River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1916-06-08
GREAT oUADRENNIAL SHOW FOR
MALLY 5EGlNs-THoUsANDs
OF PERSONS FLOCK TO COLI
scum IN CHICAGO.
OHIO SIN TOR ELECTED
TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN
Harding Cheered AS He Accepts Gavel
From Chairman HiIIes of National
Committee And Delivers Keynote
Speech-various Committees
Are Named.

CHICdSO, JUNE The F6puDllcdu
party opened it's great quadrennial
show-the national convention-to-
day before a capacity house. Despite
the fact that the proceedings of the
first session were to be only prelim-
mary formalities, the people fiocked
to the Coliseum by the thousands and
poured through the many entrances
in solid streams for hours. When
Charles d. FIilles, chairman of the ma
tional committee, arose at eleven
o'clock and took up the gavel to call
the convention to order there was not
one vacant seat in the immense struc-
ture.
In the body OF the hall, directly in
front Of the speakers stand, were the
991 delegates gathered about their
state standards, and back of them 991
alternates. Just below the rostrum
and on both sides of it were the 425
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 applauded
when he stood before the throng,
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 Presbyter-
ian church of Chicago, to deliver the
invocation. DR.. Stones eloquent and
impressive prayer was followed by
the reading of the call for the con-
vention by James B. Reynolds of Mas
sachusetts, secretary of the national
committee
Mr.. Hilles then called for nomina-
tions for temporary chairman. OF
course the selection of United States
Senator Charles Warren Harding of
Ohio for that position had been all
settled long ago and his election by
unanimous vote was only a formality.
Chairman Harding's Address.
Chairman Harding launched at once
into his keynote" speech, and did not
belle his reputation for eloquence and
dizziness Of phrase. He began with a
warm plea for harmony in the party
ranks. coupled with the confident as
sertion that such harmony already was
an assured fact. With unctuouS SEN
fences he skillfully oiled the way for
the smooth return of those who left
the party four years ago to follow the
Bull Moose standard, and he declared
to them and to the world that he did
not believe there was a really reac-
tionary Republican among the dele
gates.
The speaker devoted some attention
to the need, from Republican point
of view, for protective tariff, and
then turned to the topic of American
ism. Here he once more let his elo-
quence have full play, and his call for
loyalty, devotion and love for the
United States on the part of every one
of its citizens was answered by a roar
of cheers.
Verify it is good to be an Ameri.
can. And we may rejoice to be Re-
publicans," he concluded
Routine Business Transacted.
When the band music that burst
forth at the end of Senator Harding's
speech was over and the assemblage
quoted down again, the other tempo
rary officers were nominated and
elected, and the chairmen of the vari-
Gus state delegations were called on to
send up the names of the men elected
by the delegations to represent them
on the committees on credentials, per-
manent organization, rules and order
of business, and resolutions. In most
cases the names were all ready and
were soon in possession of the secre-
taries.
Some miscellaneous business fol-
lowed, and Chairman Harding then de-
clared the convention adjourned until
Thursday morning.
The members of the committees at
once gathered in the meeting places
assigned them and took up their work
SO as to be ready to report to the Sec
ond session Of the convention.
Italy Advances Time.