The Richfield recorder. (Richfield, Idaho) 1909-1931, 1916-06-09
REPUBLICANS IN
BIG CONVENTION
NATIONAL GATHERING OPENED
IN CHICAGO, CROWDS FILL
ING THE COLISEUM.
Senator Harding of Ohio Is Elected
Temporary Chairman and Dsliv-
srs the Keynote Speech
Committees Are Named.

Chicago, June 1.-THE Republican
party opened its great quadrennia
show-the national convention-to
day before a capacity house. Despite
the fact that the proceedings of the
first session were to be only prelim-
mary formalities, the people iocked
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 strnc-
ture
1t 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
leries and covering all bare spots en-
the end walls. Up in a gallery at the
south end of the hall a 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 80 men, were grouped
many members of the diplomatic
corps who had come on from Wash
ingten, and the distinguished guests
of the convention, among them all liv-
Ing exchairman Of Republican ma
tional convention. 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 or them
991 alternates. Just below the rostrun
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,
gavel in hand. He spoke but brieay
in calling the great gathering to or
der, and called on Rev. John Timothy
Stone, pastor of the Fourth Presbyte-
rian church of Chicago, to deliver the
invocation. DR.. Stones eloquent and
impressive prayer was followed by
the reading of the call for the con-
vention by James B. Reynolds of Mas
sachusetts, secretary of the national
committee
Mr.. Hillss 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 an t
settled long ago and his election by
unanimous vote was only a formality.
Senator Harding is an imposing ~
ure, and as he accepted the gavsl
from the hands of Mr.. Hilles he was
cheered.
Chairman Harding's Address.
Chairman Harding launched at ones
into his Keynote speech, and did
not belle his reputation for eloquence
and dizziness of phrase. He began with
a warm plea for harmony in the party
ranks, coupled with the confident as
5ertion that such harmony already
was an assured fact. With unctuops
sentences he skillfully oiled the way
for the smooth return of those who
eft the party four years ago to follow
the Bull Moose standard, and he de-
clared to them and to the world that
le did not believe there was really
Republican among the
delegates.
AS might have been expected, Mr..
Harding early in his address took up
he subject of national defense. His
Itterances on this topic were reason
IDLY emphatic and in line with the
sentiment that has been
'preading over the land Our national
has been proved since
he great war broke out. he said, and
,ur national weakness in defense re-
Tealed. The foreign policy Of the
Democratic administration, both in re-
alton to Europe and in the matter of
Iexico, was dealt with in few caus-
ic sentences, and the plan to turn
Dose" the Philippines also was scored.
The speaker devoted some attention
q the need, from a Republican point
view, for a protective tariff, and
hen turned to the topic of American
SIN. Here he once more let his elo-
uence have. full play, and his call fer
oyalty devotion and love for the
United States on the part of every
ne OF its citizens was answered by
oar Of cheers.
Verify, it IL good to be an Ameri-
an. And we may rejoice to be Re-
he concluded.
Routine Business Transacted.
When the band music that burst
Drth at the end of Senator Hardtng's
peech was over and the assemblage
uieted down again, the other tempo
airy officers were nominated and
lected, and the chairman of the vart I
us state delegations were called on to
end up the names of the men selected
y the delegations to represent them
n the committees on credentials, per
lament organization, rules and order {
[ business, and resolutions. In most {
asses the names were all ready and
ere soon in possession of the secre-
lries.
Some miscellaneous Guinness fol-
wed, and Chairman Harding then de-
AIRED the convention adjourned until
thursday morning J
rr3,o ~, horc IF tho oourr1{tfooo AZ