Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-06-08
CONVENTION At
FIRST SESSION
Result in Great Doubt as Dele
gates Are Called to Order
at Chicago Today.
BIZ The Associated Press


| CHICAGO, June S.-Hours before
the doors were opened at the big Col
iseum today thousands of persons
were waiting and hoping to get IN
for a look at the Embossed Republican
national convention.
Only a fraction of those who ap-
piled for seats could be admitted de-
spite the Coliseum's capacity of more
than 10000.
Political activities moved out OF
hotel districts into the Coliseum. 1t
twas the first opportunity for the var
| ious delegates to meet altogether and
instead of button-holing delegates
Isingly and in groups they went out
after then in delegations.
Today's proceedings had little to do
with the actual nomination here.
merely routine but indispensable pre-
lliminaries sessions which are to fol-
low. True the preliminaries include
the keynote speech by Senator Lodge,
Temporary chairman, and that ii is
the really big business of the first
lday whether the temporary organiza-
ton with Senator Lodge as chairman
| Is to be made permanent one was
istill undetermined today.
The crisp cool weather which kept
lChicago chilly oil during pre-conven-
tion weeks, suddenly disappeared and
the sun came out.
| while last minute preparations
were being made no change in lineups
gwere discernable and various man
jagers admitted they saw no tangible
evidences. They were looking toward
the first battle which will come dur
ing the middle OF the week, to develop
two points the way to courses oe ac-
| ton.
The convention actually opened its
first session at II o'clock, Chicago
| time.
When the delegates and the other
! crowds got out of beds and scattered
! for breakfasts they faced hot day
despite weather predictions of gen.
| orally fair and not much change In
temperature" but the crowds coult
not take that view.
| There was an early start toward
| the Coliseum, many of the late nigh
| stragglers being a bit weary with the
long seige ahead Around the hotel:
a few barkers offered tickets to the
| convention at fabulous prices with {
J few buyers. The crowd was wise
| knowing today's session would sup,
ply no excitement
| Candidates were up and abou
| early and campaign managers were
| on the job taking stock and hoping
| to find out if there had been any
/ changes In the rush to get to the
| tion to the morning conferences with
| candidates, and there was evidence
| that this method of obtaining public
| ity would wear itself out for some oi
! late aspirants sent down word thai
| there was nothing to say.
Everybody was still up in the ali
as TO whom would win the nomination
and from all sides there was a volley
| of inquiries as TO when the job woulC
be finished. Also, the weather was o.
more vital interest than the nominee
| to many.
| Less than a dozen state delegation!
had failed to hold caucuses, but will
the exception of Georgia and possibly
one or two others there was no figh
ahead and little interest was display
| ed
The main idea was to, get to the
convention hall and see the break
away, and hope thereby to get the
right slant on the possible outcome.
There was a lot of talk about the
Johnson mass meeting and the dec
laration by Senator Borah that hC
would transfer the senate treaty figh
Ito the floor.
But in the general groupings. doubt
confusion and muddles of all delega
tions, except those fighting inch by
/ inch for their favorite candidates
seem to agree that the old days wher
leaders showed them the way were
not so bad, after all.
| The wet delegations headed by
Roscoe Pickett. the defeated candi
date for national committeeman, an
inounced that they would carry theil
tight to the credentials committee o
the convention. johnson at the head
| ing had told the national committe'
he would forego his hopes of being ma
ional committeeman If the Lowder
delegation were defeated.
There were many women on the
! floor. The women delegates were
! equally sought by the campaign man
ayers and held quite a conference
| of their own. They seemed to be en-
| joying their first convention.
Forty minutes before the conven-
tion began to opepn, the band struck
up. and the members started to get in
line. The hall was filling rapidly and
many of the notables were arriving.
The old timers said 1t looked almost
as tame as four years ago.
Unlike former conventions the old
guards came early. In the old days
they were the last to arrive, being
held back by conference. Many of
the leaders were out causing ripple
OF excitement. and the band played a
tuneful air.