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JUNE 26, 1908
The Commoner.
9
who signed that report," concluded Represehta-"
tivo Cooper. fl ! : .
"Hoorah, good," came from the floor.
NOT ASHAMED OP REPORT
"And I am not ashamed of it, and will
never' apologize to a human heing for having
done so," retorted Mr. Cooper, who then drew
a mass of papers from his pocket and opened a
bulky one.
"Louder," came the cries.
"I am not going to read it."
"Good, hoorah, hoo-ray," cried several dele
gates in the Indiana and West Virginia list.
Cooper argued briefly the various planks
offered in his report, saying he had no idea his
time was to be so curtailed as announced by the
chairman.
"We of the minority," declared Mr. Cooper,
discussing one of the planks. Then, amid laugh
ter, he said: "I use the 'we' in an editorial sense.
I, of the minority," he went on, launching into
the problem of railroad rates. "As to injunc
tions," declared Mr. Cooper, "we would not tol
erate for a moment the suggestion of an attack
upon the courts. But remember, as has well
been stated, that 'the discretion of the court'
is often the beginning of tyranny."
Mr. Cooper yielded here to Mr. Sherman
Ekern, speaker of the Wisconsin assembly, for
three minutes. Mr. Ekern devoted the brief
time at his disposal to the injunction and rail
road planks, giving but a few words to the court
contempt plank. He read to the convention a
protest signed by Mr. Fuller, of the national
brotherhood of locomotive engineers, firemen
and trainmen, expressing disapproval in behalf
of the organization of the anti-injunction plank
agreed upon by the majority of the resolutions
committee.
Chairman Hopkins concluded' and there was
an outburst of cheering.
"The report of the majority," he said, "was
signed by fifty-two members of your committee.
The only question here is whether you will stand
by your committee or adopt the socialist demo
cratic doctrines of Wisconsin."
"No, no," shouted several delegates.
Wisconsin demanded a roll call on the mi
nority report and it was seconded by South
Dakota.
Governor Hanly of Indiana arose to a ques
tion of special privilege and asked for a sep
arate vote to be taken on the section of the plat
form relating to the publication of campaign
expenses. The chair stated the question could
not be divided.
Separate hallots were also asked by Gov
ernor Sheldon of Nebraska on the section relat
ing to the election of senators, and by Governor
Crawford of South Dakota on the 'physical ex
amination of railroads. The first ballot taken
was on the adoption of the minority report, ex
cept on the three sections which were to be vot
ed on separately.
At'the first break a perfect rain of "noes"
came from New Jersey, which cast twenty-three
votes no and one aye. South Dakota was the
next to be cast away from a solid negative, cast
ing six noes and two ayes. Wisconsin was the
supporting delegation of the minority report,
voting twenty-five ayes and one no.
The minority report was voted down by 952
to 28.
The vote went steadily in the negative, Del
aware announcing "no" on this and all other
amendments.
The first break came in Idaho, which cast
six votes aye.
Indiana split her vote, eight being in the
negative and fourteen4n the affirmative.
There were scattering votes of aye in the
delegations from Kentucky, Missouri, Pennsyl
vania, West Virginia and South Dakota.
Nebraska cast sixteen votes in the affirma
tive. Wisconsin voted twenty-five ayes and
one no.
The territories and insular possessions all
went in the negative.
Senator Beveridge of Indiana announced
that his state wished to give the full vote of
that state, which he declared to be thirteen ayes
and twelve noes. The roll call was changed
accordingly.
The final vote by which the publicity plank
was lost was ninety-four ayes, 880 noes.
The third roll call was on the amendment
covering the physical valuation of railroads. The
plank was lost by 917 to G3. a.
The final roll call on the amendments was
on the section calling for the election of senators
by direct vote of the people.
"Nebraska asks a roll call," said the chair
man. "Is there a second?"
There was none forthcoming for a second,
and the chairman had commenced asking that'
the question bo decided by a viva voce vote when '
the demand was seconded by Wisconsin.
A volley of "No, no," accompanied by a few
groans, was fired at Wisconsin, but the chair
man ordered the roll call.
Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri,
Ohio, West Virginia, Washington and Pounsyl
vania gave scattered votes in the affirmative and
Wisconsin again went twenty-seven yeas, one no.
The popular election plank for senators
went down and out by 866 to 114 Hawaii split,
one to one.
"The question now is," said Chairman
Lodge, "on the adoption of the majority report."
The adoption of the resolution was by a
viva voce vote, no voice being raised in tho
negative.
NOMINATIONS FOR PRESIDENT
"The next business is the presentation of
names of candidates for the office of president
of tho United States," said Chairman Lodge at
12:45 p. m., and there was a great cheer.
"The clerk will call the roll."
Mr. Boutell of Illinois presented the name
of Speaker Cannon. Representative Fordney of
Michigan seconded the nomination
Governor Hanly of Indiana placed Vice
President Fairbanks In nomination. Governor
Hanley got into trouble with tho galleries- and
ho was repeatedly hooted and jeered. With
great difficulty he concluded his speech, saying:
"You may not want to hear me now, but before
November you will want to hear me and you
will want to hear from Indiana." Mayor Book
waiter of Indianapolis seconded Fairbanks' nom
ination. General Woodford presented the name of
Governor Hughes of New York. "This is going
to bo a hard fight," said Mr. Woodford "and
any one who tells you it is to be a walkover
makes a serious mistake." Ho said that one
tenth of the vote of New York is unattached to '
any party, and that the state is a 'doubtful one
politically. "Whether we win or lose, in Now
York depends largely upon what we do here"
today," he said. "I do believe thatvf know New
York and there are just two republicans who
can carry the state without question. One Is in
the White House and the other In the state
house at Albany."
H. T. L. Adams, a negro delegate from Vir
ginia, seconded Governor Hughes' nomination.
An Associated Press dispatch says:
"Hot words emphasized with menacing ges
tures, passed between ex-Governor Herrick of
Ohio and Governory Hanly as the latter descend
ed the steps from the platform to take his seat
after his much interrupted speech. Governor
Hanly complained that he had not been treated
right, and on the disclaimer of resflbmibillty by
Mr. Herrick, the governor was heard to ejacu
late: "I can make it burn for you, and I am
going to do It." Mr. Bookwalter also com
plained of his treatment by the audience as he
took his seat after seconding the Fairbanks
nomination.
Representative Burton of Ohio presented
the name of Mr. Taft. He was accorded gen
erous applause. At the conclusion of Mr. Bur
ton's speech there was a great Taft demonstra
tion. George A. Knight of California seconded
Mr. Taft's nomination.
C. B. McCoy of Coshocton, Ohio, presented
the name of Senator Foraker. W. O. Emery of
Macon, Ga., a negro, made the seconding speech
of Mr. Foraker. "It is the proudest moment of
my life," he declared, "to stand here as tho rep
resentative of 10,000,000 people, 2,000,000 of
whom are voters, all of whom are patriots and
love their race and country and to have the
privilege on behalf of all those people to second
the nomination of Joseph B. Foraker of Ohio."
Liberal applause greeted tho colored orator as
he made his way back to his place.
Robert S. Murphy nominated Senator Knox.
Henry F. Cachems of Milwaukee nominated
Senator LaFollette.
The Associated Press report says: The ap
plause and cheering of the Wisconsin delegates
followed him as he spoke. Wild enthusiasm
followed the speech. The cheering rapidly in
creased when a man named Seifert, who is a
messenger in the United States senate, held high
a picture of Roosevelt. The roar was so great
at the time the picture was shown that it was
impossible to tell exactly where the LaFollette
enthusiasm died and the Roosevelt cheers began.
The Wisconsin men took full charge of the out
burst, however, and led it with vigor and in
creasing enthusiasm as the time went on.
When Ohio voted, the Taft vote reached 511
which was twenty' more than enough to nomi
nate. General Woodford of New York moved
to make Mr. Taft's nomination unanimous; This ".'
' ' fmotion prevailed. ' '
At,, 5:22 p. m. and on motion of Senator'
Fulton of Oregon, tho convention took a recess -until
Friday morning at 10 o'clock.
FOURTH DAY'S PROCEEDINGS '
Tho convention was called for tho fourth
and last day at 10:18 o'clock a. ra. Rabbi Scho
onhaben of Chicago offered prayor. When tho
roll was called on nominations for vice president,
Delaware speaking through Senator Dupont,
yielded to New York. Timothy L. Woodruff
presented tho name of Representative James S.
Sherman of New York. Speaker Cannon, al
though not a delegate, was given unanimous per
mission to second Mr. Sherman's nomination.
Mr. Cannon .was given a great ovation. Ho paid
a high tributo to Mr. Sherman and urged tho
convention to nominato him.
Chairman Lodgo surrendered tho gavel to
Franklin A. Denison of Illinois, and then pro
ceeded to present the name of Governor Curtis
Guild of Massachusetts.
Thomas N. McCartor of New Jersey pre- '
sented the name of Governor Franklin Murphy
of New Jersey.
It was a walk-away for Sherman, tho vote
standing: Shorman 81G; Guild 75; Murphy 7;
Governor Sheldon of Nebraska 10; Fairbanks 1.
Mr. Sherman was declared to bo tho nominee.
Tho convention then adjourned.
nOAV MR. TAFT HEARD THE NEWS
Upon being notified of his nomination, Mr.
Taft said: "Words do not find themselves at a
time like this. I do not deny that I am vorv
happy." '
Tho following description of tho scene fn
Secretary Taft's offlco is taken from a Washing
ton dispatch carried by tho Associated Press:
"Shortly before 12 o'clock Mrs. Taft nr
rived at the war department. She scanned care
fully the bulletins which had been received from
the convention and distinctly manifested her
pleasure at the result of tho action of tho con
vention regarding tho platform. She Is a closo
and accurate observer of things political and la
one of the best advisers tho secretary has had
throughout tho preliminary campaign for tho .
presidential nomination. Mrs. Taft remained in '
the secretary's office throughout the afternoon.
Sho was attired in a becoming suit of pure white
and wore a big picture hat of pea reen straw
adorned with seal brown and pale green ob'Luch"'
plumes. Accompanying her was the young son
of the secretary and Mrs. Taft little Charlie
whoso special function it was to carry bulletins
recolveo from the convention from the telegraph
operator to the secretary's desk. He was tho
.busiest person in the war department. Whllo
awaiting the coming of bulletins he stood at tho
. desk of tho telegraph operator listening anx
iously to the fateful ticking of the instrument.
Ho wore a suit of khaki knickerbockers, with a
blue and white striped waist. As each bulletin
came from the operator's typewriter he scanned
it quickly and rushed with it into his father's
office. It was to Mrs. Taft, ordinarily, that ho
presented the bulletins rather than to Secretary
Taft and he listened while his mother read the
bulletins to the secretary's assembled guests.
LAFOLLETE AND FORAKER FOR TAFT
This telegram was received by Mr. Taft:
"Madison, Wis., June 18. William H. Ta'ft,
Washington, D. C: While the platform is dis
appointing in some fundamental provisions and
omissions, and I shall claim the right to say
so, I congratulate you most sincerely, and in the
faith that you are more nearly in accord with
the great body of republican voters than tho
platform, I shall do all in my power to insure
your election.
"ROBERT M. LAFOLLETTE."
On the day following, the nomination these
notes passed between Senator Foraker and Mr4
Taft:
"Dear Mr. Secretary: Although I fear it
may be unwise and probably misunderstood, it
is nevertheless my pleasure to avail myself oS
my privilege to send you heartiest congratula
tions and best wishes for success in November
Very truly,
"J. B. FORAKER."
Secretary Taft's response follows:
"My Dear Senator: I assure you that youp
kindly note of congratulation gave me the greats
est pleasure and I thank you for it from the
bottom of my heart. I have never ceased to re
member that I owe to you my first substantial., .
start in public life, and that it came without'
solicitation. With very best wishes, believe me
my dear senator, sincerely yours, .
"WILLIAM H. TAFT . '
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