Omaha daily bee., 1908-06-17
CONVENTION GETS TO WORK
Many Guests Of Eots View the Party
Deliberations.
MUCH ENTHUSIASM MANIFESTED
Temporary Chairman Burrows Makes
Address, Chsered on by Thou
sands-Gay Decorations
and V-ast Host.

CONTINUED from First Paee)
10 her corsaee. enjoyed the conventio,
from the rear row Of chairs under the
Hawaiian standard, stiIl another. a young
woman wearing a lavender Merry Widow
hat. gave the only touch OF color 10 tn
floor, but modestly declined to give her
name. She was not a delegate.
At Il o'clock, the hour set for the open
Ing Of the convention. there was no indica-
ton that II would be called TO order for
some time.
Chairman New was not in evidence on the
PLATFORM, several OF the leading delega-
lions were represented only in meager
fashion. the seats OF Indiana in particular
being u~ntenanted.
Ohio was also conspicuous for the long
rows Of empty chairs.
In the gallsries, possibly two-fifths OF
the seats were empty. although the spec
tators were thronging the entrances in a
fashion that promised to ill them speedily.
At five minutes after y Sergeant alarms
Stone gave vent for the first time to the
cry so often heard in all conventions. He
came to the front Of the speakers rostrum.
calling out: Clear the aisle, the sergeants-
alarms will clear the aisles.' And as the
case has always been in all conventions
the aisles were not cleared and the SER
geants-At-arms did nothing.
Wisconsin produced the first burst Of
enthusiasm.
Wisconsin produced the first outburst OF
enthusiasm shown the personnel Of any
particular delegation. A ponderous man
climbed upon a chair and waving a wide
black hat led the Badgers in the cry.
eel - 49, a.
name Of Senator La Toilette being brought
In at the end with vim and energy. Their
4heer was not particularly contagious.
however, and no other state Joined their
lead.
The band In the gallery followed wis
consin with Its own outburst of noise and
as It started off with Dixie It brought
forth that quick. sharp yell OF appreciation
that invariably greets the air wherever II
Is heard, north or south Of Mason and
Dixon line.
BY this time Indiana mad come In. but
the Ohio, seats were still empty. The aisles
we're still jammed and sergeant-at-Arms
Stone again sent forth his order concern
ing the aisles and It met the usual response
All those already in the aisles remained
where they we're and a few others
crowded in.
New Calls 20 Order.
The tap OF Chairman News gavel fell at
1913 o'clock. but 1t was some little time be.
fore the desired quiet in the hall was Sc !
cured. Part Of the delay was due TO the
timely arrival OF a delayed portion of the
Ohio delegation bearing a big blue satin I
banner with a picture OF Secretary Taft
autographed in colors upon It. There was
cheering for a time and then the band
struck up Hail to the Chief" The demon !
.stration was not a sustained one.
Charles P. Taft was one OF the Ohio con-
and. with former Governor Her
rick, had, front seats near. the center aisle.
lust across from them was the Indiana DEL
~egation. with Senator Hemenway in the
aisle. Thus the TAFT and Fairbanks blooms
were brought into proximity.
The Taft banner was not allowed in the
hall and was taken unostentatiously to one
OF the side rooms.
Chirman News first utterance was 1.-THE
secretary will make an announcement
John Malloy of Ohio. who has a
marvelously strong voice. stepped to the
and informed the convention that a
flashlight was about to be taken and urg.
ing that all remain quietly in their salts.
as there would be no danger to anyone.
He indicated the point OF the convention
ball at which the camera was located and
as 1t was in the rear OF the hall, the dele
made a scramble to get into the pic
ture with their faces instead OF their backs.
Chairman New then spoke as follows:
The hour has arrived for the representa-
tives of the republican party to meet I'm
It's fourteenth national convention at the
end of. almost twelve years OF the most
brilliant administration in the history OF
the world. There are those present in this
audience today who participated in the
party's first convention and the accomplish
ments OF that party within so brief a span
as the life OF men yet living are almost
beyond belief.
We are here to assert our pride in what