The Washington herald., 1912-06-20

dresses in the controversy over the
! seventy-eight contested seats. Most OF
these speeches, for utter duliness, have
seldom been surpassed in the probate
court.
Doors Opened at 10 O'Clock.
Shortly before 10 o'clock the doors Of
the Coliseum were thrown open. There
were fewer people on hand to-day wait
! ing for the session to begin.
A confusion over proper credentials for
entering the building arose, and for
rearly an hour at the entrance con-
| fusion reigned. The confusion became so
great that Sergeant-at-Arms William +.
Stone was called on TO straighten things
out. Finally badges were issued, and the
persons were admitted.
A preliminary band concert in the
main auditorium held the attention OF
the gathering crowd. The gallery seats
| filed first.
Delegates were much slower in appear
| ing to-day than they were yesterday,
and Il was not until the visitors section
was pretty well filled that the delegates
began to arrive.
The same police arrangements in force
CT the opening day were renewed to-day.
| A line OF oficers with assistant Chief
| schuettler in command, lounged in the
'front.' row Of chairs
Mayor shank Arrives Early.
Mayor Samuel Lewis Shank. OF In
dianapolis, was among the early ar
rivals. He occupied a seat near the plat
form and spent sthe early hours chatting
with friends.
The band furnished plenty Of lively
music The crowds laughed and chatted.
Good nature among them was evident.
In ~ he nj
bitterness that was so apparent at the
beginning Of the convention yesterday.
Just before the convention opened Con-
rressman Mckinley issued brief state.
ment. He said:
We have the bull by the horns. There
is no doubt as to President Taft's vic
tory. Yesterdays POLL gives the only
true indication Of the situation. OF
course, It is to be expected that efforts
to belitfIe the seating OF Elihu Root as
temporary chairman are being made by
the opposition.
mo matter which way they hgure,
Roosevelt is without a chance. He has
dropped behind more than seventy votes
This cannot be overcome.
We are in favor Of giving the dele
eates for Roosevelt or any other candi-
date full time 10 argue all debatsble
points upon the floor. Such opportunity
Il canont conceive that bolt will be
made by the Roosevelt delegates. They,
am sure, have before this given up such
an idea.
T. RS weakness shown.
The events Of yesterday served II
emphasize the weakness OF Roosevelt.
He didn't dare to come out in the open,
but chose to hide behind the skirts OF
some Otner nsn.
There is no doubt that the plan
TO sIdetrack Borah and put McGovern
in his place was all cut and dried before
the cpenInE Of the convention
The attitude Of the New York dele
Cation was stated by ]. W. Wadsworth,
ir, chairman Of the delegation, before
the programme opened. He was told
of the report that desertions had oc-
CURED in the Taft ranks overnight.
Wadsworth laughed at the report
7 don't see where there can be any
desertions from our side" he said. Take
New York. We stand seventy-seven for
| President Taft, and it will never
change
How about the influence OF Tim
woodruff? Don't you think ne may get
some Of your men to switch when the
big show comes?"
Not for one moment. He IS one Of the
unlucky thirteen who are for Mr.. ROose-
Welt and that is all he will get from us"
Some Of the other States may make a
different showing" was suggested.
Applaud CaIIfOrnians.
II cannot see where It comes in" he
answered. Hawaii voted for McGovern
yesterday but you can expect TO see
those six men back in line when the
proper time comes"
A small round of applause greeted the
California delegation when its standard
bearer entered the Coliseum with gold
and purple standard bearing this in
scription: California forever" The ap-
plause was scattered and consisted merely
Of hand clapping.
Root took the platform at 1854. A slim
round OF applause greeted him. Gov.
Hadley, who lead the opening fight for
! the Roosevelt forces, came in at the
same time and drew little OF the atten-
ton. Gov. Hadley and James Watson,
| soon as they saw Chairman Root ap-
pear.
They were in readiness to open pro-
ceedings, which were put over from last
night as unfinished business. Both sought
| the ear of the chairman before the gavel
sounded for order.
! The crowd. for the most Part. paid no
attenuon 10 the nOJAples as Ihey ar
rived.
Col. E. P. Thayer appealed to the police
10 prevent the bringing Of transparencies
into the Coliseum. The rule also ap-
piled to the unfurling OF banners As a
result the California banner was furled.
1T obstructs the view" said Col
| Thayer.
Face Police Barrier.
When Rcosevelt's leaders returned to-
day they found themselves facing the
most perfect police barrier that the skill
Of veteran officers could devise. Between
| the delegates and chairman fifty police
men were stationed. Two hundred more
stood about the aisles, and the square set
apart for the delegates was girdled with
| policemen.
At II o'clock. the hour for opening the
convention, Chairman Root was posing
Lat his table for a photograph. The Coli
scum was in confusion, and many of the
delegates had not arrived AS soon as
| William Barnes. jr.. of New York,
reached his seat in the State delegation
he was surrounded by Taft leaders who
sought information On the days proceed
ings, and also reported on conditions in
the various delegations.
H. P. Gardner. delegate-at-large from
Maine, walked over to Gov. johnson Just
before the opening of the convention and
promised that his ten delegates would
follow Calfornia's example The two