Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1916-06-07
G. 0. ?. CONVENTION
OPENS AT CHICAGO
Republican Party Starts Its
Great QuadrenniaI Show.
BIG CROWD AT COLISEUM
Delegates Elect Senator Harding OF
Ohio Temporary Chairman, Who
Delivers Keynote Address
Committees Named.

Chicago, June 1.-THE Republican
party opened it's 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 formalities, the people flocked
to the Coliseum by the thousand and
poured through the many, entrances
In solid streams for hours. When
Charles d. Hilles, chairman of the ma.
tional committee, arose at eleven
o'clock and took up the gavel to call
the convention to order there was not
one vacant seat in the immense struc.
ture. 49, Tsra
It was a fine setting for an i'm
portant event. The Coliseum was dec.
Grated as never before, with flags and
bunting draping the Orders and gal
lertes and covering all bare spots on
the end walls. Up in gallery at the
south end Of the hall brass band
was pouring forth patriotic and popu-
lal airs. Back of the speakers rOs-
trum, where sat Mr.. Hilles and his
working force Of IS men, were grouped
many members of the diplomatic
corps who had come on from Wash
ington, and the distinguished guests
Of the convention. among them all liv-
ing ex-chairmen Of Republican ma
tional 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 1t 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,
gavel 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 Presbyter-
ian church Of Chicago, to deliver the
invocation. DR.. Stones eloquent and
prayer was followed by
the reading of the call for the con-
vention by James B. Reynolds of Mas
secretary Of the national
committee.
Mr.. Hilles then called for nomina-
tons 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 q for
mality.
Chairman Hardine'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 a
warm plea for harmony in the party
ranks, coupled with the confident as
sertion that such harmony already was
an assured fact. With unctuous SEN
fences he skillfully oiled the way for
the smooth return Of those who left
the party four years ago to follow the
Bull Moose standard,
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
sentiment that has been
spreading over the land. Our national
lnselfishness has been proved since
he great war broke out, he said, and
our national weakness in defense re-
7ealed.