The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-06-11
GALLERIES
Ell|LLED Ell. BY
z>'AIl!ENcE
.kctators Crowd Into Conven-
tion Hall Hour Before
Y Morning Session is
Open.
SPECTACLE TO BE. SEEN
First Cheer Of the Day Goes to Uncle
Joe Cannon When He Appears
in the Coatless ~
" Crowd.
SPECTACLE TO BE. SEEN
[By Hugh Baillie. United Press Staff
CORRESPONDENT IL

[By Hugh Baillie, United Press Staff
Correspondent
COLISEUM, CHICAGO, June IL
The republican party today started
the actual work of selecting its can
didate for president.
In mid-morning of what gave
promise of being very hot day, the
delegates to the national convention
assembled in the historic Coliseum.
ready to remain, if necessary, until
439 votes have been cast for one OF
the contenders for the nomination.
The first move in the final stages
1 of the 1920 G.. o. p. sconclave was to
receive the nominations Of candf-
dates. Everything was set for the
demonstrations which generally at
tend the first utterance of the can
didate's name by the speaker who
puts him before the delegates.
In expectation of seeing spec
tacle, thousands of gallery ticket
holders were in their seats an hour
before the time for starting, staring
down from all sides at the compara-
lively small space reserved for the
delegates. 1t was hot up under the
steel girders and soon the galleries
were aflutter with waving fans.
So universally were coats and
vests discarded, among delegates as
well as spectators. that the throng
looked like a bleacher baseball crowd
on the Fourth of July This effect
was heightened by the presence OF
white-coated, white-capped attend
ants, who looked exactly like the
peanut statesmen of the league parks.
In this case they were in charge of
the water coolers. w
AS usual, the opening hour passed
with no sign of quick start being
made. The delegates began strip
ping for action to the extent of dis
carding collars and opening shirts
at the neck.
The California delegation came in
grimly determined to stick to the
finish for Johnson. They were primed
to cut loose for their candidate at
every opening, and it looked as if
their corner of the floor-in front on
the left of the chairman-would see
some exciting doings before night.
There were several quiet little
conferences in progress On the floor
between emissaries of various dele
cations.
Most of the talk among delegates,
however, was about the weather, and
few Of them seemed to know exactly
what was going to happen. The lead
ers knew, but they weren't telling.
The first cheer of the day was for
Uncle Joe Cannon. Some of the
southern delegates spotted him as he
came in and there was some yelling
and handclapping. which, however,
failed to spread.
Cannon came up the center aisle,
shaking hands with scores Of dele.
gates on the way. They massed
around him, so his progress was
slow, but step by step he worked his
way to the platform, nodding and
smiling.
Fifteen minutes after the official
hour set for opening. Chairman
Lodge had not appeared.
Colonel Du Pont, Of Delaware,
strolled about the platform. He may
be one of those put in nomination
and when his tall figure was deserted
on the rostrum by the Delaware dele.
gates they started applauding. Just
then, however, the band played
America" and in the confusion OF
standing up the crowd failed to note
the noise from Delaware and the ex
citement failed to spread.
There was considerable par1eying
between the New York and Illinois
delegations
Senator Calder, of New York, con
ferred at length with Senator Sher
man, of Illinois. who has just been
elected national committeeman 70:
that state.