The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1912-06-18
lEY LEADS FIGHT
FOR ROOSEVELT SIDE
While. Watson, Of Indiana,
is Floor leader for the
Taft Forces.
TROUBLE is FEARED
And Policemen and Hall Off
GERS Tfemble So that
Their Hands Shake.


CHICAGO, June 1s.-The warning
Taft and Roosevelt forces gathered
at the Coliseum today for the open
ing Of tie fffteenth Republican ma,
tioIal convention. The battle lines
of both sides were apparently hold
ing Arm and the leaders and delegates
predicted session that would mark
an epoch IN American politics.
The atmosphere was electric with
bitterness and PERSONAL luminosity.
Thousands Of persons unable to OBJ
tain seats in the convention hall
thronged the hotel Hobbies and the
Immediate vicinity of the Coliseum
with the idea that sensation Of
one sort or another would develop at
any moment
President Taft's managers conclud-
ed their plans for fight on the floor
on the assumption that the temporary
roll al byi the national COM
mittee %5gia chow Taft in control
by sma1F margin. Also they as
sumed that temporary roll Of
the comm S(es would become the.
temporary OF the convention.
RooseEsI and his managers, evil
IDENTIFY fahii With the Taft figures.
evolved All
Blsy Shth Hour Scheme !.
for redo Taft majority by
elimihaf 4 ft6mrs the roll all dele
gatsg c9allsageds By Roosevelt. This
scheme, fathered, by the Illinois DEL
egati5n and ratified by, meeting of
Roose3elt delegates this morning,
was embodied In resolutions which
we're addressed to the body of the
convention, as follows:
Resolved that no election or tenn
porary or other officers of the con-
vention, or resolution or proceeding
shall be taken as an act Of this con-
vention or have any effect unless it
shall have received the affirmative
votes Of $40 delegates Whose seats
are uncontested, and this resolution
shall govern and be in force during
the temporary organization of this
convention and until the permanent
organization shall have been per-
fected."
Every possible effort was made to
have the Taft men agree to the adop-
ton of the resolution, but the Taft
leaders pointed out that 1t was in
direct opposition to the rules of the
national committee and to long es-
tablished procedure The more mod
crate Roosevelt men counseled
against 1t declaring that attempts to
secure its adoption would precipitate
decisive fight when the convention
opens.
No Presidents Picture.
For the first time in the history
of Republican national conventions
no picture Of the president hangs in
the Coliseum where today 1,O7S deli
egates met to name candidate for
president, and one for vice-president
and to formulate a platform, the
rough iron work arching overhead
being hidden by red, white and blue
bunting and the galleries outlined in
ropes of mountain laurel draped
about tri-colored shields.
The chairmans table bears brass
plate showing that It was occupies
BY chairman when Taft was nomi-
mated four years ago, and back of it
are seats for workers and those who
financed the convention, At its SIDE
are grouped seats for 500 newspaper
men, where every word may be heard.
In front OF the chairman's table and
facing south are the seats for the
delegates.
Members of the committee on per-
manent organization elected by state
delegates were announced as follows:
Ohio, E. E. Erkskine; Pennsylvania,
H. H. Gilkyson; and West Virginia,
Charles A. swearingen.
At 1905 o'clock the doors of the
coliseum were opened. The band
began to play America and the peo-
pie began streaming into the build
ing.
Policemen on Hand.
Policemen we're at every door and
corner and in every aisle. Nervous
tension was apparent on every side
and none was more nervous than the
policemen. 1t was difficult often for