Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 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 Deiiv-
ers the Keynote Speech
Committees Are Named.

| the fact that the proceedings of the
first session were to be only prelim-
mary formalities, the people fiocked
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 20 call
the convention to order 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 and
bunting draping the Orders and gal
leries and covering all bare spots on
the end walls. Up in a 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.. Hilles and his
working force of 35 men, were grouped
many members of the diplomatic
corps who had come on from Wash
ington, 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 hail. directly in
front of the speakers stand, were the
991 delegates gathered about their
state Standards. and back OF them
991 alternates. Just below the rostrum
and on both sides of 1t were the AIS
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 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 3. Reynolds of Mas
sachusetts, secretary of the national
committee.
Mr.. Hilles then called for nomina-
lions for temporary chairman. OF
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 Harding's Address.
Chairman Harding launched at once
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
sertion that such harmony already
was an assured fact With unctuous
sentences he skillfully oiled the way
for the smooth return of those who
left the party four years ago to follow
the Bull Moose standard, and he de-
clared to them and to the world that
he did not believe there was really
reactionary Republican 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 national
unselfshness has been proved since
the great war broke out, he said, and
our national weakness in defense re-
vealed The. foreign policy of the
Democratic administration, both in re-
lation to Europe and in the matter OF
Mexico, was dealt with in few caus-
tic sentences, and the plan to turn
loose" the Philippines also was scored.
The speaker devoted some attention
to the need, from q Republican point
of view, for a protective tariff, and
then turned TO the topic of American
ism. Here he once more let his elo-
quence have full play, and his call for
loyalty, devotion and love for the
United States on the part OF every
one of its citizens was answered by a
roar of cheers.
Verify, it is good to be an Ameri
can. And we may rejoice to be Re
publicans," he concluded
Routine Business Transacted.
. When the''band music that burst
forth at the end of Senator Harding's
speech was over and the assemblage
quieted down again, the other tempo
Iary officers were nominated and
: elected, and the chairman of the vari
Gus state delegations were called2n e
send up the names of the men so. -et
by the delegations to represent hen
, IN the committees on credentials, per
manent organization, rules and ordel
of business, and resolutions. In mos
cases the names were all ready ant
were soon in possession OF the secre
taries.
Some miscellaneous business FOL
lowed, and Chairman Harding then de
clared the convention adjourned unit
7 | Thursday morning.
: The members of the committees a
, once gathered in the meeting place.
, assigned them and took up their worl
so as TO be ready to report to the sec
| ond aassion of the convention.