The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-02-07
Interior Of Coli cum at Chicag,
Has Been Rearranged.
ARE SEATS FOR 11.O11.
Desk Room for 416 Members of
the Press.
Accommodations for 3,19S Wis
itOrs in the Balcony.

Washington, Feb. 7.-Chairman
Harry S. New. Secretary Elmer E.
Dover and other members of the sub
committee of the Republican national
committee, practically have completed
the hall arrangements for the national
convention which is to be held in Chi
cago next June. The convention will
assemble in the Coliseum-the scene
of many historic gatherings-which
was designed and erected with special
reference to the needs of a political
convention.
1t is admirably located, being only
about 2 minutes walk from the busi-
ness center of Chicago and reached by
the Illinois Central railway and cleo
trlc surface lines. In the opinion of
secretary Dover, while arrang en- is
| for previous conventions in the Coli
scum have been excellent, they will be
better this year than ever before. AS
Planned now the Coliseum in June will
be the most complete convention hall
in the United States, although one or
two other halls are larger.
To Chairman New and Secretary
Dover past experience in effecting ar
rangements for national conventions
has proved valuable. They have per-
fected plans which will make the Coli
scum almost an ideal convention hall.
Every improvement they have suggest
ed to the architect tends to the COM
fort and convenience of those who at
tend the convention. The most radical
of these Improvements is an entire
change In the seating arrangements.
The platform, instead of being at the
center of one side of the Coliseum,
will be at one end. This will not de-
crease the number of seats, but will
permit all who occupy seats both to
see and to hear the proceedings.
The total number of seats, accord
ing to present plans. is 11,011. which
includes the seats provided in the bal
cony that extends around the hall. On
a raised platform above the floor OF
the auditorium will be provided seats
for the chairman and secretaries of the
convention and Sc seats for mem bers
of the national con1mittee. The sec
platform provided for specially invited
guests will contain 1,S26 seats. Di-
rectly in front of the platform and ex-
tending on both. sides of it are the
sections provided for working mem
bers of the press. These sections will
give desk room for 416 writer's, nearly
100 more than were provided for at
the last convention. In the body of
the hail 1000 seats are provided for
the delegates and Immediately back of
them 1000 more have been set aside
for the alternates. On each side of
tn ese two sections and in the rear OF
them are 3,615 seats for the spectators,
these sections being arranged in
amphitheater style. The balcony sec
tions contain 3,19S seats for the gem
eral public, most of them being very
desirable.
Entrances to the hall are provided
on all sides, the total number 12, ex-
elusive of several stairway entrances
from the basement to the platform and
guests sections. In the basement ad-
mirable arrangements have been made
for the convenience of the delegates,
alternates and the members of the
press. Telegraph and telephone offices
will be established. The decorations of
the Coliseum, both inside and outside,
will be elaborate and beautiful