Evening star., 1928-06-12

Continued from First Page)
committee, did not interest the dele
gates very much and they kept loud
hum Cf conversation going while Senar-
tor Fess OF Ohio. temporary chairman
waited watchfully from seat with the
Ohio delegation. all set to take the
platform and deliver his keynote
The reading of the. call finished
Chairman Butler launched into a short
speech of his own, whose chief purpose
was TO review the high spots of the ma
tional committee action leading up to
the convention.
"As chairman Of the Republican ma
tional committee" he said. Il call this
convention formally to order. We are
met pursuant to call issued by the
Republican national committee. We
will be governed by the rules of the
last national committee. Each con-
vention goes out of existence, but it pro-
videS for a national committee Thus
the Republican national committee be-
comes the connecting link between ma
tional conventions"
AS the chairman went ahead with
this lesson in party procedure, and
doubled back into the formal details of
party history, the delegates again be-
came restless. Although 1t had been
comparatively cool earlier in the morn
| Ing, after hard June shower, 1t was
warming up in the crowded hall and
a great deal OF fldgeting and wiping OF
brows kept the picture one of constant
motion.
Although the overnight developments
electrified the atmosphere in which
the delegates came together for their
first meeting, there was nothing in
lTct f,F as-tf.~
which touched even remotely on the
nomination of o candidate. The real
point Of the days session was the key
note speech of the temporary chair
man. Senator Fess of Ohio, himself one
OF the last to give up hope that Pres
ident Coolidge might run again and
the appointment Of a committee to
prepare d platform.
There was no expectation that the
formulation Of set of party planks
would take long or lead to serious diff
cultleS. For days various leaders have
been in conference on such issues as
farm relief and prohibition, and al
though no complete meeting Of minds
has yet eVentuated. party chieftainS do
not appear worried Already tenta-
tive draft Of an administration plat
form is in the hands of Senator Smoot
of Utah. who will be chairman of the
platform committee, and it apparently
will have behind 1t the full force of
the Hooverites.
In the convention crowds that jam
med downtown Kansas City today ap-
peared only occasional squads OF the
organized farmers who had planned TO
march on the Republican convention
with demand for farm plank salts
factory TO the McNary- -Haugen coun-
try Their leaders say more are ex-
pected momentarily, but unless they
hasten their arrival, they are likely TO
find the convention over.
PreIimaries Held.
The ilrst days program was made up
entirely Of those customary prelimina-
ries by which, so TO speak. national
convention rolls up It's sleeves, takes a
good look around and gets set for the
work ahead. The buEinesS of actually
bringing i'll a platform and hearing
presidential candidates placed in nomi-'
nation will not begin until tomorrow,
ard Thursday Will see the start Of the
balloting. With good luck and the aid
OF Senator George Moses, who Is 10 be
the permanent chairman, and who has
been practicing up by presiding at odd
times over the Senate In Washington
the convention managers hope to ad-
journ by Thursday night.
The opening hour today was IL am,
Central standard time-the hour when
the daylight-Saving East Is out for a
O'Clock lunch and Standard timers on
the Pacific Coast are keeping O'Clock
engagements at the Office.
BY long custom. the formality of open
Ing the convention fell not TO the tenn
porary chairman but to the chairman
OF the Republican national committee.
William NJ. Butler of Massachusetts,
personal friend Of President Coolidge
and manager OF the 1924 campaign.
This and few Of the formallties imme-
diately following the rap of the gavel
constituted the full official part TO be
played in the convention bv the titular
head Of the party organization. For