Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-06-08
REPUBLICANS OPEN
THEIR CONVENTION
IN PLACID MANNER
Harding Delivers Carefully
Prepared Keynote
Speech.
APPLAUSE NEVER LASTS
MORE THAN HALF-MINUTE
Old-Time Leaders Almost I'M
recognized as They Walk
Into Hall
ADJOURNS WITHIN TWO HOURS
All Temporary Officers Will Become
Permanent Officers at Meet
ing To-day.
lDJOURNs WITHIN TWO HOURS
All Temporary Officers Will Become
Permanent Officers at Meet
ing To-day.

CHICAGO. June THE Republican
National Convention. assembled in the
Coliseum TO-DAY. heard keynote
speech delivered b. Senator Warren
G. Harding. of Ohio. perfected an or
Ganization and adjourned until II
O'Clock tomorrow morning. II all took
just two hours. and In its lack of
demonstration, or outbursts OF any
kind and it's strict attention to bust
ness. was reminiscent OF the Phlladei-
phla convention of 1900 that nomi-
mated Mckinley and Roosevelt
For one hour and twenty minutes
Senator Harding. the temporary chair
man. delivered 4 carefully prepared
speech. punctuated in the telling points
with brief periods OF handclapping and
applause, but at no time did demon
stration occupy more than a half
minute.
The convention was twenty-tve
minutes behind the hour. arranged for
ita assembly, but when Chairman Hilles
Of the national committee. brought
down his gavel at ll:25 o'clock tt
moved quickly and with precision un-
til adjournment at 1925.
OLD-TIME LEADERS
ALMOST UNRECoGNIzEn
Those OF the old-time leaders pres
ent who used 70 march down the aisles
to their seats TO the tune Of an up
roar. walked In to-day almost unrec-
ogn!zed w. Murray Crane Senator
Lodge Reed Snoot and lot of the
others who came in practically un-
noticed probably because most dele
gates did not even know them by
sight. Chauncey NJ. Depew was sur
rounded by n small admiring Eroup.
Senator Penrose got n reception from
his own delegation. Governor Whit
man was recognized by some, but on
the whole the convention was more
interested In wondering what was go
ins on in the auditorium than IL was
in the arrival OF the men who hither-
to have decided what the convention
should do with itself.
The hour for assembling was set for
II o'clock, but there was no semblance
OF order then, and no one made any
pretense OF securing 1t. The dele
gates stood about and talked, tho spec
tators overfiowed into the spaces re.
served for the delegates. and hundreds
or seats on the floor and in the gall
leries were empty. Chairman Hines
eventually gave signs Of calling the
convention to order, and the uniform-
ed police began moving about urging
the delegates into their places.
CHAIRMAN TILLEs CALLS
CONVENTION TO ORDER
Finally at 11:2s o'clock, Chairman
Iiilles brought down the gavel. and
quiet settled down over the big hall.
Tho hour OF II o'clock having ar
rived and quorum being present"
said he. "the convention will be In
order. ParaphrasinE n remark mado
hpyf ft,c1 1nfa
year-whatever may have been true
OF past years-when politics IS patriot
Ism and patriotism is politics There
fore. the audience will please rise and
sing two verses OF America"
The band launched into the air. and
led by male quartet, the floor and
galleries Joined in mighty chorus
There was moment of confusion as
the delegates found their seats again.
and then Rev. John Timothy Stone, OF
Chicago, read prayer. The big audi
ence remained seated at his request
Secretary Reynolds then read the call
Tor the convention. which was pub
hshed last December. The delegates
talked and moved about while Mr.
Reynolds read. Chairman Hilles then
presented Senator Harding, Of Ohio,
as temporary chairman, and put the
question. y rolling chorus of "ayes"
swept the hall, and former Senator
Crane. Senate: Borah, of Idaho, and
former Representative w. 3. Mckinley
were appointed committee to escort
MT Harding ec the platform. The
Idaho delegation announced that Scna-
,or B"rah was unavoidably absent. SO
MIR Crnne and Mr.. Mckinley marched
up with Mr. Harding. His appointment
was the signal for the first genuine
outhurst, but It was brief. and hs
plunged into his prepared speech, ap.
penling for harmony, counsei!ng the
delegates that it was not a time for
:ecrimination. but a day OF reconsecra-
ton"
INTERRUPTED FREQUENrIY
by APPLAUSE AND CHEERS
He spoke more than an hour, refer
ring seldom TO his manuscript and
was interrupted frequently By applause
ana cheers as he scored the Democratlc
administration for inetficiency, !ncapac.
itE ana eNtravagance, and declared the
RepNohcan party's allegiance TO pro-
tective tarir and national defense Hs
closed with pcrorat:on on Americana
!sm and Republicanism. which was
marhed with applause lasting less than
minute. Tho delegates rose 10 their
feet and some chocred some hats
We're thrown in the air and there was
some waving OF handkerchiefs, but the
delegates quieted quickly, and the ter,-
porary chairman recognized speakers
from the floor who offered tho Gus
tomary resolutions for perfectins tho
temporary organization.
That was quickly over with, tho
meeting places OF tho committees were