Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-06-14

4
Recess until noon Thursday.
in finishing touches upon the hall as
the delegates filed in.
The delegates and alternates had
seats on the main floor, arranged like
!, all oblong wedge, with the broad side
toward the platform. Their seats
were jammed together, arrangements
for both delegates and spectators be-
! ing much more congested than al
. either convention in Chicago.
The only picture of President Will
, son was hung on the speakers stand
1t was a small reproduction of 9
5 photograph on a shield with a back
: ground of the flag, and bore the in
: scription: America First"
A CoatleSS Crowd
The Coliseum filled rapidly just be.
fore noon, some delay in opening the
; doors to spectators preventing ar
earlier influx. The bands accom-
panied the delegations to the hall. but
were not allowed to march into the
hall. Few delegations came all to-
gether and there was little excite
ment or cheering during the half hour
preceding the opening of the con-
vention.
Moving picture machines and
cameras were planted at every want
age point.
! Because of heat many of the dele
gates soon removed their coats and it
promised soon to become coatless
| crowd.
Texas delegates tossed miniature
souvenir bales of cotton to the
! galleries.
At Has the official band began
| the opening song to the acompani-
| ment of a male choir. The song
| brought the first applause of the day.
Ovation For Bryan
Just before the convention was
called to order the band struck up
! Columbia the Gem of the Ocean
and the delegates rose joining in the
chorus and waving American flags.
Dixie" brought a roar, interrupted
with the rebel yell.
William j. Bryan was given an
ovation as he took his seat in the press
section. The applause for him started
in the galleries and then spread to
the delegates. Mr.. Bryan smiled his
appreciation and got out his pencil
and prepared for his duties.
The crowd was patient, orderly and
quiet as it waited for the convention
to begin. A half hour after the time
set for the start the delegates still
were coming in and notables were
taking seats on the platform.
Chairman McCombs took his place
at his desk at 1890 amid cheers and
applause.
- al
wooden sounding board quickly Sc
cured order and he cried: THE con-
vention will be in order"
One verse of America was then
surt by the entire crowd with tossing
flags keeping the rhythm.
This was followed by one verse of
the Star Spangled Banner.
The Rev. James w. Lee, Methodist
Episcopal Bishop OF st. Louis prayed
Bryanites Compromise
After three days caucusing the Bry
an and anti-Bryan factions of the Ne
braska delegation compromised to-
day and elected j. ]. Thomas of
committee. Thomas. though elected
on a Bryan ticket at the primaries,
was referred to by the anti-Bryan fac
ton as a sympathizer of their cause.
w. D. Oldham, the anti-Bryan can
didate for platform committee, was
named chairman of the delegation in
pursuance of the compromise agree
ment and w. II. Thompson, the Bryan
candidate for platform committee, was
named on the committee to notify the
President of his denomination. The
controversy in the delegation involved
the prohibition question.
Nominations Friday
Adjournment Will be taken noon
Thursday when the committees will
be affected and after the permanent
chairman, Senator Ollie James, of
Kentucky, delivers his speech, the
convention may listen to some of the
partys orators after which adjourn
ment will be taken until Friday morn
ing when the platform will be read
and adopted. Then will follow a re-
cess and the Presidential nomination
wall come late Friday night
Suffra9iStS Hopeful
The suffragists hope to have the
convention adopt the plank proposed
by Secretary of the Navy Daniels
which favors a suffrage amendment to
the Federal Constitution.
The suffragists consider their cause
has been greatly enhanced by having
the secretary as an ally.
Platform building was continued by
potential leaders of the party to-day
SO as to have much of the work in
readings for the consideration of the
resolutions committee. The commit
tee is expected to organize late to-
day, receive drafts of planks and hand
them over to a subcommittee for con-
sderation. 1t is probable that a pub
lie hearing will be given on Thursday
to suffragists labor leaders and others
who have planks they desire inserted
in the declaration of principles. Anti
suffragists will also be given a hearing,
it is said.
Sleeps on Planks
Secretary of War Baker who ar
river here last night from Washing
ton with the planks drafted personally
by President Wilson will submit them
to the resolutions committee when it
| is appointed. Mr. Baker has taken
extra precautions to prevent the text
of the planks in his custody from
reaching the public before submission
to the committee. So cautious was he
that on his way West he took the pa
pers from his travelling bag and kept
them under the pillows of his berth
while he slept.
Want PFogressives
Expressions of approval were heard
to-day regarding the suggested plan
to win over members of the Progress
sive party by making overtures to
them in the Democratic platform