, 1908-06-16
Doors Opened Early.


Chicago, ILL.,, June I6.-The doors
Of the convention hall were
thrown oEen at 1890 o'clock, as
the first visitors, delegates and al
ternates began to alter in. High up
in the Orders OF the great arching
roof the band struck up america" and
the first scene of the 1908 gathering
was under way.
Patriotic Decorations.
The decoration scheme In the hall
was a purely patriotic one, with grace
fully draped flags discriminating.
Band BegIns TO- Play.
The band kept up gay and patriotic
airs a The crowd assembled. Dixie
called out the irst applause and THE
Star Spangled Banner" brought out 2
burst of applause and cheering. Sena-
tors Hepburn and Borah of Idaho and
Representative Boutelle Of Illinois
were the first platform guests to ar
rive.
Ohio Given Good Place.
In locating the delegations in the
body of the convention hall, Ohio was
given the front of the stage. Direct
was Illinois and just beyond was Wis
consin.
Some Leading Delegations.
In the front row Of the opposite side
of the hall, to the left of Ohio, was
Pennsylvania, and then, on the ex-
IRENE left side, was New York Di-
rectly behind Ohio were Minnesota,
Connecticut, Colorado, Maine, Nebras-
ka, Idaho, North Dakota and Vermont.
Territories in Full View.
In view of the delegates on the right
were the territories of Alaska, Hawaii,
Porto Rico and Philippines.
Iowa Will Furnish Noise.
Crowded close upon the rear seats
of Illinois were Maryland, Arkansas
and Florida and Iowa, which is ex-
pected to furnish the gun-powder for
such explosions as will take place dur
ing the vice presidential struggle.
Way back, last of all, was Oklahoma.
Correspondents Kick.
When the newspaper correspond
ents reached their seats they found
the facilities wholly inadequate. A
storm OF censure and criticism was
at once directed at Chairman New of
the national committee, who upper
vised the press arrangements.
Writers Too Crowded.
The correspondents ere crowded
in quarters altogether too meagre and
no method Of egress was provided.
The press arrangements were worse
than anything seen in many years.
The delegates were slow in arriving.
and fifteen minutes before the hour
set for calling the convention to Or
der the delegate section was not half
filled, but music of marching bands in
the street poured into the hall and the
| parading hosts were at hand. Fairly
over-running the large corps of door
| keepers and ushers, delegates from a
| score of states crowded into their
places.
Some Notable Guests.
The most notable guests on the
speakers platform were slow in arriv-
| ing. The first to appear were Ambas-
| sador and Nine. Jusserand of France,
| who were soon followed by other men,
bers of the diplomatic corps. It was
nearly IL when Ambassador and Mrs.
| Brice of Great Britain reached the
| hall. Conspicuous among the diplomats
was Minister WI Ting Fang of China.
New Not on Time.
At IL O'Clock. the hour set for open
ing the convention, there was no evil
| dence that 1t would be called to order
flor some time. Chairman New was
not in evidence on the platform, and
several leading delegations were rep
resented in meagre fashion.
Galleries Not Crowded.
In the galleries possibly twO-lfths
| Of the seats were empty, although the
| spectators were thronging the en-.
L