The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-06-17
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Delegates Were Late in Reaching
Their Places at the Coliseum.

Delegates were Late in Reacn1ng
Their Places at the Coliseum.
| Chicago, June 17.-Late hours of
| committee work last night resulted in
| a tardy appearance of the leaders Of
| the convention at the Coliseum this
morning and at 1880 one hour after
the opening of the doors there were
| less than a score of delegates scatter
ed about in the state divisions. The
alternates were more in evidence,
however, and their sections, just in
the rear of the regular delegates filed
same rush of visitors as on yesterday.
word having gained circulation that
the days session was likely to be
brief
Half an hour before the time set
for converting, there were only few
hundred spectators in the gallery.
The capable, strong-lunged and
eager brass band, on the lofty balcony
perch fastened to it's work this morn
ing and the hall void of absent dele
gates and visitors was filled with
strains Of lively music.
A parade Of many of the state dele
cations preceded the ASSEMBLING of
the convention today and the streets
leading from the down town hotel dis
trict to the Coliseum were thronged
with thousands of people. who cheer
ed the marching hosts.
AS the delegates assembled there
was an air of some uncertainty as to
just what the days session would
bring forth.
All on the Lookout.
The promise of a minority report
from the committee on credentials
with a resultant debate on the floor;
the possibility of another minority re-
port from the committee on rules and
order of business protesting against
the action of the majority in voting
down the resolution to cut down the
representation of the southern states
and the throwing of the fight onto the
convention floor: and above all the
tense struggle expected to grow out
of whatever action might be reported
from the resolutions committee re-
garding the anti-injunction plank
served to put delegates and visitors
alike on the lookout for a day filled
with incident and excitement.
The lack of exciting features in the
sessions of yesterday produced an eff
feet upon the public at large, even more
apparent than that evidenced by the
tardy appearance of the delegates. The
seats at the extreme north end of the
hall in which no men may sit and hear
a single word of the proceedings were
practically deserted Those in the gall
lery nearer the speakers stand where
one word in ten can be distinguished,
were more plentifully sprinkled with
people, while up at the south end where
definite idea of the proceedings is
possible of attainment the seats were
filled Is minutes before IL, the hour set
for the opening of the convention.
There was much less hustle and con-
fusion throughout the hall today than
at the first session. The public gen.
orally had a better idea of the location
of their seats and Chairman News
numerous sergeants-at-arms had ac
Quired an idea that the aisles were for
people to use and not for them to
blockade.
The result was much less uproar.
A Woman Sings.
After the band had rendered a num-
Der of patriotic airs, white gowned
lady wearing an expressive Merry
Widow hat" adorned with pink roses.
sang, and for an encore gave MY Old
Kentucky Home" which called forth
much applause, particularly from the
Kentucky delegation.
BY IL o'clock the delegates were pour
ing through all the entrances. and the
hall was f1lled-too well filled in fact,
for serious objection was made by the
members of the Chicago fire depart
ment of the manner in which aisles
and stairways at the sides of the build
ing were blocked up. Strong represen-
tations were made to the convention
authorities and in few. minutes a
number of policemen were sent to
clear them. The majority of the peo-
pie occupying these passageways were
not possessed of tickets emitting them
to seats and they were compelled to
climb to the gallery and fill what lit
tie standing room there was remaining
in that quarter. The Ohio delegation
came in today provided with red felt
pennants attached to canes and bear
ing a likeness of Secretary Taft with
the words Our candidate under
meath. They set the flags to waving
at every opportunity and their section
was a bright spot of color in the rath-
er sombre background of the main
f1oo..
AS on yesterday the big crowd was
brought to it's feet with patriotic
promptness by the first strains of the
Red, White and Blue" from the band
gallery, but again their response was
not in vain for the musicians, amid
cheers and plaudits quickly drifted into
The Star Spangled Banner"