The Penn's Grove record., 1904-06-24
THE CONVENTION DETAILS
Proceedings Of the Republican Ma
tional Assembly at Chicago.
ELIHU ROOT SOUNDS KEYNOTE

Delegates Called to Order by Postmaster
General Payne-Former Secretary of
War Root Elected Temporary Chair
man-Applause When the Name OF
Roosevelt Was Mentioned.
Chicago.-At the first days session
of the Republican National Convention
in the Coliseum the chief feature of
the proceedings was the speech of
Elihu Root, the temporary chairman.
Mr.. Roots presentation of the cam
paign issues aroused much enthusiasm.
n there was a great demonstration
when he mentioned the name of Presi-
dent Roosevelt.
The platform in the Coliseum for the
officers of the convention was covered
with a red carpet and the furniture
was black oak of a quiet design. On
the chalrman's table there was a large
boquet of American Beauty roses.
Weeks had been spent in decorating
the Coliseum. The interior had been
finished in white and gold, affording
a bright background for the national
colors, and the effect is gay and bril-
liant. The seating capacity of the
great hall is, i'll round numbers. $500.
The 994 delegates and the a~lternates
were seated on the main floor of the
hall. The remaining seats on the main
fOOr and the seats in the boxes were
occupied by spectators and those who
had been fortunate enough to obtain
tickets.
The officers platform had been erect.
ed midway between the north and
south ends of the building. Back of
it is the terraced stage reserved for
27 distinguished guests. The press
platform, which provides accommodate
tons for $50 working newspaper men,
surrounds the officers platform.
The crowd was seated without dis.
turbance OF friction. ~Sergeant-at-
Arms William f. Stone and Assistant
Sergeant-at-Arms David C. Owen had
at their beck and call several hundred
deputies appointed from lists made III
by the members of the National Com.
mittee. Thirty uniformed policemen
were stationed inside the hall, and
seventy preserved order outside the
building.
There was loud handclapping when
Chairman Payne called the convention
to order at 1915 O'Clock. Mr.. Payne
made no speech and Immediately intro
duced the Rev. Timothy P. Frost, who
opened the proceedings with prayer.
The prayer ended at 1920.
AS soon as the prayer ended Senator
Scott, of West Virginia, presented t.
Chairman Payne a gavel, a gift Of
Samuel B. Raymond, chairman of the
local Committee of Arrangements.
Assistant Secretary Molly, of Ohio
who has a fa~r-reaching vision, ther
read the official call for the convention
When he read the name of the late
Senator Hanna at the end of the cal
there was applause.
Governor Van SAINT, of Minnesota
made a speech presenting a table t.
the convention. The table was made
in a public school in Minnesota, and
was used in the National conventions
of 1892, 1896 and 1900. The Governor
made a little political speech, and
mentioned the name of Roosevelt. Al
this cheering began. The delegates
then stood up and cheered wildly fol
twenty seconds. That ended the ap-
plause.
At 1890 Chairman Payne nominated
the Hon. Elihu Root for temporary
chairman. Governor Odell moved thai
the action of the National Committee
be approved by the convention. This
was carried with a whoop, and at 1875
MI. Root was introduced. He was re
ceived with genuine applause.
While Temporary Chairman Roo
was waiting for the applause to sub
side a three-quarter length portrait Of
President Roosevelt was carried to the
platform and placed on an easel. Il
was carried away, however, before Mr.
Root began speaking. For forty-fivt
minutes he held the convention in al
address which will be the keynote t.
the campaign of 1904. His address
was a review of the accomplishment
of the present Administration and 6
defense of Republican policies in gen
eral. When that had been delivered
and the various working committee:
despatched to their labors the bushes:
of the first days session was complete
The most sensational incident of the
day was the action of the La Toilette
delegates from Wisconsin. They re
fused to make a contest before the
Committee on Credentials, charging
that the committee was prejudice(
against them, and that some of it
members had been approached" They
declared that they would appeal theil
case to the people of Wisconsin.