Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1904-06-22
H. E PAYNE CALLS DELEGATES TO ORDER.
Gavel Falls at Twelve O'Clock and Great Work
Is Commenced Delegates Begin to Arrive
Early in the Morning.
ON RESOLUTIONS NAMED
COMMITTEE

Chicago, Ill.,, June 21.-The Repub-
lican national convention, the thirteenth
in the party's history, met in the Coli
scum at noon today and organized. The
grand climax, the nominations, will not
be reached until the third day. Senator
Depew calls today a curtain raiser for
the more serious drama Of tomorrow and
Thursday. The curtain raiser was in
itself an absorbing production.
Delegates Are Hot.
Weather predictions were disturbing.
There was a suggestion of rain i'll the
air and the sun had a struggle all the
morning with clouds banked up over the
lake. Fresh breezeS from the northwest
cooled the temperature, but in doors, out
Of reach of the breeze, the day was hot
Five acres of seats under the arches of
the Coliseum began to fill by half past
10 O'clock. Black dots appeared in the
emptiness, the videttes of that huge as
semblage which presently shaped into
the convention. The interest that had
for two days edded gently around fifty
state or territorial headquarters concen-
trated upon these five Steel-coyered
acres, or rather upon that fragment of
an acre of delegates chairs painted green
in front of a crimson-carpeted rostrum,
set with Flemish oak furniture. The
blows to be beat upon it.
Many Seek Admission.
AS thin lines of delegates and other
ticketholders entered from many en-
frances the watchers outside grew into
a multitude and some hearts burned over
fruitless plannings for admission. But
most of those outside were satisfied with
the mild thrill of being in the neighbor-
hood of where large things were to be
done, for the first session of the national
convention was an imposing fact, even II
it's general results were certaintieS be-
forehand.
The Coliseum is not yet historic. 1t
has been a place for roller skating, balls
and the circus, yet old convention hands
thought it the best proportional and ar
ranged convention hall in the United
States. The outside walls are of stone,
with castellated turretS, SO the first i'm
preston was that Of a city armory. II
side the wide concaves of steel, if black
would make the place look like a railroad
station, but, as they are white, relieved
by stands of flags, the effect was pleas
ing.
Seats $500 People.
The first mental effort after looking at
the immensely of seats, parterre rising
on parterre, was to sum the total. 1t
turned to be about $500 numbered places.
including the bank of $50 rising behind
The chairman. Above this terrace of
seats hung the colossal portrait of the
late Senator Hanna on a canvas, 2Ox17
feet. Portraits of the President, with
flags about them were placed at
| regular intervals around the ampitheater.
A banneret Of the Home Market club of
Boston swung near the roof opposite the
chairman.
Send the News to Millions
Underneath tho rostrun and STREET chino
the whole length of the basement was
one of the most curious sights of the
convention paraphernalia and the
workers who communicated to the mil
lions what the thousands saw. Into this
space was let hundreds of wires, more
than 500, that connect directly with the
principal newspapers of the country and