The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-06-22


purpose and thoughtful appreciation of
the tremendous responsibilities it was
called on to discharge. the convention just
closed can successfully challenge a COM
parison with the records of the past.
Owing to the comparatively early hour
for which the meeting of the convention
was called the delegates were rather slow
in assembling. 1t was 1890 O'Clock before
Chairman Lodge felt himself justified to
rap for order. Attired in scarlet robes.
himself representative of one of the
most powerful organizations on earth.
Archbisop Patrick j. Ryan, of this city.
invoked blessing upon the day, the con-
vention and it's labors. When, on the call
OF States for nominations for the presi-
dency. Alabama yielded her place to Ohio
a roar of applause filled the vast build
ing which only subsidized to start afresh
when Senator Foraker ascended the plat
form TO put William Mckinley in nomi-
nation. The senator is a man of command
ing appearance. Sincerity, earnestness and
determination are stamped upon his fea-
lures. His gestures are quick and reveal
tremendous energy. He has a clear enun-
citation and his delivery carries conviction
with ii. Ohio is full of orators, devel-
oped by the intense way in which they
endeavor TO settle Buckeye issues, but
Foraker is the peer of them all. Unfor-
tunately. as often happens where all has
been said that could be said of a slated
candidate. the speech did not appeal with
pristine freshness. Not a soul but knew
all about the President, had heard his
praises sung in every possible key before.
and had possibly absorbed the platform
which was necessarily paraphrass d in a
nominating speech. But Foraker rad this
transcendant virtue-bravery. He spoke
less than fifteen minutes and when he fin
ally named the President the flor and
| the galleries broke into tumultous out
| burst, all rising, everything wavable fan
ming the air, and when it sagged who was
to the fore but Hanna, the engineer of
| the convention.
ROOSEVELT SET HIS JAWS.
The uproar was renewed when Governor
| Roosevelt appeared on the platform to sec
| ond the nomination. He faced the abound
| ing multitude with the same determined
| look and with jaw firmly set as IL a
| bowling mob were at his heels and wished
| to rend him. Only for single moment
| did he relax his features-when he caught
| glimpse of his wife in the gallery and
i waved his hand to her. AS he did so the
| sun broke through an opening in the roof
| and its rays played for a moment like an
/ aureole about her head. He actually
| flushed. but for a moment only, and then
1 he faced the shouting throng once more.
| For the first time, practically, the real
hero of the convention stood in full view
| of the admiring thousands to speak for
| the absent champion. For a long time he
| thus stood flushed and almost dazed by
| the tremendous character of his ovation.
/ His attitudes, his voice, his energy, his
precision Of speech, his spasmodic en-
phasis and his method of enforcing MS
words-all the characteristics of the man
as he had been revealed to the American
public in print and picture-were at once
incarnate to this waiting throng.
The one great impression was of his pro-
| nounced individuality. His speech was not
| one of rounded periods. such as Senator
Lodge could make, nor did it have the
| fervor nor the rich metaphor of the Vol
| colts and Dollivers. 1t was sharp. intense
| and at times kissing with the steam OF
| overpressure No speech of the convention
| has been so effective, none so full of char
| acter and none which found so responsive
an audience. 1t carried everything before
ii, and old campaigners sighed tfat such
energy was beyond them.
The speech of Senator Thurston, of Ne
braska, and of John w. Yerkes, of Ken
lucky, were hardly above the ordinary.
though we'll enough received. That OF
George A. knight, of California, delivered
in a clear, ringing voice, which penetrated
the more distant recesses of the hall, put
the audience. by it's happy phrasing, no
less than picturesqueness. into real good
humor and reconciled it with the tempera-
ture, now rapidly rising in the hall. Gov
ernor James A. Mount, of Indiana, was the
last speaker. The delegates were tired and
he soon lost the attention of his audience
and was compelled to hear his speech pune
tuated by cries of "vote. vote!'
THE VOTE AND TUMULT FOLLOWING
The taking of the roll is always impress
sive, even when there is but single can
didate. To-day the audience watched the
work under a great strain of interest. OF
course there are chairmen of delegations
who on such occasions cannot possibly re-
sist the temptation of prefacing the an
nouncement of their poll by little speeches
which are received with applause or laugh
ter. sometimes, but more frequently with
tired feeling akin to disgust b. b
Odell announced the vote of New York
Hawaii's vote was received with a round
CT applause. When Senator Lodge said
civilian Mckinley has received $50 votes
| and hereby declare him your nominee fol
President for the term beginning March 4
1901" enthusiasm broke out anew and al
| the frenzied scene that had gone before
was repeated. The element of horseplay
| always latent in large body like this
found ample play in delegates gathering
the State signs from different parts of tho
floor once more and, rushing toward tbs
platform, forming picturesquely up
roarious group around Senator Hanna tn,
| latter's face fairly beaming and every fea.
ture exuding happiness and content Al
the same time elephant, not rea
| cne. however, was seen to move up the
| center aisle and with stately seriousness.
made the rounds of the floor. This too. Il
was whispered, was one of Senator Hanna.
happy devices. But that may be slander
1t is not strange. though. that everything
| good or bad. ridiculous or impressive. II
the convention should be ascribed to him
Shortly before 1 o'clock the convention
was ready to proceed TO the business o.
nominating the candidate for the vice pres
4 h. -