Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-16
CHICAGO IS ALTERED
IN GAYEST BRAVERY
Bunting FIutters Everywhere
and Bright Skies Above.
SCENES OF ANIMATION
Cheering Delegates Parade and
Bands Play Gay Music.
STEADILY INCREASING CROWDS
Republican National Convention
Opens Under Most Favorable
Auspices - Splendid Equip
ment of Hall.

her hest in the way of weather conditions
which is saying a great deal-for the
opening of the convention. \ strong
breeze off the lake all day yesterday
cleared the air of the humidity which has
characterized the past few days and OF
the low-lying clouds OF smoke which TO
most transient visitors is the synonym
for Chicago.
Marked GOODNESS and dryneSs of atmos-
phere all the afternoon and night re-
freshed the crowd of delegates and Wis.,
itors and awakened them this morning
ready and eager for the momentous gath
erns at noon in the great Coliseum on
Wabash avenue below 18th street. where
all was in readiness.
Flag day yesterday added more than
ordinarily spontaneous cooperation of
Chicago people. regardless of party. in
display of decorations for the convention.
and augmented an already gorgeous dis
play of national colors. The sun rose out
of the great blue lake, as IL seemed. upon
a scene Of fluttering bunting and early
gathering of good-natured crowds upon
the streets. 1t seemed as if nature her
self had determined to join in the perfec-
ton of physical arrangements for an aus
picious beginning Of presidential cam
paign.
State Delegations Parade.
Early in the day the crowds began to
move toward the Coliseum. although the
chairman's gavel was not to fail until
noon California led a parade from the
Auditorium to the convention hall this
morning, followed by Colorado, Nevada,
Washington. Idaho and Hawaii. March
ing clubs, playing bands and steadily in
creaSing crowds made gay and pic
turesque scene as the day wore on and
the hour of meeting approached
Those who gained early admission TO
the convention hall found the interior
scene OF simple beauty and order. A
more fitting or more completely equipped
place of meeting could hardly be imag-
ined.
Twelve thousand seats in serried ranks
fill every available inch of space save for
sufficient aisles and entrances. Yet there
is no appearance of crOwding. and none
of that sugge stion of temporary make
shift unsafety that so often marks the
place Of great conventions.
The aisles and platform were carpeted
with strong mating of plain and tasteful
colors. The steps and rails dividing of
the reservations for delegates, alternates.
press and spectators give the impression
Of permanence and safety.
Decorations of Hall.
There is just decoration enough to
beautify with out interfering with ample
color-red white and blue-vetl the front
Of the galleries, which wind round the
hall, looped up at intervals with red
ers which arch across the hall support
ing the roof. Above the gallery a similar
strip Is draped upon large gilt five
pointed stars.
At the ends of each arch are groups Of
big flags. At either end of the hail an
;,,,o oeyln ryif n al fnn
wings. surmouIits a mass OF flags. "Old
Glory dominates the scene.
There is ample light from windows and
skylghts Should sessions extend be-
yond daylight great clusters of arc lights
assure ample illumination.
Exits are numerous and plainly mark
ed. From the center of each section OF
seats a passageway or tunnel leads out
Every precaution for quick egress in case
of emergency has been provided. For
those to whom the occasion Is one Of
hard work and quick communication the
facilities are seemingly ideal.
Practical men planned the arrange
ment Of assembly halls, for pages. SER
and ushers. There are rows of telephones
and large spaces set aside for the army
of telegraphers of the Western Union and
Postal Telegraph companies. There are
committee rooms. ofnces reception rooms,
smoking rooms and a coy. tastefully
decorated retiring room for the ladies.
Emergency Hospital Equipment.
There is also an emergency hospital.
fully equipped with two wards. four
beds, an operating table, invalid chairs,
two women and four men nurses. and
staff of forty-eight physicians. Most Of
the physicians are merely honorary MEM
bers of the hospital staff. but they are all
subject to call in case of need.
AS for the organization Of the medical
staff. which is under the direction of
DR.. George C.. Hunt, chief of the city
health departments ambulance service
a doctor. two opderlies and a stretcher.
BY means of an electric light sigma:
above the speakers stand, a physician
may be called at any time from the floor
of the convention 10 the hospital, even
though the noise Of the moment might
prevent the leather-lunged announcer
making himself heard.
The most unenviable position in the con-
vention is that occupied by the band.
which is swung on an aerial platform
among the Orders in the northern part OF
the hall. opposite the rostrum. There is
communication with terra frma by way
of a stairway hidden by the bunting A
short of flying machine could land the
musicians on their perch. buzzer at
the chairman's table enables him to con-
troll the music by signals to the band
leader.
Program Nearly Perfect.
Todays program was to be essentially
preliminary. But when Chairman Harry
S. New of the national committee dropped
his gavel at midday it was to initiate
plans as nearly perfect as ever were