The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1908-06-15
ALL READY FOR
THE CONVENTION
Republican Clans Gathering in
Chicago to Choose Presi-
Dental Candidate.
sECRET ETARy TAFT IN LEAD
Claims Made that the Administration
Candidate Will Be Nominated on
the First Ballot.-Neqroes
Stand by Foraker.

Chicago, June 15.-Trumpeting
wildly and with the scent of battle
perhaps, by the prodding of ambi-
tious ones who are attempting to
climb upon his back, but still sound
of wind and limb and eager for the
fray, the old war elephant of the
grand old party was again led forth
in Chicago today. 1t is we'll that the
aged beast of burden is in good con-
dition, for if the enthusiasm of the
Taft boomers today is any criterion,
the G. o. P. elephant will have a
hefty candidate to carry in this
years race. While the main snow in
the Coliseum will not open until
noon tomorrow, practically all the
performers, scene shifters and audi
ence are now in the city and every
tavern in the big town is displaying
a standing room only sign.
While many of the thirteen pre-
ceding national conventions of the
republican party have not been
lacking in spectacular features, this
| years performance promises to be
the liveliest in its history. While all
the surface indications point to the
| speedy nomination of Taft, probably
on the first ballot, the specter of a
/ second elective term" and a STAN
pede to Roosevelt is still looming In
| the background. Not all of the allies
have yet given up hope and the sup
porters of Hughes, Fairbanks, Knox
and Cannon are at times able to
make themselves heard above the
! deafening din of the Taft men.
The candidates for vice president
are also receiving much attention
from the delegates and thousands of
politicians and the supporters Of the
various men now in the field are
urging the merits Of their favorites
with the greatest vehemence. There
| is general talk today that Fairbanks
may succeed himself, but this is
| strenuously denied by delegates from
states having favorite sons of their
own.
Manager Frank H. Hitchcock of
the Taft headquarters, is claiming
| 700 votes for his candidate on the
first ballot and declares that no other
candidate will be seriously consider
ed. AS only 491 votes are necessary
to nominate. a loss of 200 from This
| estimate would still leave Taft the
victor. Manager Humphrey of the
| Hughes headquarters alleges that the
| New York candidate will receive not
! less than 125 votes on the first bal
| lot.
Many prominent negro republi-
cans are in Chicago today and this
morning commenced a conference at
the Quinn chapel. Speeches announc-
ing opposition to Taft were made
but no specific favoritism as to can
didates was shown.
The Coliseum-the scene of many
historic gatherings-is now ready
for the opening of the convention,
the final touch to the decorations
having been added today. Both the
interior and the exterior of the big
edifice have been decorated in a Law
ish and artistic manner
Many changes have been made in
the interior, the most radical of
these being an entire change In the
seating arrangements. The platform.
instead of being at the centre of one
side of the Coliseum, is at one end.
This does not decrease the number
of seats, but will permit all who oc-
cupy seats both to see and to hear
all the proceedings.
The total number of seats, is H.
oil, which includes the seats pro-
vided in the balcony that extends
around the hall. On a raised plat
form above the floor OF the auditor
ium are seats for the chairman and
secretaries of the convention and
fifty-six seats for members of the
national committee. The section i'm
mediately in the rear of the platform
provided for specially invited guesta