The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1912-06-12
By JAMES ARTHUR.

, lOu VI 1917 lucclS Ou june 10,
the one hundredth anniversary
of the beginning of the war Of
1912. If this is an omen Of anything
1t is that there will he wal in that
gathering, a thing SO probable that 1t
needs no omen. One of the battles of
100 years ago was at Fort Dearborn.
standing where Chicago now stands.
thus lending local emphasis to the fore.
boding. If further proof is needed
that there is to be a fight 1t is furnish
ed by the fact that william Howard
Taft and Theodore Roosevelt are the
leading candidates. Robert M. La Fol
lette and Albert Baird Cummins are
in the fighting line.
The convention hall is Chicago's ia
nous coliseum that has seer so many
conventions In the past. 1t is the sue
cessor to the coliseum built for tie
Democratic convention Of 1896, when
William Jennings Bryan won the nom
ination by his "cross of gold" speech
The writer was present on that occa
sion and still remembers the Jingle of
that oratorical triumph.
For the coming convention the new
coliseum is being remodeled and re-
furnished. This was all worked out on
paper long before the convention. and
as oon as the building was turned
over to the national committee a force
of carpenters began to rush the work.
Ratings were to be put in place. seats
arranged and all the thousand and one
details to I've looked after throughout
the vast hall.
Thousand and One Details.
Another problem has been the decora
lions. This contract was given sep
arately. The state guidons, f%estooning
OF the national colors. display of flags
and of portraits all had to be planned
carefully and executed quickly.
The printing and giving out of tick
cts We're also a mans job. There are
many varieties of these admission
cards. as delegates, %alternates, national
committee, stage, press and visitors in
all the various sections Of the building
must have tickets for each session and
Su$A, NNy oiiN CCoto. i lS
tickets are under the absolute control
Of the national committee. Because of
the press of visitors the giving out OF
these pasteboards has to be carefully
guarded. The hall seats something
more than II 900.
These represent only the beginning
of the details. Elaborate preparations
have had to be made for the press
Not only does every important papel
In the country send one or more repre-
sentatives, but the press association.
have a large number of men, and Their,
Is a small army Of telegraph operators
stenographers. messengers and othe
helpers.
There is also an army Of d%oorkeepers
ushers and sergeants-at-arms. Badge
must be supplied, and there are almos
as many kinds of these as of tickets
Music must be provided, although thi
Is comparatively simple, since only on
official band is stationed In the con
vention hall. The numerous bands Il
the streets and hotels come voluntaril
pr are supplied by various candidates
delegations and marching clubs.
The foregoing covers but a small par
OF the machinery of the convention
There are many other details. such a
doctors and nurses. for possible contir
gencies. Among these contingencies i
not included a free fight, Or at least S
let US hope. Fighting there will bt
but not of the physical variety. Ye
there are many accidents that coul
happen in a convention hail. snch ii
the breaking down Of platforms 4