The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1912-06-14
~ JAMES ARTHUR.

D. JAMES ARTHUR.
AHE Republican national conven-
don Of 1912 meets on June IL,
the one hundredth anniversary
Of the beginning Of the war of
1872 II this Is an omen Of anything
Il d that there will be war in that
uthering. q 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 Iahding local emphasis to the fore
boding.s II further. proof is needed
that there ts to be fight 1t Is furnish.
"a BY the fact that William Howard
Taft and Theodore Roosevelt are the
leading candidates. Robert NJ. La Fol
lette and Albert Baird Cummins are
also candidates and are also something
IN the lighting line. ~ ~ ~e-F .-s-.
The convention hall is ChIcago's ia
nous coliseum that has seen SO many
conventions in the past 1t Is the sue
eessor to the coliseum built for the
Democratic convention Of 1896, when
William Jennings Bryan won the nom
nation by his "cross of gold'' speech
The writer was present on that coca
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 ont on
paper long before the convention. and
as soon 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
oetaiis to be looked after throughout
the vast hall
Thousand and One Details.
Another problem has been the decora
IONS. This contract was given sep
stately. The state guidons, festooning
VI inc national colors. display of flags
ano OF portraits all had to be planned
carefully and executed quickly.
Inc printing and giving out OF tick
es were also a mans Job. There are
~auy varieties of these admission
.afos as delegates, alternates. national
.vnnittee, stage, press and visitors in
~ 'ne various sections Of the building
uust nave tickets for each session and
.aen Gay and for numbered seats. The
u.aets are under the absolute control
!" the national committee. Because of
.ae press OF visitors the giving out of
.uese pasteboards has to be carefully
euarueo. The hall seats something
lure than 1900.
=. ueSe represent only the beginning
h.r ue uetails. Elaborate preparations
~. uad to be made for the press.
Nv. only does every important paper
... aue country send one or more repre-.
h no.. but the press associations
- 'e large number of men, and there
~. small army Of telegraph operators.
helpers. ''nse'' ""' o'ne'
p.ho. Is also an army of doorkeepers.
mns. ms ana sergeants-at-arms. Badges
'st Ne supplied. and there are almost
MIA uany Kinds Of these as of tickets
- . aa must be provided. although this
ofss ~paratively simple. since only one
rana .a' oand is stationed In the con
W. ''on nall. The numerous bands in
q, sueets and hotels come voluntarily
da,a supplied by various candidates.
T ha and marching clubs.
q, .s foregoing covers but small part
Tho .ue machinery Of the convention.
aoa. are many other details, such as
os, eoFs and nurses. for possible contin
M, , Among these contingencies is
Il, .ueiuded free fight. or at least 80
bn, ~ nope Fighting there will be.
th.. "ot OF the physical variety. Yet
h.naa are many accidents that could
nv eo In a convention hall, such az
''eakina down Of platforms or