The San Francisco call., 1904-06-23
PLATFORM
HAS NEW
FEATURES
Takes Up Cause
of the Colored
Voters.
One Plank Aimed
at States of
. South.
Hints at Reduction
of Their Repre-
Sentation.

CHICAGO. June 22.-Because Speak
er Joseph q. Cannon was the central
figure the proceedings Of the Republi-
can National Convention took on a pic
turesoueness and demonstrativeness
which yesterday was looked for in vain
From the moment he was escorted to
the platform TO WELD the gavel as the
permanent chairman the entire atmos-
uhere Of the convention changed. En-
thusiasm. which had lain dormant,
burst forth and the applause rang true
and hearty He made a speech, and the
audience cheered y neither he spoke joe
uiarly or in a serious vein He was the
entertainer; in fact, he was the con-
Ventiou-
From the standpoint of political i'm
portance the adoption Of the platform
n as the event Of the day. X contained
declarations OF party policy that are 70
form the basis Of much Of the Oratory
IN the coming campaign. But the per
manent chaiTmans personality almost
overshadowed the platform.
READY FOR NOMINATIONS.
The second day Of the convention
might have been the close had ii been
the desire Of the assembled delegates
Early in the day movement was in
stftuted TO proceed with the nOmina
tions. but the original programme,
which was prepared 10 extend over
three days. prevailed, and the standard
bearers for the 1903 Republican cam
psign viii be named formally to-mor-
row.
The party enthusiasm aroused by the
hearty reception given Uncle Joe"
Cannon, as he is known from coast to
coast, spread even TO the routine busi-
ness and eliminated in contest over
the number Of delegates TO which Ha-
1r1ar he frT he
first and doubtless viii be the last on
the floor Of the convention.
The report of the committee on Gre
dentials interested the convention only
50 far as it dealt with the Wisconsin
situation.
One Of the remarkable features con-
cerning the adoption of the platform
was the fact that il has been the sub
sect Of administrative scrutiny and ma
tionsi interest for many weeks, and
was accepted without a dissenting
vote.
In addition to the tariff plank and
other features which always have had
a prominent position in Republican
platforms there were incorporated sew
eral clauses Of striking interest. One
Of these is a plank looking to the re-
ductiOn OF the representation of certain
Southern States in the Electoral Col
lege and IN Congress. II is built upon
fion." offered eight years ago, and the
Quay resolution. offered four years ago,
but goes further than either. The plank
directs an investigation TO ascertain
whether there have been unconstitu-
tional acknowledgements Of voters in
any State, and If so demands a reduc-
tion Of the representation of such
States in Congress. with the conse-
Quent reduction in the Electoral College
and IN national conventions
CHINESE EXCLUSION PLANK.
The full significance OF pledges for
the continuance Of the provisions Of
the Chinese exclusion act and for the
furtherance Of all legitimate efforts TO
obtain for American citizens abroad
without discrimination. the rights of
sojourn and travel, was not appre-
cisted when read TO the convention.
Visitors were not so early about the
convention hall to-day but when Root
called the convention TO order shortly
after noon the Coliseum presented a
more inspiring appearance than on the
preceding Gay. The galleries were for
the first time crowded and a large
number Of ladies present was especial
ly noticeable
The greatest demonstration as the
delegations we're entering the hall was
shat which greeted Senator Fairbanks.
who had become known as the natural
choice for second place on the ticket.
II exceeded in enthusiasm the ovation
ot the first day.
The announcement Of the permanent
organization for the convention start
ID the continuous demonstration which
followed ,the Introduction Of Speaker
Cannon As permanent chairman.