Middletown transcript., 1920-06-12
G. 0. ?. CONVENTION
! NOW UNDER WAY
wv ~UU0oUU UU0Ut
Senator Lodge Is: Made Per-
- manent Chairman
ATTACKS WILSON PoiicIEs
. 8 :
Chairman Hays Calls Delegates To
Order; Work Of Selecting 6.
Q. p. Standard Bear
ers Bealns.

Coliseum, Chicago.-The 1920 Ma
tional Republican Convention is on.
Will H. Hays, chairman Of the na-
tional committee. called the delegates
to order shortly after IL A. M. and the
work Of selecting the G. O. P. stand
ard1bearers began.
At the opening of the great con-
clave it was generally admitted that
the fight still was "free-for-all" and
none Of the candidates had succeeded
in capturing a commanding lead.
The most important events Of the
first session was the keynote speech
Of Temporary Chairman Lodge and
the appointment of the big Four"
: committees, including resolutions,
which will decide. the principles on
which the Republican candidates will
make their fight for election.
Hays opened the convention with a
brief speech. He said:
The Republican party has met in
this open and free convention to ac-
cept from the American people a man.
date for the government Of the United
States.
"As chairman Of your national
committee I report progress. -Four
years ago the normal Republican ma
jority was 100000 minus. Two years
ago it was 100000 plus. Today I
, honestly believe it is double that num-
Der and in November It should exceed
three millions.
I'm spirit, report more than prog
ress. report fulfllment. The great
party of the union has become a unit.
It shall so continue. There will be no
bolt from the convention.
by direction of your national COM
mittee l present the name Of the
Honorable Henry Cabot Lodge to act
as your temporary chairman"
The work of popping up" the crowd
started half an hour before the conven-
tion was called to order, with crash
Of vigorous march music from the
band, perched in dizzy balcony in the
extreme rear, up under the girders.
From that point onward the tension
steadily intensified and the throng was
in a yelling mood as the "ifty-ninth"
minute approached.
Delegates and spectators. before |
they entered the building, were forced |
to run a gauntlet Of stern-faced wom-
en-suffrage pickets, who stood in a |
long, silent line along the front of the |
coliseum, holding banners with the |
words: "You ire to blame for the de- |
fefat Of suffrage" and Remember we |
have 1900 million votes" with other |
slogans of like nature. Hoover pickets
also faced the throngs slowly working !
their way toward the castellated struc-
ture where the great drama was to be |
staged.
Hundreds Of delegates had difficulty |
In finding their seats. The aisles were |
jammed. Ushers were swamped. AS
the crowd increased, the noise Of con-
versation grew from hum to a roar
as the galleries filed up rapidly. The
roof lights came On at 10:40, glaring !
through the bunting that hung from
the steel girders. There was some ap-
plause at this, but apparently the
throng was in no mood for horseplay.
When the hour Of II had nearly ar
rived the galleries were about two
thirds fllled, while the floor was con-
gested with delegates blocking the
aisles, standing around and talking
with their hats on.
I The movie men were on the job,
setting up their cameras as the minute
hand moved into the last FIVE minutes
before the opening hour. The band
crashed into the "Stars and Stripes
Forever"