"r
JUNE 20, 1908
The Commoner.
1:
THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION
TJie republican national contention of 1908
was called to order at Chicago at 12:18 p. m.
Tuesday, June lGth.
An Associated Press dispatch referring to
the entrance of delegations sa$: "Wisconsin
produced t the first burst of enthusiasm shown
by the personnel of any particular delegation.
A ponderous man climbed upon a chair and wav
ing a wide black hat led the Badgers in the cry
'Hoo-Rah-Rah,' three times repeated, the name
of Senator LaFollette being brought in at the
end witji vim and energy. The cheer was not
particularly contagious, however, and no other
state joined their lead."
In dalling the convention to order Harry S.
New, chairman of the republican national com
mittee, said: "The hour has arrived for the rep
resentatives of the republican party to meet in
its fourteenth national convention at the end of
almost twelve years of the most brilliant ad
ministration in tho history of the world. There
are thope present in this audience today who
participated in the party's first convention and
the accomplishments of tho party over so brief
a span as that of the life of men yet living
are almost beyond belief. We are here to as
sert our pride in what has been done, to ap
prove the achievements of the past and more
especially to commend and endorse the admin
istration of Theodore Roosevelt and those poli
cies which, under his splendid administration,
have become known to the people of this land
as the policies of a 'square deal.' "
Mr. New's reference to President Roosevelt
was greeted with an outburst of cheers.
Bishop Muldoon of Chicago invoked the
divine bfessing.
After the. reading of the convention call
Senator. Burrows was introduced as temporary
chairman.
The following is taken from the Associated
Press report:
Senator Burrows was warmly received as
he stepped to the front of the platform. He
bowed his acknowledgements . and began his
"keynote" address at just 12:30 p. m.
Tho substance of Senator Burrows' speech
will be found on page 14.
The following is taken from the Associated
Press report:
The list of temporary officers was approved.
Representative Sereno B. Payne of New York
was recognized to offer a resolution that until
permanently organized the convention be guided
by the rules of the last national convention. It
was adopted.
Senator I. Long presented and moved the
adoption of a 'resolution moving that the roll of
the states be called for the presentation of the
names of the (men selected for the various com
mittees. The resolution was unanimously adopt
ed and the 'Toll-call began.
"Alabama,"' called the clerk, but Alabama
could not respbnd, having no: list at hand, their
one copy having been filed with tho clerk of
the convention. The plan of having the names
of committeemen read for the delegation was
then abandoned, but tho membership" of all com
mittees was called by the clerk. The reading
of the list of names did not appeal to either
spectators or delegates and they commenced to
leave. No names were submitted from Georgia
beyond, committee, because ,pf contests in that
state. w , ' , ,'
When Indiana was reached, Senator Lodge
moved that further reading be dispensed with
and that the lists be handed in to the secretary.
Tho motion was carried and the reading ceased.
The following ' resolution was submitted by J..
Francis Burke of Pennsylvania, who requested
that i,t be referred to the committee on rules:
."Resolved, That the basis of representation
in the national convention shall be as follows:
"Each state shall be limited to four dele
gates at large and one additional delegate for
each 10,000 or majority fraction thereof, cast
at the last preceding presidential election for
republican electors and two delegates from each
territory, the District of Columbia, Hawaii,
Alaska, Porto Rico, and Philippines and that
methods necessary for the enforcement of this
rule shall be provided by the republican na
tional committee chosen by the delegates of this
convention."
Senator Lodge's resolution was carried with
reference to all the states savo Louisiana, where
a contest had been temporarily passed over and
both delegations seated. It was reported that
Louisiana had- submitted two lists, but Chair
man Burrows announced an agreement had
been reached whereby the Louisiana delegations
had agreed that they would forego representa
tion on the standing committees. Senator Mal
loy announced that tho committees selected
would meet as soon as possible after tho ad
journment of the convention. He declared. that
it would not be necessary to leave tho hall as
lunch had been provided In the. Coliseum. ,1 .'.
On motion of Senator Dupont the conven
tion at 2:03 p. m. adjourned until 12 o'clock
Wednesday. .,
THE SECOND DAY'S PROCEEDINGS
Tho republican national convention met for
the second day's session at noon. Wednesday,
June 17. Temporary Chairman Burrows called
tho convention to order. Rev. William C. Wa
ters of Chicago road the invocation from a prayer
book closing with tho Lord's prayer, many of the
delegates joining with him. Harry Daughorty
of Ohio asked for one hour's additional time
for tho committee on credentials. The request
was granted..
Following is from tho Associated Press
report:
Chairman Burrows Interrupted the regular
order of business to introduce to tho convention
Henry Baker of Minnesota and James D. Connor
of Indiana, two gray-bearded veterans of the
party who were delegates to tho first republican
convention in 1856. They were greeted with
continuing rounds of applause.
It was then announced that while .waiting
for tho report of tho committee on credentials
there would be a parade through the hall of
visiting and local marching clubs..
On motion of Mr. Warren of Michigan the
convention voted a place on the platform to
C. G. Proctor of St. Joseph r .Mich. who was- a
delegate to the Lincoln convention in Chicago
forty-eight years ago. ,
As Secretary Malloy cbncluded hitf- an
nouncement of the Warren resolution' the tap
of drums" was heard outside the hall and iiu-ian-other
second the east door was opened- and' in
came the band heading a parado. They halte'd
in front of the speakers' stand for an instant:,
playing "America." Close behind 'thfem camo
the Amerlcus club of Philadelphia, tho Knox
marching club of Philadelphia and then the
Americus club of Pittsburg, bearing high their
umbrellas, some of red, white and blue and
others of yellow and black. The aisle was not
ideal marching ground and congestions were
frequent and halts numerous, The Pennsyl
vanians were not forgetful of their candidate
rind as they passed along they-tilled the air with
cries of "Knox." Every 'tiinerthoy were1 com
pelled to halt they seized thdoppdrtunityta' re
new the cry. ' . ':'
Behind the Knox entlniBiasts came the
Tariff club of Pittsburg, headed'by a large band;
then came the Young Men's' Blaine club of Cin
cinnati. They wore tall White' hats and carried
small American flags. Their appearance pro
duced frenzy in the Ohio 'delegation. Instantly
every man was on his feet,- the red 'flags .tossed
up and cheer after cheer rang through the hall.
The blue banner with the face' of Secretary Taft
on it produced' another outburst and the Ohio
men screamed and 'danced abolit while tha band
in the galleries struck- up "Hail to the Chief,"
which It has by some' coincidence played' every
time' the bltio banner has been' flung to 'the air.
Following the Blaine' club there crtm'e a
distinct novelty in the -way of 'the band playing
"Tammany," and then a big delegation of visi
tors from Danville, 111., bearing small flags with
"Cannon" on them and a larger banner announc
ing "Neighbors of Uncle Joe'1
Another Knox club from Philadelphia bear
ing big banner's and heading by a band playing
"Dixie" were n.ext in the long line.
The Pennsylvanian's drum major was quite
the most gorgeous personage who had entered
the convention hall.
"Knox, Knox, we must have Knox" cried
the Phlladelphians and their demand was echoed
by their delegates who took to their feet and
waved vigorously their blue Knox pennants.
Still another band came roaring through the
doorway, and it was the turn of Indiana. Be
hind the band, wearing white caps, with bands
of black, were the members of the marching
club of Indiana, which had arrived in the city
but a short time before. They were given an
enthusiastic greeting by the Indiana delegates
which they returned with interest. As was the
case with Pennsylvania, Indiana cheered on un
supported by the voices of any other delegations.
Senator C. W. Fulton of Oi gon, chairman
of tho credentials committee steppod to tho nlnt
SiWiV1 l)rcflontC(I tho report and pcrrnanont
roll of tho convention, it was adopted in quick
order with only a few dissenting "noes" to be
heard after the storm of "ayes" that followed
the putting of tho question.
n,A. "y,ur committee on credentials," said Sen
ator lulton, "met yesterday immediately aftor
the adjournment, and aftor fully hearing and
carefully considering all the cases that came be
fore It, reached the opinion that all delegates
placed on the tomporary roll by tho national
committee are In each instanco ontitled to their
seats.
Cheering Interrupted the speaker.
In addition," said Senator Fulton, "tho
committee has seated all three of tho contesting
do egations from New Mexico, with one-third
voto each."
The adoption of tho report was moved and
there was no attempt at debate. Ono or two
scattering noes were heard.
The report on permanent organization was
then presented by Chairman Charles F. Brookor
oi Connecticut. Tho announcement that Senator
Henry Cabot y Lodge had been chosen for per
manent chaliyian called out applause, especially
from the Massachusetts delegation. The report
save in this particular, made permanent tho tem
porary officials. It was adopted unanimously.
The chairman then announced: "I appoint
General Stewart L. Woodford of New York and
Governor Charles S. Deneen of Illinois a com
mittee to escort tho pormanent chairman to tho
platform."
iw GifraI Wo,odforl mounted the rostrum
first, followed closely by Senator Lodge Gov
ernor Doneen bringing up the roar. Renowod
applause greeted their appearance, and after the
two chairmen had bowed and shaken hands;
P?aTfo0rmBsaid:W8' adVanClng t0 tbe front of
"Gentlemen of tho convention, I have the
honor to introduce to you as your permanent
chairman, Senator Henry Cabpt Lodge of Massa
chusotts." iioi,
As SenatoV odge stopped forward to tho
speaker s table manuscript in hand ho was loudly
cheered. In a voice clear to tho utmost corner
of the vast auditorium he began by banking-tho
delegates for tho honor pf his selection to pre
side permanently over the deliberations of tho
It was precisely 1:25 o'cinnir whnnrl
Lodge, uttered the first sentence of hlg speock.
, iiia aaoress naa a welcome touch of cam
paign atmosphere and the audience was not long:
In breaking forth in frequently and constantly
increasing enthusiasm. Lodge's drawing of con
trasts between tho republican and democratic
party, particularly pleased tho delegates. Ho
declared amid laughter and cheers that tho
great object of the democrats was to keep their
past a dark history, while the republicans woro
anxious to publJsb,,theIrs to the world.
, . "If wo, refer. to their pasty" ho declared,
"they accuse us io, calumny."
. There was much laughter and cheering, at
this, which, was renewed when he said "the dem
ocrats now could only appeal to judge us on
our undiscovered, future."
i, ,VWe say," he continued, "read our record
and judge us there.' t;
, ,Turning from his taunting of the democrat
Senator Lodge . seriously discussed the record
o the achievements under republican adminis
tration of recent years and it was in this connec
tion that he first mentioned the president not
by name, but by the office.
"Tho president has fearlessly enforced the
laws as he found them upon the statute books."
Cheers came from many quarters of tho
hall, at this, but their duration was comparative
ly brief, and Senator Lodge hastened to resume.
In a few minutes, however, ho came again to
the president with the declaration that in en
forcing the law the bayonets of duty must hurt
somebody.
"And the result," he went on, "is the presi
dent is the most abused and most popular man
in tho United States."
At this the great demonstration broke
loose. For sl time the cheering appeared de
sultory, but after a minute or two some of the
delegates from the territories jumped to their
chairs and a great roar burst from all over the
hall.
As the cheers came forth Senator Lodge
remarked to his friends on the platform: "They
said thero was no Roosevelt feeling in this coa-
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