The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1916-06-08
GREAT NATIONAL cArur
10 FORMALLY OPENED Il,
CHICAGO.
CROWD FILLS THE COLIsEuV
Senator Harding of Ohio Ia El.,..,
Temporary Chairman and D.Ik.
ers the Keynote Speech


show-the national convention-to
day before a capacity house. Desut.
the fact that the proceedings of n.
first session were to be orly prelin.
mary formalities, the people fockea
to the Coliseum by the thousand and
poured through the many entrances
in solid streams for hours. When
Charles d. Hflles, chairman of the na
aitonal committee, arose at eleven
O'Clock and took up the gavel to call
the convention to order there was moi
one vacant seat in the immense struc
ture.
1t was a fine setting for an i'm.
portant event. The Coliseum was dec
grated as never before, with flags and
bunting draping the girders and gal
leries and covering all bare spots On
the end walls. Up in a gallery at the
south end of the hall a brass band
was pouring forth patriotic and popu,
lar airs. Back of the speakers ros,
trum. where sat Mr.. Hilles and his
working force of 35 men, were group
ed many members of the diplomatic
corps who had come on from Wash
ington, and the distinguished guests
of the convention, among them all
living exchairmen of Republican nE
tional conventions.
In the body Of the hall, directly 10
front of the speakers stand, were the
991 delegates gathered about their
state standards, and back of them sl
elternates. Just below the rostrum
and on both sides Of it were the AS
working newspaper men, and in the
galleries all around the hall were the
thousands of spectators who had been
fortunate to obtain admission tickets
Convention Begins Business
Mr.. Hilles was heartily applaudsd
when he stood before the tlrOng
gavel in hand He spoke but briefly
in calling the great gathering to or
der, and called on Rev. John Timothy
Stone, pastor of the Fourth PresbyteF
ian church of Chicago, to deliver the
DR.. Stones eloquent and
prayer was followed BY
the reading of the call for the con-
vention by James B. Reynolds OF Mas
sachuetts, secretary Of the national
committee.
Mr.. Hilles then called for nomina'
tons for temporary chairman. VI
course the selection of United States
Senator Charles Warren Harding OK
Ohio for that position had been all SET
led long ago and his election by unan'
nous vote was only rormality. SEN
ator Harding is an imposing figure
md as he accepted the gavel from tns
hands of Mr.. Hilles he was enthuslas'
ically cheered.
Chairman Harding's Address.
Chairman Harding launched at once
nto his keynote" speech, and did not
)elie his reputation for eloquence anu
Ieftness of phrase. He began with
warm plea for harmony in the parry
anks, coupled with the confident as
ertion that such harmony already Was
n assured fact. With unctuOuS SELL
ences he skillfully oiled the way lor
he smooth return of those VINO leN
he party four years ago to follow 'no'
BULL Moose standard, and he decIareu
o them and to the world that ne uiu
OF believe there was a really rea''
ionary Republican among the dei0'
ates.
AS might have been expected, MI
Harding early in his address took up
he subject of national defense. Ma
tterances on this topic were reaSor
bly, emphatic and in line with tno
sentiment that has Deen
over the land. Our natlon@
has been proved sln',
le great war broke out, he sald' anu
ur national weakness in defense 10
called. The foreign policy OF LILO
administration, both IN TO
,tion to Europe and in the matter u
[exico, was death with in few cdu'
C sentences, and the plan 70 tu
ose" the Philippines also was scoieU
Thes peaker devoted some attenIO.
the need, from a Republican pom,
view, for a protective tarlf' anu
en turned to the topic of America
m. Here he once more let his CIV.
fence have full play, and his call ~,
yalty, devotion and love for wv
nited States on the part of every OH.
it's citizens was answered by a lo@'
cheers.
"Verily, it is good to be an AllT,,
n. And we may rejoice to be ~
Lblicans," he concIudeded
When the band music that Ou'
nth at the end of Senator HardiHe
eech was over and the assemDI"S'
ieted down again, the other temp
ry officers were nominated ana eis ,.
d, and the chairmen of the Vaii0 "
ate delegations were called o On
nd up the names of the men seie lien
the delegations to represent 'n
the committees on credentials p Pa,
anent organization, rules and oIu