The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-06-07
G. 0. P. CONVENTION

Continued From Page One.J
light from a skylight above. Ameri-
can flags in countless numbers were
wound around the balconies but the
whole roof was yellow and white.
Then back, high up in a balcony, the
Chicago band strove to liven up things
a little-but the white uniformed
leader looked as if he was exercising
to keep warm rather than in an at
tempt to draw music out of his con-
ferees. AT any rate, the music fell
| flat. At 1890 the small crowd had
about doubled, but there was hardly a
noise above a polite buzz of CONVEX
sation- At any time not more than
twenty-five delegates were on the job.
Woman Among the Faithful.
Among the faithful was Mrs. Cor
nelius Cole, the woman representative
from Los Angeles.
| In the front rows of the delegates
seats were placed the Big Ones of
states-New York and Ohio directly in
front of the small. speakers rostrum
and thanking the middle aisle: Penn
sylvania and Indiana thanking the
right side aisle, and Illinois and Mass
achusetts. being on either side of the
left paSSageway. Twenty minutes be-
fore the convention was scheduled to
open the great hall was not a quarter
full Great sections of bare seats star
ed out between islands of black hu-
mainly slowed away variously. The
| floor, the delegates wove around, Wis
iting and buzzing. Policemen still
seemed to be. in the majority on the
floor, their white caps, blue suits and
brass buttons lending color to an 9TH
lerwise drab assemblage.
None of Old Time 'Pep.''
There was no noise except a gentle
murniur of talk arising everywhere
no enthusiasm, no cheers, no banners:
Old timers said the dispirited air and
detected appearance of the hall and
| auditors, due to the rain and cold,
with the complete lack of any pep"
apparent was almost without a par
alel. Four years ago the convention
was simply damned with a bowling
mob twenty minutes before Chairman
Rosewater's gavel fell, signaling the
fight Today there wasn't bit of
fight in the air-a feeling of cold and
damp, of disconSolate discomfort and
tof frigid feet, wet in the rain and con-
ducive to sneeZing. The only bit Of
1applauding and it was just perfume
tory handclapping-came when the
band played My Old Kentucky
Home.
Bands of enthusiasts marched up to
the entrance with banners and other
stampede creating aids and stopped
There was little tight or pep" in the
rain soaked r1archers, ard when the
six-foot guards stopped them. they
handed over their banners and en-
tered quickly. The air warmed up
just wee trifle two minutes before the
convention was scheduled to start
Then there was a short spaSm of
applause, as the band played Dixie.
A delegation assembled. Senator Smoot
greeted them with this:
Gavel Sounds at HIPS A. NJ.
I'VE are pulling for the Progressiyes
Ito nominate Roosevelt. Amalgama-
ton is out of the question. We will
be glad to get rid of the Progressives
radicals"
1t was 11:2S wher Chairman Hilles'
gavel fell. Contrary to the usual sit
uation, he had no trouble to obtain
quiet, the delegates appearing eager
to quiet and assist in getting the show
| under way.
This is year" he said, whatever
may have been true of past years,
when politics is patriotism and patriot
ism is politics Therefore the audience
will please arise and sing America ="
Prayer was then offered by the Rev.
John Timothy Stone of Chicago. 1t
was then 1888. The divine prayer for
peace, asking blessings for the DELHI
erations of the meeting and pleading
for no hasty or ill spoken words"
Il Invokes Divine Blessing.
May the men of our choice be those
of your choice he said.
Everybody then sat quiet while the
photographer did his worst.
|
official call for the convention, being
greeted with good natured applause.
The reading was not audible to more
than fifty people, Jimmy Reynolds
being plainly a little weak of voice
through stage fright. Therefore the
convention buzzed away at converse
ton
The inattention paid to Reynolds
was so fragrant that Murray Crane
finally came to the front of the stand,
caught Hi1les' attention and motioned
for him to pound for order. Hilles
obeyed and got modicum of order
Reynolds got good natured hand as
he finished
Chairman Hilles next presented
Senator Warren G. Harding as the
nominee for temporary chairman
taking a single sentence for this func-
ton. Harding's name got a goodly
burst of applause and there being no
other nominations for the keynote job
he was named by reclamation. Hilles
appointed as a committee to escort the
Ohioian to the platform. Crane, Borah
and Mckinley of Illinois The latter
two had been waiting patiently in the
aisle for the job. right behind Hard-
| ing. Cranes name got yowl of ap
plause and Borah's almost as much.
Crane and Mckinley finally took over