Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-06-18
Illinois Fathers a Rssolu-
tion to Eliminate All De-
bated Delegates.
FOR INDIVIDUAL VOTE
Hundreds of Policemen Swarm
Around Coliseum Before
Doors Are Opened.

Convention Hall, Chicago. June Is.
The warning Taft-Roosevelt forces
gathered at the Coliseum to-
day for the opening of the
republican national convention,
with the battle line of both sides
firm. The atmosphere was electric
with bitterness and personal animos-
ity.
Roosevelt and his advisers, through
a resolution fathered by the Illinois
delegation, proposed to eliminate
from the roll on the temporary or
ganization those votes challenged by
Roosevelt.
OPPOSED TO PRECEDENT.
Every effort was made 10 have Nc
kinley, Taft's manager, agree to this,
but the Taft managers gave 1t little
encouragement, pointing out it is OPP
posed to all precedent. Conservative
Roosevelt men counseled against
the proposition, urging instead a
hard fight of protest on every point.
DELEGATES GATHER EARLY.
This was the situation when the
LOIS delegates assembled in the flag
bedecked convention hall The
thrOng gathered early and waited pa
tiently the sound of the chairman's
gavel, not knowing what the day
might bring forth. but hoping for
peace and harmony.
DEMONSTRATION PLANNED.
Around Roosevelt headquarters
leaders were in hubbub of excite
ment. Anxious contesting delegates
who had no tickets were so angry,
scores, accompanied by Roosevelt
champions, planned to make dem
onstration in front of the Coliseum.
ROLL BN INDIVUaLs.
II was stated just before the con-
vention met that roll call on the
election of temporary chairman
would be by individuals and not by
states. This would be in accordance
with a precedent established in 1884.
POLICEMEN EVERYWHEHE.
Policemen at every corner, every
door and every aisle were the distin-
gushing feature scene at the Coliseum
during the early hours. Nervous ten
sion. due to the general expectation Of
tumutuOus scenes from the drop of
the hat at the opening of the Conven-
ton was apparent on all sides. The
police were as nervous as anybody
else, and assistant sergeants-at-arms
and other subordinate officials we're so
keenlv alive 10 the possibilities that
their hands tremblod as they took
tickets. and holders of proper paste
boards had difficulty in getting in.
GREAT CROWD OUTSIDE.
The doors were opened al 10. Two
hours before the convention was to
come to order there was a great crowd
outside but the police kept them m0v-
ing and allowed no one % enter with
out The right kind Of ticket
At 1915 the band began to play
My Country. Tls of Thee" and the
people began 70 stream into the Coli
scum
CALLED 70 ORDER Al I2502.
T. J. LamIson Of ONO. reading clerk
Of the house Of representatives and as
sociatc parliamen,arian for the con
vcution. and The official stcnographars
we're at their places early.
At 1l.36 the seats OF the hail were
well filed, but the crowd was unusually
quiet
At 1890 the seats Of the hall were
national committee appeared on The
stage.
The convention was called to order
al l2.D2.
4. ~. COMMANDS BI WIRE.
Scarcely had the convention been
called TO order when Roosevelt
Tcnt 10 q room 90 his hotel,
whore a private telephone line was in.
stalled. and by this method took pcr-
soma! command OF his forces on the
CCuy ent.CE dCOr
"HAT N RING APPEARS.
A big hat in the ring" mounted on
pole was carried into the hall by