The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-06-19

from the States and Territories of
the United States met TO name a can
didate for President and Vice Presi-
dent and 10 formulate a party plat
form.
Rough iron work arching overhead
is hidden beneath red. white and blue
bunting. and the galleries are marked
by lines OF mountain laurel draped
about tr-colored shields and more
flags. except lei the main entrance.
where a rug Of royal purple velvet
marks the box OF Chairman Frederick
Upham. OF the local committee on ar
rangements, and his Chicago aides.
The chairman's table. bearing a
brass plate inscribed TO inform all
that the table was occupied by the
chairman tour ear & when VIII
lam Howard Taft was nominated.
stands about a third OF the "a from
the south end Of the rectangular hall.
on a dais. Back OF II are the seats
Of the National Committed. and the
space for the workers" and those
who helped 10 finance the gathering.
High up on the wall. back of the
speakers stand. which fronts the
chairman's table. hangs a broad blue
shield. on which are embroidered in
gold the arms OF the United States.
Copies OF the first 13-starred Dag Of
the nation tanks II. and above. below
and around are hundreds OF large sill
ken emblems OF America.
In front OF the chairman's table.
and facing south. are l.07S hard.
plain wooden kitchen chairs, uncush-
Toned and fastened together in groups
OF FIVE. There will be no chairs
moved about. In the various sections
will be metal stands indicating the
State represented and these will be
spiked 10 the floor.
Father back. and facing in the same
direction. are yet another 1.O7s seats.
likewise hard and uncushioned. where
the second choice. or alternate dele
gates. will await their opportunity IN
the absence OF the regular delegate,
TO represent their districts.
With Bare Heads.
At exactly 11:15 the band broke IN
with my Country. TITS OF Thee" A
few people recognized the tune and
stood up with heads barred. To most
OF the people. however. a band is a
band and n tun Is a tune and they
| $3.50 az ~ khN AAaANEA -
bit later when after a Sousa march,
they played The Star Spangled Ban
nCr,' many more people caught the
air. and stood with due decorum until
the band finished.
4 small striped tfger-cat. the Colt
seum's mascot" which, or who. as
you please. scorned all the police
rules and ran In and out among the
legs 81 both the policemen and the
chairs with evident good humored
scorn OF the whole business about
which all the bipeds In the hall were
on the qui vive.
BY 1920 a m. there was a goodly
s|prinklinE OF people. including some
Of the New York. Mississippi and
Texas delegations in the hall. And
still, outside in the streets. were hun
dreds ~ people more OF less promi.
nent j. ''cpublican councils. who
found 70 POSSIBLE 10 get into the
! big hall.
I The i,rrd,ing system has been
killed. add n OF The assistant
s%ergeants alarms. and they have
found no way 10 overcome a."
Every ticket holder passed muster
three times before he found his place
In the convention hall. A. the last he
surrendered his DAYS coupon. and no
means remained 10 help a friend. or 10
convince a d~oorkeeper OF the import.
ance OF the ticketless ones outside.
As he seats began 10 MI Up the
most marked sign OF the grip the
police intended 10 keep upon the pub.
lie peace was given. The twenty
big patroimen who had been sitting
In the front row OF the delegates seats
stood MP and bout faced 30 as 20 front
upon the arena" where so soon the
bitterest fractional struggle In recent
political history was expected 10 break
into action.
Ready for Opening.
Thus far there had not been a rippia
OF u sort. The occasion for which
the people we're gathering might as
vel have been a horse show a. "a
theatrical performance The proper.
ton O; women present was Compare.
lively small and there was a rather
marked absence Of conspicuous gowns
and millinery.
A silver water service was placed
a. the chairman's table An assistant
sergeantat-arms carefully UNFRAMED
The three pieces from layers OF tissue
poIlshed them until they shone.
and arranged mug. pitcher and trav
where fevored speakers or presiding
OFFICERS could easily reach them.
a big mahogany gavel and "a sound.
ing board ~ the same material were
placed for Chairman Rosewafor
Chairman New. o. the convention
Arrangements committee. and Ser
gean- alarms Stone bent their heads
in conference Tor "a moment over the
table. Colonel Stone towing with tho
gavel as though he would rap tho con.
vention to order and start The days
momentouF happenings
West Virginia nov and then erect.