Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1908-06-16

Chicago, June 16.--With the nomi-
nation of Secretary of War William
Howard Taft as the candidate for
president conceded and the contest
for president undecided. the Re-
publican national convention conven-
ed at promptly 12:14 O'Clock
this afternoon in the Coliseum, when
Chairman Harry S. New of the Re-
publican national committee, brought
his gavel into play and called to order
convention which promises to be a
momentous one in the history OF this
marty, At 1920 o'clock Chairman
New began his opening remarks.
While today's program was essential
|ly preliminary it marked the opening
session of a convention the plans OF
which were nearly as perfect as those
of any previous national convention
Doors Opened Early.
The doors of the Coliseum we're
thrown open at 10:30 o'clock Just us
the first visitors, delegates and alterh'
ates began to file in. High up in
the girders of the great arching roof
1.-The band struck up America" and
the first scene of the 1908 gathering
was under way. The decoration
scheme in the hall was purely a pa
triotic one, with gracefully draped
flags predominating. The band kept
up gay and patriotic airs as the crowd
assembled. Dixie" called out the
first applause and the "Star Spangled
Banner brought out burst OF ap
plause and cheering.
Seating the Delegations.
Senators Hepburn and Borah O
Idaho. and Representative Boutelle o
Illinois, were the first PLATFORM guests
to arrive. In locating the delega
tions in the body of the convention
hall Ohio was given the seats in from
OF the stage. Directly across the aisl'
was Indiana, next was Illinois, ant
lust beyond Wisconsin. In the from
row of the opposite side OF the hal
to the left of Ohio was Pennsylvania
then on the extreme left came Ney
York. Directly behind Ohio wer
Minnesota, Connecticut, Colorado
Maine, Nebraska, Idaho, North Dakt
ia and Vermont. In view of the delt
gates on the right were the territorie
of Alaska, Hawaii, Porto Rico and tn
Philippines. Crowded close upon tn
rear seats of Illinois were Marylant
Arkansas and Florida and Iowa Whlc
is expected to furnish gun powder fo
such explosions as will take plac
: during the vice-presidential struggle
Way back, last of all, was Oklahom
Poor Press Arrangements.
When the newspaper correspond
! ents reached their seats they foun
the facilities wholly inadequate.
: storm Of censure and criticism Wa
directed at Chairman New who supe
vised the press arrangements. IL
correspondents were crowded in quar-
ers altogether too meagre and !
, method of egress was provided. III
press arrangements were worse tina
anything seen in many years.
I Delegates Slow in Arriving.
= The delegates were slow in arri
: ing and fifteen minutes before the hot
: set for calling the convention to or
: er the delegate section was not ha
: filled, but the music of marchll
s bands in the street poured into II
: hall and the parading hosts were
: hand. Fairly everrunning the lars
) corps OF door keepers and ushers, Il
) delegates from score Of states crow
) ed into their places. Most OF the nt
) able guests on the speakers platfor
) were slow in arriving. The first
) appear were Ambassador and MN
) Jusserand, OF France, who were sot
5 followed by other members OF the d
> lomatic corps. It was nearly IL oclo'
) when Ambassador and Mrs. Bryce
Great Britain reached the hall. 20
spicuous among the diplomats W
Il Minister WI Ting Fang, Of China.
IL o'clock, the hour set for the ope
Is ing Of the convention there was no 6
IN idence that 1t would be called to ord
70 for some time. Chairman New was q
d. in evidence on the platform and sc
raj leading delegations were represel
Il ed In meagre fashion. The gallerl'
possibly two-flfths Of the seats wa