The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-06-17
Men Express Indignation at Lack of Facilities Provided by the Management for Them to Do Their Work.
Music is a Great Feature of the Occasion and "Dixie" Brings Out Much Enthusiasm--tirst Proceedings Without Interest and Spectators Leave Early.

and just beyond was Wisconsin. And then on the extreme left came New York. Directly behind Ohio were Min nesota, Connecticut, Colorado and Maine Nebraska and Michigan. Still further to the rear were Oregon, Geor- gla, Idaho. North Dakota and Vermont, In view of the delegates on the right of the hall were placed the territories, Alaska Hawai-. Porto Rico and the Philippine islands Crowded close on the rear seats of the Illinois men were Maryland, Arkansas and Florida and Iowa. Way back last of all. was Ok lahoma.
 Press Indignant.
 When the newspaper correspondents reached their seats and surveyed the facilities" provided for their work, they were Indignant and exasperated. A storm of censure and criticism was at once directed at Chairman New of the National Committee. who super vised all the press arrangements. FL bow room was at premium and 1t is we'll within the confines of truth to say that for over-crowding, down right dis comfort and general lack of adapta- bility to the purposes for which they were supposed to be designed the press arrangements of the Republican convention of 1908 surpassed anything seen at any similar gathering in many years.
 The visitors section filled more rap idly than the floor but the balcony crowds were slow. in recognizing the more prominent men among the stream of arrivals although now and then a bit of spontaneous hand'clapping. de- noted the enthuelaaul Of solt1e apprs- clatiwe spectators. Senator chauncey M Depew made his way quietly to a place in the New York section to the risnt and front of the platform Sem atOr Kean of New Jersay was tecor- nized In the midst of a throng of new eomefs. The tnotable guests on the speakers platform were slow In ar- rivlng. The first to appear were Am bassador and Madame Jusserand of France, who soon were followed by other members of the diplomatic corps to whom President Roosevelt had d. lotted twenty-five seats Mrs, Nicho- las Bongworth and Mrs. Timothy I,. Woodruff also occupied conspicuous places on the platform. It was nearly l27o'clock when zAmbassad0rs and Mrs Bryce of Great Britain reached me hall. Conspicuous among the diplo- mats was Minister Wu Ting Fang of China 4s sss rsS
 A gold banner of California was car. ried at the head of the delegation and was greeted with applause. Il was the finest banner on disp.ay at the convention. tss
 Senator Lodge headed the Massachu. setts delegation with a seat in the cen ter aisle near the front. The Kan sas delegation could easily be made out. Their laDels were lost behind immense sunhowers LaFollette banner bearing the slogan Physical Valuation of Railroads" was displayed for a moment by a member of the Wisconsin delegation. but soon disap- peared from view. At 12 o'clock there was no indication that the convention would be called to order for some time. Several of the leading delega- ttons were represented only in mea- gre fashion. the seats of Indiana In particular being untenanted. Ohio was also conspicuous for long rows of emp ty chairs. At five minutes after i2, Sergeant-at-Arms Stone gave vent for the first time to the cry so often heard in all conventions. He came to the front of the speakers platform calling out: Clear the aisle the Sergeant-at- Arms will clear the aisles" and as the case as has always been in all con. ventions the aisles were not cleared and the Sergeant-at-Arms did nothing.
 Band Plays "DixIe."
 wisconsin produced the first burst of enthusiasm shown the personnel of any particular delegation. A ponder ous man climbed upon a chair and waving a wide black hat led the bad gers in the cry hoo -rah-rah" three times repeated the name of Senator La Toilette being brought in at the end with vim and energy The band in the gallery followed Wisconsin with its own outburst of noise and as 1t started of with "Dixie" 1t brought forth that quick sharp yell of appreciation that invariably greets the air wherever heard, north or south of Mason and Dixon line. The tap of chairman Harry S. News gavel fell at 12;1s o'clock but 1t was some little time before the desired quiet in the hall was secured. Part of the delay was due to the timely arrival of a delayed portion of the Ohio delegation bear ing a big blue banner with a picture of Secretary Taft in colors. upon 1t. There was cheering for time and when the band struck up Hail to the Chief" the demonstration was not sustained one. The Taft banner was not allowed to remain in the hall and was taken unostentatiously to one of the side rooms.
 Chairman News first utterance was the Secretary will make an announce ment" Instantly John Malloy, of ohio, who has a marvelously strong voice stepped to the front and inform ed the convention that & flash light was about to be taken and urging that all remain quietly In their seats as there would be no danger. Chair man New then spoke as follows:
 "The hour has arrived for repre- sentatives of the republican party to meet in it's fourteenth national com vention at the end of almost twelve consecutive years of the most brilliant administration of the history of the world. There are those present in this audience today who participated in the parties' first convention on the accomplishments of that party within so brief a span as the life of men yet living are almost beyond belief. We are here to assert our pride in what has been done. to approve the