Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1916-06-07
STAGE. ALL SET
FOR BIG POW
!. WOW IN CHICAGO !.
Republicans Are Gathering for
Most Strenuous Political Battle
in History. .
COLISEUM SCENE
OF MANY NOMINATIONS
Tickets Were Nominated There
in Years 1904, 1908, and
1912.

Chicago. June 6.-The Chicago Coli
scum, where the republican national
convention OF 1916 will be held, be-
ginning June I, has history rich in
political interest. More national po-
litical conventions have been held in
it than in any other building in the
United States. g."
Three republican national conven-
tions have been held within its 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
presidential ticekt in the Chicago Col.
iseum in 1904, 1908 and 1912.
The building was designed as a
model convention hall, but later
adapted to broader uses. 1t was built
by Charles +. Gunther and several
business associates on the site Of the
old Libby Prison War museum at Wa
bash avenue and Fifteenth street, less
than mile from the hotel and retail
shopping district.
Old War Prison.
The castellated walls of the old
war prison were used for the Wabash
avenue 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, ITO feet wide and
40 feet high, and cost nearly $1,000
900. It has a wide balcony extending
around three Of the walls and it is
well lighted and ventilated. ....
For this years convention two ad-
ditional balconies with seats for 1872
persons have been built between the
main floor and the regular balcony.
This gives total seating capacity OF
12,400, OF. which 9,400 seats are on the
main floor and 5000 in the balconies.
The crowds will enter through four
main doors on the Wabash avenue
side. There are % exits. There will
be 100 doorkeepers and 100 ushers,
in addition to large special detail
OF police. to handle the great crowds.
The seating arrangements will follow
the general plan of former conven
tions, although several changes have
been made which it is believed will
add to the comfort and convenience
of the delegates and visitors.
Massive Platform.
The speakers platform, 20 feet long
and 40 feet wide, is at the south end
of the building. 1t will provide seats
for the officers of the convention and
members of the republican national
committee. Suspended over the stand
Is specially designed sounding
board. 1t consists of an inverted con
caved pyramid built of wood with the
apex over the head of the presiding
voice OF the speakers shrdlshrdlushr
officer. 1t is designed to throw the
voice through the hall. Directly In
the rear of the speakers stand is 4
raised platform with 1000 seats, for
the use of presidential candidates and
other distinguished guests. On either
side Of The speakers platform. ex-
tending the ent;ra width .! the build.
ing, is press section, containing $50
seats for working newspeDe men.
In front of the speakers stand are
the seats for the 991 delegates. and
back of these is the spare set aside
for the seating Of the altarnate;s. The
section reserved for delegates and
alternates is enclosed with heavy
rail. TIE rest of the main floor and
al the balconies viii ne used fo'