Omaha daily bee., 1916-06-08
Republicans Open Sessions
Amid Harmony and Move
Swlttly With Their Work
By VICTOR RosEWATER.

Chicago, June 7-(Speeial Tele-
gram.) ITO those who recall the tur-
moil OF the opening session Of the
1912 national convention today's ses-
sion could not but seem tame and
placid II took Chairman Ilillcs just
about seven minutes to rap the as
seinbled delegates to order, have the
secretary read the call and nominate
and put the motion to invest Senator
Harding with the gayel as temporary
chairman, while ! was kept in the
chair four years ago more than seven
hours, ruling on points OF order.
recognizing feFvids orators for
speeches favoring one or the other
competitive candidates for temporary
chairman and steering protraeted
roll call Of the individual delegates TO
get the first real test vote Of the OPP
posing factions.
All for Harmony Now.
-Four years ago all was tense and
turbulent and foreboding, Today the
assemblagc was on Sunday school be.
havior and even thought by some not
demonstratiye enough -Four years
ago the convention was like two rival
camps waiting 10 try their strength
against one another, today the watch
word Is reunion and harmony and for
ketfulncss Of past differences in con
certed effort behind the strongest
leadership TO dislodge democratic
administration that came into power
only through republican division.
Speech Well Received.
The speech Of Senator Harding,
which was the only offering OF the
session, was we'll received and its tell
ing points responsivcly applauded.
The speech, believe, will read even
better than il sounded being replete
with ALTERATION and epigram. The
senator, as we all know, is a news
paper editor, and his address has the
flavor Of the newspaper headline. Ii
ought 10 be an effective campaign
document and furnish a LOT Of good
ammunition for use OF the party gum
ners in the coming campaign. In man
ner Of oratory, Senator Harding is
what we call "old style" more Of the
Mckinley type than the Roosevcltian
punch. That is why | say the writ
len speech should be even more ef-
fectiye than the spoken.
As 10 points made, they may be
summed up IN party harmony, ade-
quatc preparedness, the protective
tariff policy, unalterable American
ism, peace and justice, even if we have
70 fight for II. There were not many
thrills and interruptions. Those who
listened, however, certainly absorbed
something to take home and digest.
Nothing Can Stop Hughes.
Again the day has been full of
rumors and gossip, but the chief ac-
tivity continued along the line OF
polling presidential leanings Of the
delegates The atmosphere is strongly
sur-charged with Hughes sentiment
and it has been noticeably spreading.
unless something wholly unexpected
intervenes Nothing can stop the
nomination of Hughes on all early
ballot, as ! have already said. Con-
ferences are being held to devise ways
and means to draw the two conven-
tions together, but what is worrying
the bull moose leaders is doubt as
TO their own ability to control their
own delegates
Arguments on Suffrage.
This afternoon listened TO the
pros and cons Of woman suffrage ar
gued to the resolution committee. The
speakers on both sides did remarka-
bly, we'll. among them several of the
women OF national reputation who
participated are suffrage campaigning
in Nebraska. The drafting OF the
platform after this hearing, was sent
TO subcommittee. for which relief
the others are duly thankful.
note also that the credentials
committee has again confirmed til
edeeision OF the national committee in
practically all OF the contest eases.
And ! make the prediction that
scarcely a question will be raised over
he appearance nf temporary roll at
lie permanent roll,