El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-06-08
COLISEUM IS AN
IMMENSE HALL
Seats Provided For 1900;
Scene of Four National
Conventins.

Chicago, Ill, June S,-The Cbica %
Coliseum has a history rich in political
interest. More national political con-
ventions have been held in it than i'm
any other building in the United States.
Three Republican national conven-
tions have been held within its walls
and i was there. also. that the Pm
rressive party. in 1912 held its first ua-
tionsl convention anG nominated Col
Theodore Roosevelt for president. The
Republicans nominated their presiden-
tial ticket IN the Chicago Coliseum in
1904 1908, 1912 and again are nom
mating in it this year
The building was designed as a
model convention hall but later adapt-
ed to broader uses. It was built bv
Charles F. Gunther and several bust
ness associates on the site OF the old
Libby Prison War museum. at Wabash
avenue and 18th street. less than q mile
from the hotel and retail shopping dis
T6e castellated walls OF the old war
prison were used for the Wabash ave
nue. side Of the structure II was
built of stone, brick. steel and glass
and was finished in 1900. The build
ing is 4O3 feet long. 10 feet wide and
10 feet high and cost nearly 81, zoo. 600.
II has a wide balcony extending around
three of the walls and is well lighted
and ventilated.
Total Seating Capacity 1900.
For this years convention two addi-
tional balconies with seats Tor t52 per-
sons were built between the main floor
and the regular balcony This gives a
total seating capacity OF 1900. Of
which $500 seats are on the main floor
and 5000 in the balconies. There are
% exits. There are 100 doorkeepers
in edition n a Ia
special detail Of police, to handle the
great crowds.
The speakers platform. 20 feet long
and 40 feet wide, is at the south end
Of the building It provides seats for
the officers OF the convention and
members of the Republican national
board. It consists of an inverted con-
caved pyramid built Of wood with the
apex over the head Of the presiding
officer. It is designed to throw the
voice through the hall. Directly in the
rear Of the speakers stand is a raised
platform with 2000 seats for the use
OF presidential candidates and other
distinguished guests On either side
of the speakers platform. extending
the entire width of the building. is a
press section. containing SIS seats for
working newspaper men.
In front of the speakers stand are
the seats for the 991 delegates and
back OF these is the space set aside Tor
ne SEaLllE OF luE aALtl mates j he SCI
ton reserved for delegates and alter
mates is enclosed with heavy rail
The rest of the main floor and all the
balconies will be used for seats to
accommodate the crowds Of visitors
Adjoining the coliseum on the south
is an annex three stories high, 14O feet
deep and with a frontage Of about 100
feet on Wabash avenue It is con-
nected with the main building by sew
eral broad entrances
Hospital in Basement.
In the basement Of the annex, at the
south end of the main building and
near the speakers stand, is the tele-
graph and telephone room, where
scores of special wires have been in
stalled for the use OF the news gather
ng associations and newspapers in
sending stories Of the convention TO
very section Of the country. In the
"a senent of the main building is a
equipped temporary hos
Dital in charge OF 70 OF Chicagos lead
ng physicians and surgeons who have
their services for the oc-
In the decoration Of the convention
TALL the managers departed from the
ong established practice OF relying
exclusively on flags and bunting to OBJ
ain the desired artistic effect This
ear the scheme Of interior ornamen-
alton is more elabOrte and artistic
han ever before. according TO experts
he plan was designed by g r. Han,
superintendent of the Coliseum, ana
ulius Floto, an architect White and
,old dominate the color scheme While
american flags, shields and bunting
re used to complete the working out
Z the decorative plan.
DecOra ions Are Elaborate.
Eight thousand YARDS Of white cloth,
600 yards of gold cloth. 5000 yards OF
ed, white and blue bunting and $50
american flags and shields were used
n the interior ornamentiOn Of the con-
ention hall The bare brick walls
Oof are concealed by IS panels Of I
-hite cloth, each twenty-five by fifty
i've feet. Each panel is decorated
nth a deep flounce Of gold cloth |
Ianging from the roof in the center |
nder the large glass ventilators are 1
lrge bars of gold cloth which add to (
he artistic effect without obstruct-
X light and air. The balconies are I
nd blue bunting caught every an /
eet with punches Of small American /
ags and shields
On the wall back OF the speakers !
tand is hung a large oil portrait OF I
braham Lincoln which has been in /
tx Republican national conventions /
Ince il was painted in 1864 It was j
1aned TO the convention by its owner, /
gorge Prince. OF New York
The officers of the convention are: Il
Temporary chairman-Senator War i
IN G. Harding, Ohio.
Temporary cretary-Lafayette B.
leason. New York
-at-arms-William T. Stone. Il
-aryland
Chief clerk-Edmund J. Wachter.
[aryland.
Official stenographer-Geor L
art Virginia
Chief doorkeeper-John J. Hanson,
-aryland.
Chief Usher-Wm. Nelson Pelouze,
linois.
Why don't yOu Try the Californian on
our next trip to the cOast2 Leaves /
As a. Advertisement.