Gilpin observer., 1916-06-08
NATIONAL GATHERING OPENED
FORMALLY IN CHICAGO.
CROWD FILLS COLISEUM
Senator Harding of Ohio 10 Elected
Temporary Chairman and Deliv-
ers the Keynote Speech
Committees Are Named.
Western Newspaper Union News Service.

Chicago, June THE Republican
party opened its great quadrennial
show-the national convention-to-
day before capacity house. Despite
the fact that the proceedings of the
first session were to be only prelim-
mary iormalities, the people flocked
to the Coliseum by the thousand and
poured through the many entrances
in solid streams for hours. When
Charles ID. Hilles, chairman OF the ma
tional committee, arose at IL
O'Clock and took up the gavel to call
the convention to order there was not
one vacant seat in the immense struc-
ture.
1t was a fine setting for an i'm
portant event. The Coliseum was dec
GRATED us never before, with flags and
bunting draping the girders and gal
leries and covering all bare spots on
the end walls. Up in a gallery at the
south end of the hall brass band
was pouring forth patriotic and popu-
lar airs. Back Of the speakers ros-
trum, where sat Mr.. Hilles and his
working force of thirty-five men were
grouped many members of the diplo-
matte corps who had come on from
Washington, and the distinguished
guests of the convention, among them
all living ex-chairman of Republican
national conventions. To the right
and left of these were placed the
members of the national committee
and their guests.
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,
gayel 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 Presby.
terian church Of Chicago, to deliver
the invocation. DR.. Stones eloquent
and impressive prayer was followed
by the reading of the call for the
convention by James B. Reynolds Of
Massachusetts,, secretary of the ma
tional 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 formality.
Senator Harding is an imposing fig
ure, and as he accepted the gavel
from the hands of Mr.. Hilles he was
enthusiastically cheered.
Chairman Hardino's Address.
Chairman Harding launched at once
into his keynote speech. and did not
belle his reputation for eloquence and
deftness OF phrase. He began with q
warm plea for harmony in the party
ranks, coupled with the confident as
sertion that such harmony already
was an assured fact. With unctuous
sentences 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.
As might have been expected, Mr..
Harding early in his address took up
the subject Of national defense. His
utterances on this topic were reason
ably emphatic and in line with the
preparedness sentiment that has been
spreading over the land. Our national
unselfishness has been proved since
the great war broke out, he safd, and
our national weakness in defense re-
vealed. The foreign policy Of the
Democratic administration, both in re-
lation to Europe and in the matter Of
Mexico, was dealt with in few caus-
tic sentences, and the plan to turn
lose" the Philippines also was
scored.
The speaker devoted some attention
to the need, from a Republican point
Of view, for a 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, 1t 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
quieted 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