Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1908-06-17
GREAT HALL WELL EQUIPPED
Coliseum Arrangements Rt Chicago
Are Amule Go Care for
DeieRRtes.

its best in the way OF weather conditions
which is saying a great deal-for the open
ing OF the convention. A strong breeze
off the lake ali day yesterday cleared the
air OF the humidity which has character
lied the last few days. and OF the low
lying cloud OF smoke which to most tran
sient visitors is the synonym for Chicago
and a marked coolness and dryness of at
mosphere all the afternoon and night re-
freshed the crowd OF delegates and visitors
and awakened them this morning ready
and eager for the momentous gathering at
noon IN the great coliseum ON Wabash
avenue below Fifteenth streeS where all
was in readiness.
Those who gained early admission TO the
convention hall found the interior a scene
Of simple beauty and order. more fit
ting or more completely equipped place of
meeting could hardly be imagined. Twelve
thousand seats in serried ranks fill every
available inch Of space save for sufficient
aisles and entrances yet there Is no ap-
pearance of crowdinE and none of that sus-
gestion OF temporary makeshift or un-
safety that so often marks the place of
great conventions. The aisles and plat
form were carpeted with strong mating OF
plain and tasteful eolors and the steps and
rails dividing off the reservations for dele
gates. alternates, press representatives
and spectators siye the impression of per-
manence and safety.
There is just DECORATION enough to beau
tify without interfering with ample light
and ventilation. Broad bands of color, red,
white and blue, veil the front OF the gal
leries which extend round the hall. looped
up at intervals with red rosettes midway
| between the steel girders which arch acrost
fha hail 9.ssar ka aNn
| the gallery a similar strip is draped upon
large, gilt. five-ponted stars. At the ends
of each arch are groups of big flags. Al
either end Of the hall an immense eagle
| with twelve feet spread of wings, sur
\ mounts a mass of flags. "Old Glory,
dominates the scene. There is ample light
| from windows and skylights and should the
sessions extend beyond the daylight great
clusters OF arc lights insure ample illumi.
nation.
Exits are numerous and plainly marked
and from the center of each section oi
| seats a passageway or tunnel leads out
| Every precautlon for quick egress in case
! of emergency has been provided and fol-
| those to whom the occasion Is one of harC
work and quick communication the facili
ties are seemingly ideal. Practical mer
planned the arrangements of assembly
halls for pages, sergeant-at-arms door
keepers. messengers and ushers; there ar,
rows of telephones and large spaces Sc
aside for the army of telegraphers of tn,
Western Union and Postal Telegraph com
panes. There are committee rooms, Of
fices. reception rooms. smoking rooms, ant
cozy, tastefully decorated retiring room
for the ladies.
There is also an emergency hospital, full,
equipped. with two wards, four beds al
! operating table. invalid chairs. two womeI
! and four men nurses, and a staff of forty
eight physicians. Most of the physician
are merely honorary members OF the hospi
tai staff, but they are all subject to cal
in case of need. AS for the organization
of the medical staff. which is under tn
direction OF DIR. George C. Hunt, chic
OF the City Health departments ambulanc
service, each section of the hall Is pro
vided with a doctor. two orderlles and
stretcher. BY means OF an electric ligh
signal above the speakers stand, a physi
clan may be called at any time from tn
floor of the convention to the hospital
even though the noise of the moment Nigh
prevent the leather lunged announcer max
ing himself heard.
The most unenviable position in the con
vention is that occupied by the band. whic
is swung on an aerial platform among tn
girders in the northern part OF the hal
opposite the rostrum There is communca
tion with terra firma by way of a stairwa
hidden by the bunting, but a casual inves
tigator would think nothing short of
flying machine could land the musician
on their perch. buzzer at the chair
mans table enables him to control tn
music by signals to the band leader.
Today's program was to be essential
preliminary, but when Chairman Harry s
New of the national committee dropped hi
gavel at midday 1t was to initiate plan
as nearly perfect as often are ready at tn
outset OF a national convention.
The gavel used to open the convention
of more than passing historic interes
being made from log preserved from oil
Fort Dearborn. The inside of the cove
of the box containing the gavel IS left /
its rough hewn condition, showing tn
deep, broad axe cuts. The mallet is abou
a foot long and around the head is a sive
band bearing an American flag in coore
enamel silver plate on the box bear
this legend: Made OF hand hewn oak 10
from a blockhouse OF old Fort Dearborn
the first outpost OF civilization under tn
United States governmeht in Chicago c
vicinity in the old northwest, 1s03-burne
by the Indians and rebuilt IN 1915. The 10
J from which this gavel and box are mad
is in the collection OF the department {
municipal history and museum, Chicag
city hall, June. 1908"
Preparations have been made for a fiy
days convention. lasting until Saturda!
1t may run the full five days-n may
completed in three. It depends to a grei
extent upon the time consumed in contest
before the committee on credentials. 1t
expected that the anti-raft "allies" expe'
to bring before the .ommittee some 100
: the original ga contests This numb r ma
be reduced BY settlem ,nts OF various kind
+ but the hearings which are assured oann'
, be cleared up in the ordinary co1!se befol
/ Thursday morning, and il IS expected tht
the convention wiz not have run ITS ~
course under the wel-establShed ayerat
! OF four days
ROOsEVELT's NAME WILL BE USE
Z New Yorker Insists He VIII BE Pre-