The Elk Mountain pilot., 1900-06-26


shortly after IL O'Clock, the band in
the gallery awoke the echoes in the
vast roof space, there We're not more
than 1000 persons in the great audi
torium. But it was astonishing how
rapidly the crowds began to arrive af-
ter that hour. They poured in steady
streams until they blackened the acres
of seats.
In the seats back of the stage We're
many distinguished personages.
The leaders We're slow in arriving
and it was not until Senator Hanna
put in an appearance at 11:45 that the
enthusiasm of the thousands was un-
corked. He got a cheer as he moved
up the center aisle the full length of
the hall TO the platform
At 1901 occurred the first pronounc-
ed demonstration of the convention.
Governor Roosevelt came in through
the main entrance and moved down
the aisle. He Wore his Rough Rider
hat and was instantly recognized. A
deep reverberation of the cheer greeted
him. Men jumped to their chairs to
cheer him and women futtered their
handkerchiefs.
At 1870 the band broke into the
strains of the Star Spangled Banner"
Governor Roosevelt was on his feet in
response to the national anthem. His
Rough Rider hat came off and he stood
with head uncovered. Instantly the
whole convention rose en- masse. Ten
thousand people stood while the stir
ring air was played and applauded it
with cheer as they took their seats.
Chairman Hanna remained standing.
He lifted the ungainly gavel and
brought it down with resounding
whack. Instantly all eyes were rivet-
ed upon him.
''The convention will come to order"
he shouted, at exactly 12:35. The
convention Will be opened with pray
err" he continued, by the Rev. j. Gray
Bolton of the Hope Presbyterian
church of Philadelphia"
AT the close of the .-,ayer, Senator
Dick read the call for S-e convention.
Chairman Hanna then made brief
address of welcome. His mention of
the name of President Mckinley was
the signal for enthusiastic and long
continued applause.
As Mr. Hanna closed his speech with
tribute TO his colleagues on the ma
tional committee and reference to the
close of his chairmanship, he spoke of
the sterling service of the senator from
Colorado Mr. Wolcott, to his party,
and presented him TO the convention as
temporary chairman.
Senator Fairbanks. from the first
row of delegates, arose and moved that
the selection of Mr. Wolcott as tenn
porary chairman be approved, and
with unanimous voice, the delegates so
The appearance of the Colorado or
ator a moment later set the convention
of like n rocket. He wore n blue suit,
with white vest. There was elasticity
in his step as he bowed low to the con-
vention, and there was something
about him that suggested his mountain
home. With n pleasant nod of ac-
acknowledgements to Chairman Hanna he
turned and addressed the convention.
Senator Wolcott has a clear, reson-
ant voice that penetrates to the fur
thest recess of the hall. He speaks,
however, with great rapidity, which
made it difficult for the audience to
follow him. But the thousands before
him were in thorough sympathy and he
had no difficulty in striking respon-
sive chord. When, with outstretched
arm he predicted the triumphant elec-
tion of the Republican ticket in Novem-
Der, the audience surrendered. and
when he mentioned President McKin-
ley's name, he could not proceed for q
minute. owing TO the demonstration.
AS he rehearsed the four years of Re-
publican administration, the prosperity
which had blessed it, the victories it
had won, the glorious outcome of the
Spanish-American war, the campaign
of misrepresentation in connection with
the Philippines which its enemies had
inaugurated, and which it had met, the
convention repeatedly broke into ap-
plause.
Senator Wolcott paced up and down
along the front of the platform as he
proceeded and several times consulted
his notes. He is not Mt his best in
prepared speech, and his admirers We're
possibly little disappointed.
He spoke an hour and ten minutes,
and as his brilliant peroration closed
ther was another enthusiastic demon
stration Of approval, delegates standing
on chairs and waving hats, umbrellas
and handkerchiefs, while at the same
the band added the enllvening strains
of a patriotic air.
Mr.. Wolcott received many hearty
handshakes from those about him, and
then turned to the business of the con-
vention, announcing the long list of
secretaries and officials previously
agreed upon.
The following list of temporary Off
GERS was announced:
Temporary ecretary-Charles NJ.
johnson of Minnesota.
Assistant secretaries-John r. Nal
10y of Ohio, John Il. Beam, New Jer-
sey; Lucien Gray, Illinois; Gardner p.
Stickney, Wisconsin; James +. Burke,
Pennsylvania; w. b. Bochmann, Ten
nessee; Warren Bigler. Indiana; John
+. Royce, Kansas; f. S. Gaylord, Con
necticut.
Reading clerks-Daniel z. Ward,
Michigan; Il. l.. Lampson, Ohio; James
ii. Stone, Michigan.
Clerk at presidents desk-Asher c.
Kinds, Maine.
official reporter-M. w. Blumenberg.
Di.t,.int nf Cnlt1n,nl,i.a