Donald Trump’s campaign apparatus made it clear at just past 4:00 this afternoon in Cleveland, if anyone was in doubt, that it had solid control of this 41st Republican National Convention.

The question was whether the convention, in an afternoon session that began at 1:00 (fewer viewers in the afternoon, you know) would accept the report of the Rules Committee. That committee rejected a so-called conscience amendment which would have declared that delegates could vote for whatever candidate they liked, regardless of state law, state party rules or the votes cast by the voters in primaries or caucuses. Others, notably former Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, objected to other provisions, including a change from 2012 that would prevent the Republican National Committee changing delegate allocation provisions between this national convention and the next one.