The age-herald., 1900-06-20
Roosevelt Put the Great Crowd
 to Cheering.
WoLc0TT TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN
Leaders Are Still at Sea on Vice-Presi- dential Question, and No One Knows Which Way Tide
 VIII Turn

Philadelphia, June 19.-Chairman Hanna, with a rabbits foot suspended from a min ature of Mckinley in the lapel of his coat, surveyed an imposing spectacle when he called the twelfth Republican National Convention to order in the export exposi- ton building in West Philadelphia at 1235 o'clock today. In the valley below him were crowded 1,SOO delegates and alter mates, and stretching away to the four corners of the immense hall, were endless vistars of people rising in terraced seats to the walls. He looked into the faces of fully 15,o0O men and women Opposite in broad gallery were massed hundred musicians their leader a mere pigmy in the distance The platform on which he stood jutted out like a huge rock into an ocean of human ity. Below him and flanking the stage was an embankment thronged with the repre- sentatives of the press of the country Above were flags bunting, eagles and shields, the whole scheme of the elaborate decorations eliminating in a huge por- trait of Mckinley nestlng in the folds of the American flag. About him were the working leaders of his party, and behind among the dignitaries and honored guests of the convention were whte-hared men who had been present at the partys birth in this city almost half century ago.
 It was not riotous convention. There were no wild outbursts of enthusiasm from the frenzied partisans of rival candidates; no entrance of delegations with banners to set the mutitudes cheering; no fierce skir- mshing and clashing of candidates man. agers over rules of procedure and contest ing delegations. The chieftain had been al- ready selected by the unanimous voice of the Republicans of the country The man who had stood at the helm of the ship of state for four years was their unbroken choice. The platform was the record of his administration
 Only One Gu 'stion
 The only question that remained for the convention to decide was the Vice Presi- dency, and it was not a sufficient bone of contention to produce the tumultous scenes which usually attend the assembling of a national convention. The convention today was the dignifed gathering of the repre- sentatives of the Republican party to ratify formally the wishes of the millions whose authority they held
 It was very undemonstrative at first While the crowds and delegates were fun nelling into the hall before the hour for calling the convention to order had ar- rived there were no wild greetings of party leaders. A scattering applause met MT. Hanna as he made his way to the stage General Grosvenor, Senator Lodge Senator Foraker, >ex-Senator Quay and few others aroused a fiuttering of handkerchiefs and a round of handclapping, but men of na- tonal reputation whose fame has spread away from our shores across both oceans entered without producing a ripple. Per- haps most of them were not recognized. It seemed tame.
 There was only that indescribabe buzz of myriads of voices which belongs to a national convention as the humming of bees belong to field of clover in summer and 1t looked as though nothing could gall vanize the thousands into life.
 Roosevelt the Hero
 But just before Chairman Hanna was ready to drop his gavel Governor Roose- welt entered and the vast audience was electrified. He stalked in the main door. Seemingly the audience had been waiting for him, and the applause that announced his appearance swept over the vast am- phitheater and swelled into great roar as he made his way toward the seats of the New York delegation. Senator Depew and Chairman Odell of the New York commit tee were with his, but the crowds had eyes
 
 stage idol ever made an entrance more op- portunely. But he made no acknowledge ment of the ovation. His jaw was firmly set and he came on through like a soldier performing a duty. He did not even re- move his hat, but pushed his way through the delegates who swarmed from their place to, grasp his hand. Fully two minutes 1t took for him to traverse the length of the hall to his place near the stage All that time the roar followed and the hand kerehiefs rose and fell like the wings of gulls over summer sea.
 But he made no sign that he realized if was all for him. When he took his seat with his slouch hat still on, without hay ing glanced to either side, the people gave it up and the cheering gradually subsided
 The Star @pangled Banner
 But it broke out afresh a moment after as the band started up 'The Star Spangled Banner" Roosevelt of all the thousands, first upon his feet, standing erect like a Norway pine with uncovered head to the music of the anthem Instantly the whole convention rose en masse, as though apol- ogizing for, their tardiness.
 This entrance of Roosevelt into the Con- vention was distinctly the dramatic fea- ture of the session. Then the wheels be- gan to move, but the Convention, under the spell of his presence, could not take it's eye off him. In him the interest seemed centered. During every pause in the pro- ceedings he-was surrounded by delegates and newspaper men anxious for a word. To all he gave the same answer. he was not