The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1912-06-18
CONVENTION OPENS
WITH DRAWN CLUBS
READY FOR RIOT
Police Guard Every Aisle and
All Approaches to the
q, Chicago Convention. 4

tFcm an Evening word STAR Cor~pond~Al
CONVENTION HAIL. CHICAGO.
June u.-sPersisoent rumor to the effect
that the Roosevelt managers had planned
to open the convention with an exhita-
ton of anything from plain assault to
murder In Che FIRST degree caused the
early gathering 'outside the Coliseum Of
q crowd such a. might be drawn by
q night for the heavyweight champion
ship of the world. Men with thick necks
and square faces predomdnated In the
waiting thousands-the sort Of men who
can smell trouble across Lake Michi-
gan.
There were many women. too. but
they were In the rear ranks. cirou-
iating in and out Of the crowds around
the convention hall. where scores Of
big. capable looking young men. plainly
detectives, lined the curbs. besides bat
talions Of policemen in uniform. There
were from two to six uniformed police
men at every entrance to the hail. In
s.ds the vast building. policemen with
drawn clubs stood ct the head of every
aisle.
POLICE ORDERED TO HEAD OFF
START OF TROUBLE.
The orders to all these hundreds Of
guardians OF the peace. inside and out
side. were to Jump on the hrst person
trying to start anything and subdue
said starter by the most direct msthod.
The ominous predominance Of blue and
brass served to add flavor to the air Of
apprehension and expectancy. SO many
policemen seemed to forecast something
In the way Of trouble. Altogether. the
outlook was pregnant with possibilities
Of police interference. and many
cautious delegates and spectators care
fully Inspected their surroundings before
taking their seats. with prospects OF
ducking quickly to safety should any.
thing start In their direction.
Reinforcing the policemen were squads
Of city flremen. burdened with authority
to prevent Svercrowding. Since the Iro-
quois Theatre disaster Chicago has been
mighty careful in handling large crowds
of people in places OF public resort.
There was no standing in aislcs In the
Coliseum to-day. when tho seats were
filled the doors were closed.
RUMoRs SPREAD OF "PAck" ~
ROOSEVELT sHoUTERs.
1t was charged by the Roosevelt man.
ayers that the hall was to be packed
with shouters for Taft. and rumor had
been busy with declarations that Roose.
welt rushers would storm the doors and
invade the Coliseum despite the Police
and Fire Departments. The declarations
having been published In Chicago and
the surrounding country. served to hold
the great crowds outside the walls in
the hope that the invasion might become
a fact at any minute.
So fearful were tho Chicago managers
or the convention OF disorder that the
doorkeepers and serseants-at-arms were
under particular instructions to pass only
persons wearing badges to certain parts
| OF the hall. 1t came to pass that the
distinguished William Barnes jr. OF
New York had occasion 20 20 to the
platform half an hour before the con.
vention was scheduled to start. Two
stout sergeants-at-arms held him up be-
| cause he did not wear the badge of Ma.
tional Committeeman or an officer OF
the convention. A bystander rescued
Mr.. Barnes from tho clutches Of the
vigilant guardians of the sacred plat
| FORM. both OF whom frankly admitted
they had never heard OF the New York
| boss They came from Indiana.
The decorations OF the hali were
simple and confined to the national
coiors. There were no pictures In eyl-
dence OF the President or OF former
Presidents, living or dead. hut there
were plenty OF pictures OF Roosevelt
concealed In places readily accessible.
There were two breaks In the red.
white and blue bunting. One was a
purple satin drapery all the way around
box to the right OF the stage which
mad been reserved for the close per-
sonal and political friends OF the TAFT
family. Many women richly gownei
occupied seats in this box. the mos,
refulsent sartorlally being Mrs. John
Hays Hammond. She wore Il gown that
must have cost several hundred dollars.
MRS. LoN0WoRTH GOT LION.
ESs's SHARE OF ATTENTION.
Alice Roosevelt Longworth. clad IN
blue and white and bareheaded. occupied
box with her husband ans was easily
the woman In the hall wa1 attracted
most attention, In fact. she mOnopOlized
the attention OF the audience from the