Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-06-08
Con, ) zion Slow in As.
ser !. ing and Gavel Falls
1ialf Hour Late
FIRST APPLAUSE
INSPIRED BY MUSIC
Newer Generation In Politics Evident
On Every Hand-Sons Of Famous
Sires Among Delegates-Chairn1a
Hays Introduces Senator Lodge az
Temporary Chairman-Women De-
Iesates Frequently Consulted.
By Associated Press.

BY Associated Press.
Chicago, June s. The. republican
national convention was actually
called to order at 1884 a. M, soon
after Chairman Hays appeared on the
platform and was greeted with
rounds of applause and shouts.
Chairman Hays brought the gavel
down with q whack and the conven-
ton came quickly to order. Bishop
Charles e. Woodcock, Of Louisville,
KY. offered the opening prayer.
The prayer was a long one, and at
its conclusion the band broke into the
"Star Spangled Banner at the re-
quest of the song leader.
Little Confusion.
Forty minutes before the conven-
tion was due to open. the band struck
UP and the delegations began getting
into position. The hall was filling
rapidly and many of the notables
were arriving. There was remark
able absence OF confusion. The old
timers said it looked almost as tame
as four years ago.
Unlike former conventions. the old
guard came early. In the Old days
they were the last to arrive. !. being
held back by conferences. AS many
OF leaders took their seats without
causing q ripple of excitement, the
band played mournful air.
There was many women delegates
and alternates on the floor. The seat
arrangements were altogether diff
ferent from what they were four
years ago. In the front rows were
delegations from California. North
Dakota Connecticut, Colorado and
Virginia.
Women Consulted.
The platform was slow in filing
up. Apparently the leaders were in
conference elsewhere to determine
what was to be done with the ques-
ton of permanent organization. The
women delegates were eagerly sought
by the scouts of the campaign man
ayers and held quite a handshaking
affair Of their own. They seemed
to be enjoying their first participa-
ton in national convention. The
band continued to blare popular
airs with regularity, and the dele
gates and alternates continued to
pour in at all the doors. The gall
leries were filled early with the
fortunate hundreds who managed
to get in, to the disappointment of
the unlucky thousands who lost out
on the tickets. The opening mo-
ments were spent in informal con-
ferences among the delegates on the
floor and renewals of old acquaint-
ances. Generally the conditions in
the hall were remarkably quiet. No
body seemed to have any more def
mite idea of how things were going
to line up than they did last week.
Twenty minutes before the hour set
for the opening the crowd was still
streaming in. 1t was not until then
the electric lights were turned on,
throwing into relief the thousands
of American flags that comprised
the only decoration. The floor was
about half full at that time. The
only decoration on the platform was
big vase of American Beauty roses
UP to the moment Temporary Chair
man Lodge left hts hotel for the
Coliseum there had been no final
determination on the question OF
permanent organization.
First Applause Comes.
The gathering audience began to
show the first signs Of animation
when the band struck up "The Stars
and Stripes Forever .whistlers in
some parts of the visitors galleries
accompanying the band. The first ap-
plause that swept the hall came at
ton.
From the "Stars and Stripes the
band swung into "Dardanella," and
there was prompt response with q
shuffling of feet and suggestion OF
shimmy from some of the negro del
egates from Tennessee.
When Senator Lodge reached the
hall he took his scat in the Massa-
chusetts delegation space, where he
friends, and they had a brief con-
ference. Fred Upham, the national
treasurer Joined the national con-
ference and he three men had their
heads together for several minutes.
Opening is Delayed.
Lieut.. Col. Theodore Roosevelt was
among the early platform arrivals,
At II o'clock, the hour set for the
opening, the band was playing "The
Sunshine Of Your Smile" but very
few people were smiling. There was
no movement to call the convention
to order and begin the business.
The isles were crowded with dele
gates who seemed more intent on