The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-06-17

Chicago, June 16.-Amid scenes of
stirring enthusiasm the Republican ma
tional convention of 1903 began its de-
alterations at noon today in the pres
ense Of an assemblage estimated at
more than 1900 people. with the
sounos of patriotic airs alternating
with the. frenzied shouts for Roose-
welt, Taft and the other popular he
roes, the first tOcsin of the coming
struggle from the graceful orator of
Michigan, Senator julius Caesar Bur
rows, and the initial formalities which
started this mOmentOus gathering. The
opening session lasted less than two
hours and was less notable for the
business accomplished than for the OPP
portunitieS il afforded of seeing again
this stirring picture of people assem-
bled from every corner of the country
TO select a candidate for president of
the United States. The actual work
of the day was quickly accomplished.
and tonight the various committees on
credentials. platform, organization.
etc. are preparing for the more i'm
pOTtant business to come.
Center of Excitement.
Early in the day all roads into Chi
cagO turned toward the huge stone pile
known as the Coliseum, with its back
toward Lake Michigan and its gothic
turrets fronting a rather shabby sec
ton of the city. Here centered the
convention thrOngs-state delegations,
singly and in groups. some with march
ing clubs and banners and bands for
their favOrites. the Ohio delegation
with a huge blue silk standard bear
ing the portrait of Secretary Taft. At
front and rear the great building was
besieged by steady streams of humani-
~, until AT noon almost every section
of the structure was occupied and
great crowds stood outside 10 catch the
echoes from within.
The scene when the vast assemblage
was called to order was one of impress
sive dignity, OF animation and of color
In the central arena sat the delegates,
almost 1000 strong, and back of them
their alternates, another thousand in
number, with standards of the states
rising here and there above the turbu-
, lent sea of heads.
The Front Rank.
The points Of vantage Immediately
IN front were held by Ohio. New York,
Pennsylvania, Indiana and Wisconsin.
each having candidate, while further
back. rank after rank. were ranged
the other states and territories, Ha
wall. Porto Rico, the Philippines and
Alaska appropriately forming the out
lying fringe of the official delegations
Around this central mass of delegates
and alternates swept the long lines Of
spectators, in rising tiers and in solid
masses of men and women, the latter
in gay-hued summer gowns and with
fiuttering fans and waving handker-
chiefs. Higher up another gallery
made the entire circuit of the vast en-
closure. Above this a moving kalei-
doscopic scene bent the huge semi-cir-
cular roof, its steel Orders lOOped with
bunting and q blaze of electric de-
vices, while on every side the national
coiors were woven into sunburstss
shields and patriotic symbols. In front
OF the delegates stretched the NAM
moth platform, 200 feet square and ac-
commodating 500 distinguished
guests, including ambassadors and
ministers from foreign states. beside
the officials Of the convention and
members of the national committee.
Noted and Notorious.
The moments before the gaveI fell
ave the opportunity 10 inspect the
ersonnel Of delegates and leaders.
grouped in 'front.' Of the New York del