Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-05-30
CHICAGO COLISEUM RICH
IN REPUBLICAN HISTORY
Model Convention Hall Erected on
Site OF Old Libby War Prison
Museum.

CHICAGO. May 29.-Tna Chicago
Coliseum. where the Republican Ma
tional Convention Of 1920 will BIO
held. beginning June s, has a hia.
tory rich In political interest. Fiye
national political conventions have
been held within it's walls. n record
unsurpassed by any building In the
United States.
Every four. years since lai4,, tho
Republican party has met In tho Col
iseum TO nominate It's candidates for
President and vice. President, and in
1912 the Progressive party also met
there to nominate Colonel Roosevelt
for President
The Coliseum was completed in
1900. 1t was designated ms "a model
convention hail and erected on tho
site Of the old Libby War Prison
Museum. at Wabash Avenue and Fiji
tcenth Street. less .han n mile from
the hotel and retail shopping dis
trict.
The casteliatcd walls OF tho old
war prison were used for the Wabash
Avenue side OF the structure. It was
built OF stone. brick. steel and glass,
and Is 4o3 feet long. 10 feet wide.
II cost nearly 100000. II has a
wide balcony extending around throe
OF the walls. and this has been am
piihed for THIS years convention by
the addition OF Il second balcony on
the north side.
Seating Capacity Over 10000
A. result. the seating capacity.
Is At se eonly i2too were seat
inc main floor OF the Coliseum
viii seat 1900 delegates, alternatcs,
press representatives and spectators.
There viii be 100 doorkeepcrs. 200
ulshcrs and 1000 scrgcants-a arms.
VIII be overseas soldiers. sailors aud
marines. Working with military dis
e,pl'ne under the direction OF for
tho national COMMITTEES homes to
aver, the overcrowding OF four years
ago. when hundreds OF persons
past the unframed doorkcepcrs and
pre-cmptcd seats for which they held
no tickets
The The sneakers platform at IN.
vide seats for the Officers OF tho
G enn, and members OF the RE-
hind this Is raised platform with
s;pvo seats Tor the use OF prcsiden-
e eh eandida'cs and other distinguish
sn guests or either side of tho
spcakerS Platform. extending across
,nr building Is n press section con-
taininE 5,5 seats for working news
PhpcE Ul'N
Il. %. J.. Delegates Face Speaker.
Facing the speaker arc the scat, ,or
me ?sf delegates and an equal num-
Der OF alternatcs. This section Is en-
closed hy heavy rail- 10 hold back
The crowds OF frcnzied spectators
Mno irequsntly. during moments Of
intense enthusiasm. attempt TO storm
inc speakers stand. The rest OF the
man Moor and all tho balconies will
be given over 10 visitors
-
divided among the national commit
teen.n from each State. in proper
lion 10 tho state representation in the
s?nten'ion; with tho exception OF a
IN the Chicago Convention Commit.
Tee. which financed the convention
arranHemcnts With less than 10000
visitors seats 10 be distributed. tho
conrnliut had received moro than
5000 requests for tickets weeks in
advance OF ,i.r convention.
Inc ChlrnEo Convention Committee
OF WITCH Fred w. upham. Rcpubl!-
raised $4,000 To- bring the conven.
,ion TO Chicago. The high COS, OF
esxerythinE has hit the convention.
tire convention in 1916. costs $1,000
DAY Tor :. band Of nifty pieces this
year. Other expense arc In proper
ton.
Executive Onlcers Estsbii.hed.
inc Republican National Committee
moved It's executive Offices TO the
Coliseum several weeks in advance
OF the convention. Adjoining the
main building Is an annex connected
with the Coliseum proper by several
broad arches and entrances. Here arc
located the executive and admins
tra,ive offices. a temporary hospital
In charge Of 100 Chicago physicians.
and. in tho basement. telegraph
and telephone room where scores OF
spe, iai wires have been installed for
the use ot news gathering associa-
tons and newspapers which will
cover the convention.
The annex also boasts branch
post ONCE TO facilitate speedy coilec-
lion and distribution OF mail TO the
convention officials and numerous
committee rooms for the National
Committee AMI various committees
OF tbs Convention.
In IN. decoration OF the convention
hall the maaagers have abided by
the long csta blished custom OF rely
ing exclusively on profuse display OF
:hc American flag, Four years ago
this custom was departed from in the
use OF gold and white bunting. but
the cost was found excessive this
year. G. Il. Hall. superintendent Of
tho Coliseum. who is in charge OF the
decorations. has used hundreds OF
big and little American nags TO COM
nletcly cover tho girders and iron
franipwcr,s N tho buiidinC