The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-06-20
HANNA'S RABBIT-FOOT
HE RUBBED 1T ON THE CONVEN-
TION AT I2;35 O'CLOCK.
VAST CROWD HAD GATHERED.
GREATEST OVATION WAS GIVEN
TO GOV. ROOSEVELT.


Assurance of Success Evoked
Great Applause Demonstration
Given Taylor of Neutrality-suspicious.
mas Ambition Realized-Lodge to
BE Permanent Chairman.
Philadelphia, June 19.-Charman Han
ma, with a rabbits foot suspended from
a miniature of Mckinley in the lapel of
his coat surveyed an imposing spectacle
when he called the twelfth Republican
National Convention to order in the spa
cious Export Exposition building in West
Philadelphia at 1885 to-day.
In the valley below him were crowded
the 1,s0O delegates and alternates, and
stretching away to the four corners OF the
immense hall were endless vistas of peo-
pie rising in terraced seats to the walls.
He looked into che face of fully 5000 men
and women.
Opposite, in a broad gallery. were mass
ed a hundred musicians. their leader
mere pigmy in the distance. The plat
form on which he stood jutted out like
huge rock into an ocean of humanity. Be
low him and fanking the stage was an
embankment thronged with the represent
atves of the press of the country. Above
was a riot of flags, bunting. eagles,
shields. the whole scheme of the elaborate
decorations eliminating in a huge por-
trait of Mckinley nesting In the graceful
folds of the American flag.
About him were the working leaders
of his party and behind. among the dig
nitaries and honored guests of the con-
been present at the partys birth in this
city almost half a century ago.
1t was not a riotous convention There
were no wild outbursts of enthusiasm
from the frenzied partisans of rival can
didates, no entrance of delegations with
banners to set the multitudes cheering, mo
fierce skirmishing and clashing of can
didates managers over rules of procs dure
and contesting delegations. The cheftain
in the coming battle had already been
selected by the unanimous voice Of the
Republicans of the country. The man who
stood at the helm of the ship of state for
four years was their unbroken choice.
The platform was the record of his ad-
ministrauon.
Only One Big Question.
The only question that remained for
the convention TO decide was the vice
presidency, and it was not a. sufficient
bone Of contention 20 produce the tu-
multuous scenes which usually attend the
assembling of a national convention. The
convention to-day was the dignfied gath
ering of the representa- auves of the Re
publican party to ratify formally the
wishes of the millions whose authority
they held.
1t was very undemonstrative at first.
While the crowds and delegates were
tunnelling into the hall before the hour
for calling the convention to order had
arrived, there were no wild greetings of
party leaders. A scattering applause met
Mr.. Hanna as he made his way TO the
stage. Gen. Grosvenor, Senator Lodge,
Senator Foraker. ex-senator Quay and
few others aroused a futterng of hand
kerchiefs and a round of handclapping,
but men of national reputation whose
fame has spread away from our shores
across both oceans entered without pro-
dAcing a ripple Perhaps most Of them
were not recognized. II seemed tame.
There was only that indescrihable buzz
of myriads of voices which belongs to
national convention as the humming of
bees belongs to a field of clover in sum-
mer, and il looked as though nothing
could galvanize the thousands into life.
when Roosevelt Entered.
But just before Chairman Hanna was
ready to drop his gavel Gov. Roosevelt
entered and the vast audience was cleo
trified He stalked in at the main door.
His Rough Rider hat signalled him out
to the craning multitude. Seemingly the
audience had been waiting for him and
the applause that announced his appear
ance swept over the vast amphitheater
and swelled into a great roar as he made
his way to the seats Of the New York
delegation. Senator Depew and Chairman
Odell of the New York State Committee
were with him. but the crowds had eyes
only for the dashng hero of San Juan.
No stage idol ever made an entrance
more opportunely. But he made no ac-
acknowledgement of the ovation his appear
ance elicitod. His jaw was firmly set
and he came on through the. press like a
soldier performing a duty He did not
even remove his hat, but pushed his way
through the delegates who swarmed from
their places to grasp his hand Fully
two minutes IL took for him to traverse
the length Of The hall to his place near
the stage. All of that time the. roar fol-
lowed him and the handkerchiefs rose
and fell like the wings OF gulls over a
summer sea.
Was the Dramatic Feature.
But he made no sign that he realized It
was all for him. When ne took his seat
with his souch hat still on, without hav-
ing glanced 10 either side, the people gave
il up and the cheering gradually subside !.
But il broke out afresh a moment after
ward as the band started up the star
Spangled Banner" Roosevelt OF all the
thousands was first upon his feet, stand
ing erect like a Norway pine with uucoV-
cred head TO the music Of the antheme In
stantly the whole convention rose en-
masse as II apoogiziug for their tardlnes5.
The 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 rot take
it's eyes off him. In him the interest
seemed centered. During every pause IN
the proceedings he was surrounded by
delegates and newspaper men anxious for
a word. To all he gave the same answer.
He was not a candidate. He did not want
the nomination. Those who wanted him
nominated left him. saying he would ac-
cept and they would nominate him
whether he liked H. or not. Those who
did not want him hastened 10 spread the
report that he could not be moved into
accepting.
Hanna'S Ambition Realized.
Chairman Hanna's reception. when he
called The convention 90 order ard later
when he made brief address. was fat
tering In the extreme, and the smile on
his broad face betrayed the pleasure IL
gave him. But the enjoyment he expert
enced over his own reception seemed
nothing compared with the delight he
manifested when for the first time he