Jan 11, 2007 11:45 am US/Mountain
Denver Was A 'Queen City' After 1908 Convention
by Vicki Hildner
DENVER (CBS4) ―
One hundred years ago, in July 1908, Denver hosted the Democratic Convention, the one and only convention the city has seen. Then, Denver wanted to bring the Democrats west for the same reasons the city wanted the Democrats in 2008.
"It would be a great way to show off the city," says
Colorado historian Dr. Tom Noel. "That's why Denver wanted the convention in 1908, and the mayor and governor see it that way this year again."
One hundred years ago, Mayor Robert
Speer offered the Democrats $100,000 to come to Denver. The city had just finished the Auditorium -- a perfect venue for the convention. And so the Democrats came. They marched under the welcome sign at Union Station. In streets filled with flags, they found friendly locals wearing buttons that said "I'm from Denver...ask me."
They filled every restaurant, bar and hotel -- including the
Brown Palace. But not every visitor raved about first class service. The New York Times published an article claiming the food was bad and in short supply.
"They said there weren't enough restaurants and people were down to eating mackeral and stewed prunes," laughs Dr. Noel.
The big attraction in Denver turned out to be July snow, imported by train from the mountains. The delegates cooled off from heated political arguments with snowball fights.
A total of 15,000 people filled the Auditorium the night the Democrats nominated William Jennings Bryan.
Bryan eventually lost to William Howard Taft, but even though the Democratic candidate lost, Denver won in 1908. A political cartoon portrayed Denver as the "Queen of Cities." The convention lured new business investment and brought many delegates back to the city to visit or live. It put Denver on the map in 1908.
And now the Queen City of the mountains and plains is hoping it will see history repeat itself in 2008.
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