The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1916-06-09
National Gathering Opened For.
maIly in Chicago.
CROWD FILLS THE COLISEUM
Senator Harding OF Ohio Is Elected
Temporary Chairman and Oeliv-
ers the Keynote Speech
Committees Are Named.


the fact that the proceedings OF the
first session were to be only prellm'
mary formalities, the people Hooked
to the Coliseum by THE thousand and
poured through the many entrances
in solid streams for hours. When
Charles ID. Hilles, chairman OF the ma
tional committee, arose at eleven
o'clock and took up the gavel TO call
the convention tosorder there was not
one vacant seat in the immense struc-
ture.
II was a fine setting for an I'M
portant event. The Coliseum was dec
Grated as never before, with flags ana
bunting draping the girders and gal
Ieries and covering all bare spots on
the end walls. Up in the gallery at
the south end of the hall brass band
was pouring forth patriotic and popu-
lar airs. Back of the speakers ros-
trum, where sat Mr.. Ililles and his
working force of 35 men, were group
ed many members OF the diplomatic
corps who had come on from Wash
ington, and the distinguished guests
OF the convention, among them all liy-
ing ex-chairmen of Republican ma
tional conventions. To the right and
left Of these were placed the mem
bers 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 99l
alternates. Just below the rostrum
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 briefly
in calling the great gathering TO or
der, and called on Rev. John Timothy
Stone. pastor of the Fourth Presby-
terian 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
Massachusetts, secretary of the ma
tional committee.
Mr.. Hilles then called for nomina-
tons for temporary chairman Or
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 formality.
Senator Harding is an imposing fig
ure. and as he accepted the gavel
from the hands OF Mr.. Hilles he was
enthusiastically cheered.
Chairman Hardine's Address.
Chairman Harding launched at
once into his keynote" speech and
did not belle his reputation for elo-
quence and deftness of phrase. He
began with a warm plea for harmony
in the party ranks, coupled with the
confident assertion that such har-
mony already was an assured fact.
With unctuous sentences he skilfully
oiled the way for the smooth return
of those who left the party four years
ago to follow the Bull Moose stan
dard, and he declared to them and
TO the world that he did not believe
there was a really reactionary Repub-
lican among the delegates.
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
preparedness sentiment that has been
spreading over the land. Our nation
al unselfishness has been proved
since the great war broke out, he
said, and our national weakness in
defense revealed. The foreign policy
of the Democratic administration
both in relation to Europe and in the
matter of Mexico, was dealt with In
a few caustic sentences, and the plan
to turn loose the Philippines also
was scored.
The speaker devoted some atten
IlOn 10 the netu, lIOll lHt htpuhiiNdi
point of view, for a protective tariff
and then turned 10 the topic of Amer
icanism. Here he once more let his
eloquence have full play, and his cal
for loyalty, devotion and love for tn,
United States on the part of ever!
one of its citizens was answered b!
roar of cheers.
Verify, It is good to be an Ameri
can. And we may rejoice to be Re
publicans," he concluded.
Routine Business Transactej.
When the band music that burs
forth at the end of Senator Harding
speech was over and the assembling
quieted down again, the other tempo
rary officers were nominated an
elected. and the chairmen of the var
Gus state delegations were called o
TO send up the names of the me
selected by the delegations to re-
resent them on the committees o
credentials, permanent organization