Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-06-05
More National Political Con-
ventionS Have Been Held
in Chicago Coliseum Than
Anywhere Else,
FULLY EQUIPPED
HOSPITAL INSTALLED
Twenty-Five of City'S Leading
Physicians and Surgeons
Volunteer Their Services;
Other Improvements,
10, MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED wlssl

10y MORNING JOURNAL NrtStAI lhsbhp WlNhl
Chicago, June 4.-Tne Chicago coli
scum. where the republican national
convention of 1916 will be held begin
ming June I, has a history rich in po-
lltical interest More national politi-
cal conventions have been held in
IT than in any other building in the
United States.
Three republican national conven-
tons have been held within it's walls
and it was there also that the pro-
gressive party in 1912, held its first
national convention and nominated
Col. Theodore Roosevelt for president.
The republicans nominated their pres
dental ticket in the Chicago coliseum
in 1904, 1905 and 1912
Designed as Model
The building was designed as a
model convention hall but later adapt
ed to broader uses. 1t was built by
Charles +. Gunther and several bust
ness associates on the site of the old
Libby prison war museum, at Wabash
avenue and Fifteenth street less than
mile from the hotel and retail
shopping district.
The castellated walls of the old war
prison We're used for the Wabash av-
enue side of the structure. 1t was
built of stone, brick, steel and glass
and was finished in 1900. The build
ing is 403 feet long, 10 feet wide, and
10 feet high and cost nearly $1,000
600 1t has a wide balcony extending
around three of the walls and is well
lighted and ventilated
Two More Balconies.
For this years convention two adj
ditional balconies with seats for 1872
persons have been built between the
main floor and the regular balcony.
This gives a total seating capacity of
l2,400 of which 9,400 seats are on
the main floor and 5000 in the bal
comics The crowds will enter
through four main doors on the Wa
bash avenue side. There are twenty
two exits. There will be 100 door
keepers and 100 ushers in addition to
large special detail of police to han
die the great crowds. The seating
arrangements viii follow the general
plan of former conventions, although
several changes have been made
which it is believed will add TO the
comfort and convenience of the dele
gates and visitors.
The speakers platform, twenty feet
long and forty feet wide, is at the
south end of the building. 1t vii pro-
vide seats for the officers of the con-
yention and members of the republic
can national committee. Suspended
over the stand is a specially designed
sounding board. 1t consists of an in
yerted conceived pyramid built of
Wood with the apex, over the head OF
the presiding officer 1t is designed
to throw the voice through the hall.
Directly in the rear of the speakers
stand is a raised platform with 1000
seats for the use of the presidential
candidates and other distinguished
guests. on either side of the speak
ers platform, extending the entire
width of the building is a press sec
tlon, containing 55S seats for working
newspaper men.
Seats tor g81 Delegates.
In front of the speakers stand are
ihe seats for the 991 delegates and
back of these is the space set aside
Tor the seating of the alternates. The
section reserved for delegates and al
ternates is enclosed with a heavy rail.
me rest of the main floor and all the
Mlcohies will be used for seats to ac-
eommodate the crowds of visitors.
Adjoining the coliseum on the south
NiiiiNA NlllCt StOIitS lllSuf "
leet deep and with a frontage of
ABOUT 100 feet on Wabash avenue. 1t
IS connected with the main building |
ny several broad entrances.
Temporary Hospital.
IN the basement of the annex, at (,
ule south end of the main building |
una near the speakers stand, is the |
elesraph and telephone room, I
Of II
oeeh installed for the use of the news /
ss'neilng associations and newspapers /
~ sending stories of the convention |
20 every section of the country. In
we basement of the main building is
completely equipped temporary hos
pI.di IN charge of twenty-five of Chi
odeos leading physicians and sur
seems who have volunteered their SER
wees for the occasion.
me upper floors of the annex have !
p yeen lltted up with the administrative
tVoihs OF the officers of the conven-
Mn Here are the private offices of
phdlrnan, secretary, treasurer and
s sure OF minor officials. The con-
,ru'to,h postoffice for the prompt dis
d,utloh OF mail to the officials and
edtes IS in this section. There is
Toa &c meeting room for the repub-
~, hdtlonal committee and numer-
os iooms for use of the committees
VI the convention.
Decoration Elaborate.
h.n the decoration of the convention
Low we managers departed from the
,sl, s established practice of practically
Ing ing exclusively on flags and bunt-
fee. OBTAIN the desired artistic eff
int, ms year the scheme of the
ors,a ornamentation is more elab-
aen .e ana artistic than ever before,
desU.ulng to experts The plan was
en- s 81 by c. r. Hall, superintend-
an VI vi me coliseum, and julius Floto,
nat Infect. White and gold domi-
nas. 'ile color scheme while American
eomn,s shields and bunting are used to
ora,i'' 'e the working out of the dec
Loan nt thousand yards of white cloth.
Of roa saras OF gold cloth, 5000 yards 1
ssa white and blue bunting and
hsss american flags and shields were
The ~ IA the interior ornamentation of
waus invention hall. The bare brick /
tba "S s and steel Orders which support
pane,s are concealed by twenty-six !
OF white cloth, each twenty !