The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1916-06-09
REPUBLICANS N
BIC CONVENTION.
NATIONAL GATHERING OPENED
FORMALLY IN CHICAGO.
CROWD FILLS THE COLlsEUS
Senator Harding Of Ohio ls Elected
Temporary Chairman and oellV-
srs the Keynote Speech
Committees Are Named.

Chicago, June THE Republican
party opened its great quadrenniaE
show-the national convention-to.
day before a capacity house. Despite
the fact that the proceedings OF the
tirst session were to be only prelimi-
nary formalities, the people flockedl
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
donal committee, arose at eleven
o'clock and took UP the gavel to cali
the convention to order there was not
one vacant seat in the immense struc-
ture
Back OF the speakers rostrum,
where sat Mr.. Hilles and his working
force Of S5 men, were grouped many
members OF the diplomatic corps who
had come on from Washington, and
the distinguished guests OF the com
vention, among them all living ex-
chaimen OF Republican national con-
ventons.
In the body of the hall, directly in
FROM OF the speakers stand, were the
s9l delegates gathered about their
state standards, and back Of them 991
altenates. Just below the rostrum
and on both sides of 1t were the 425
wording 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.
MI Hilles was heartily applauded
whei he stood before the throng,
gave in hand. He spoke but briefly
in clling the great gathering to or
der, ind called on Rev. John Timothy
Ston pastor of the Fourth Presbyter-
Ian hurch Of Chicago, to deliver the
invocation.
M. Hilles then called for nominal
tons for temporary chairman. OF
coure the selection of United States
Senior Charles Warren Harding OF
Ohio for that position had been all
settld long ago and his election by
unanimous vote was only formality.
Sender Harding is an imposing fig.
ure, and as he accepted the gaveI
fromthe hands of Mr. Hilles he was
enthusiastically cheered
d1airmsn Hardlna's Address.
Chirman Harding launched at once
into lis Keynote" speech, and did not
beliehis reputation for eloquence and
deftess OF phrase. He began with
warn plea for harmony In the party
rank, coupled with the confident as.
sertin that such harmony already
was an assured fact.
Asmight have been expected, Mr..
Harmg early in his address took up
the ubject OF national defense. His
bitterness on this topic were reason
ablyemphatic and in line with the
prepfedness sentiment that has been
speeding over the land Our national
unselishness has been proved since
the feat war broke out, he said, and
our htional weakness In defense re-
veali. The foreign policy Of the
Demcratic administration. both in re-
latio to Europe and in the matter OF
Mexo. was dealt with in few caus-
tic sntences, and the plan to turn
loost the Philippines also was
scori.
Tt speaker devoted some atten-
ton o the need, from Republican
poinof view, for protective tariff.
and Zen turned to the topic of Amer
icanm.
''Vrily, II is good to be an Ameri.
can And we may rejoice to be Re
publans," be concluded.
Wen the band music that burst
fortlat the end Of Senator Harding's
speh was over and the assemblage
quied down again. the other tempo
airy officers were nominated and
elecd, and the chairmen OF the yari-
Gus tate delegations were called on
TO sd up the names OF the men Sc
lectl by the delegations TO repre-
senthem on the committees on cred
entis. permanent organization, rules
andrder Of business, and resolutions.
In Iost cases the names were ell
rea< and we're soon In possession OF
heecretaries.
Sne miscellaneous business fol-
lowi. and Chairman Harding then
deered the convention adjourned
unit Thursday morning.
n members Of The committees az
ono gathered In the meeting places
assned them and took up their work
50 to be ready to report to the SEQ
onaession OF the convention.