The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1916-06-08
National Gathering Opened For
maIly in Chicago.
CROWD FILLS TIE COLISEUM
Senator Harding OF Ohio Is Elected
Temporary Chairman and Delivers
the Keynote Speech-Com-
mittees Are Named.

fact that the proceedings of the first
session were to be only preliminary
formalities, the people flocked to the
Coliseum by the thousand and poured
through the many entrances in solid
streams for hours. When Charles D.
Hilles, chairman of the national com.
nlittee, arose at eleven o'clock and
took up the gavel to call the conven-
ton to order there was not one vacant
seat in the immense structure.
1t was a fine setting for an important
event. The Coliseum was decorated
as never before, with flags and bunting
draping the girders and galleries and
covering all bare spots on the end
walls. Up in a gallery at the south
end of the hall a brass band was pour
ing forth patriotic and popular airs.
Back of the speakers rOstTum, where
sat Mr.. Hilles and his working force
of So men, were grouped many mem
bers of the diplomatic corps who had
come on from Washington, and the
distinguished guests of the convention,
among them all living ex-chairmen of
Republican national conventions. To
the right and left of these were placed
the members of the national commit
tee and their guests
In the body of the hall, directly in
front of the speakers stand, We're the
991 delegates gathered about their
state standards, and back of them 991
alternates. Just below the rostrum
and on both sides of It were the 1926
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 order,
and called on Rev. John Timothy
Stone, pastor of the Fourth Presby-
terrain Church of Chicago, to deliver
the invocation. Dr. Stones eloquent
and impressive prayer was followed by
the reading of the call for the conven-
ton by James B. Reynolds, of Massa'
chusetts, secretary of the national
committee.
Mr. Hilles then called for nomina-
tions for temporary chairman. OF
course the selection Of United States
Senator Charles Warren Harding OF
Ohio for that position had been all set
tied long ago and his election by
unanimous vote was only Formally
Senator Harding is an imposing figure
and as he accepted the gavel from the
hands of Mr. Hilles he was enthusias.
tically cheered.
Chairman Hardine'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
warm plea for harmony in the party
ranks, coupled with the confident as
sertion that such harmony already was
an assured fact With unctuous SEN
fences 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 declared
to them and to the world that he did
not believe there was a really reaction.
airy 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 pre-.
paredness 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-
a, vealed The foreign policy Of the
Democratic administration, both in re.
lation to Europe and in the matter Of
Mexico, was dealt with in a few caustia
sentences, and the plan to turn loose"
the Philippines also was scored.
The speaker devoted some attention
TO the need, from a Republican point
of view, for a protective tariff, and
then turned to the topic of Americans
ism Here he once more let his elo-
quenoe have full play. and his call for
I Ivy ATTY, OSNOLlOu anu lONO III lAd
United States on the part of every one
of its citizens was answered by roar
of cheers.
4 Verify, 1t 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 temper,
airy officers were nominated and elect.
ed, and the chairmen of the various
state delegations were called on to
send up the names of the men selected
by the delegations to represent them
on the committees on credentials, per
manent organization, rules and order
of business, and resolutions. In most