched
There was a lot of interesting
gossip buzzing around the con-
vention floor under the State
standards. Everybody was watch
ing the giant delegation of "a
New Workers, almost one-tenth of
the delegate representation. How
did Tammany feel about things,
anyway?
Would the Old Tiger come to
heel and go along with the Presi-
dent, and the New Deal? Was
there much pro-Smith feeling in
the delegation? And Tammany
sat still and said nothing, max
Ing very little show so far.
what about Governor Lehman.
Of New York, now out so earnestly
for Roosevelt and the ticket about
to be renominated, and so EN-.
pnatlcally opposed to AL Smith
and the diSSenterS.
Would he consent to be drafted
and make another race to add
strength to the national ticket2
What was the latest word about
the Coughlin-Lemke third party
movement. Was it showing anv
strength? The concensuS. that it
was too early to Judge, but that
the chances were against it max
ing much Of a splash. AS for Mr..
Smith and his four co-signers in
the drop Roosevelt" appeal,
there was pretty wide feeling
that Mr.. Smiths affiliation with
the Liberty League considerably
weakened his phillipic.
Hall Air Conditioned
So the talk ran while the
bands blared and the great organ
doomed and the flashlights flared
and flickered and the news reel
men wound off thousands of
feet Of film which will be in
the motion picture houses in a
few hours.
The air-conditioned convention
hall is agreeable even under the
heat Of these terrific flood lights
and the thermal radiation from
$4,000 human heating plants.
All around the front of the first
balcony are the colorful standards
of the 48 States, Alaska, and the
territorial possessions. Decorating
the front of the speakers stand
and backed by group of the ma
tional flags is little photograph
Of Thomas jefferson, done in red
and ivory, circled by the legend:
"The Democratic Party