Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1900-06-21

Philadelphia, juno 19.-Chairman Hanna
with rabbits foot suspended from
miniature of Mckinley in the lapel of
his coat surveyed an imposing spectacle
when he called the republican national
convention to order i'm the spacious exposi-
ton building IN West Philadelphia at 12:55
to-day.
In the valley below him were crowded
the 1900 delegates ard alternatoS and
stretching away to the four corners Of
the immense hall were endless vistas OF
people rising in the terraced seats
He looked into the faces of fully l5,Ho
men and women. opposite in broad
gallery were massed a hundred musicians,
their leader a mere pemy in the distance.
The platform on which he stood juttcd
out like a huge rock into the ocean OF
humanity. Below him and about the stage
were the representatives of the press OF
the country. Above was "A cloud of flags.
bunting, eagles, shields. through the
shadows of which shone "A huge portrait
of Mckinley. Above him were the work.
ing leaders of his party and behind,
among the dignitaries and honored guests
OF the convention we're white haired mer
who had been present at the party's birth
in this city Il half century ago.
II was not a riotous convention. There
were no wild outbursts of enthusiasm
from the friends of rival candidates, no
entrance of delegates with banners to set
the multitudes cheering, no fierce Skin
mishing and clashne of candidates mang-
ayers over rules of procedure and contest
ing delegations. The chieftan in the COM
ing battle had already been 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 admins
tration.
The only question that remained for the
convention to decide was the Nice-pres-
idency ana il was not sufficient bone of
contention to produce the tumultuouS
scenes which usually attend the assemb-
ling of a nation The convention to-day
WAS the dignitcd gathering of the repre-
s"ntatiVes OF the republican party to rat
ify formally the wishes Of the millions
whose authority they held. 1t was unde-
monstratiNe at first. While the crowds
and delegates were filing into the hail
before the hour for calling the convention
TO rider had arrived there was no wild
greetings of leaders a scattering APP
pausc met Mr.. Hanna as he made his
way to the stage.
Perhaps most of the notables were not
recognized. 1t seemed tame as there was
only that indesC ribable buzz of myriads of
voices which belonged TO a national con-
Ncntion as the humming of bees belong
ing to a field of clover in summer and it
look as though nothing could galVanize
the thousands into life. But Just before
Chairman Hanna was ready to drop his
GaNel GOV. Roosevelt entered and the vast
audience was electrified He stalked in at
the main door. His rough rider hat
singled him out to the craning multitude
Seemingly the audience had been waiting
for him and the applause that announced
his appearance swept over the vast am
phitheatre and swclled into Il great roar
as be made his way toward the seats of
the New York delegation.
Senator Depow and Chairman Odell, of
the New York State committee were with
him but the crowds had eyes only for the
dashinG hero of San Juan. No stage idol
tNer made an entrance more opportunity.
But he made no acknowledgement of the
ovation his appearance elected. When he
took his seat with his SLOUGH hat still on
without having glanced to either side, the
people gave il up and the cheering grad
ually subsidized.
But it broke out afresh a moment after
ward as the band started up the star
Epangled Bancr" Roosevelt of all the
thousands was first upon his feet standing
erect like Norway pine with uncovered
head to the music of the anthem. Instant
" the whole convention rose en- maS.s- as
If apologizing tor their hardness.
This entrance of Roosevelt into the con-
Vention was distinctly the dramatic fea-
ture OF the session. Then the heels he
gan to move but the convention under the
fltll VI ms pltstlltt fDulu no. tdht us
eyes Oft him. In him the interest seemed
centred. During every pause in the pro-
rcedings he was surrounded by delegate
md newspaper men. To all he gave the
same answer. He was not a candidate.
tie did not want the nomination. Those
who wanted him nominated lett him say
Ing he would accept and they would nom
mate him whether nc liked it or not
Those who did not want him FASTENED to
spread the report that he could not be
moved into accepting
Chairman Hanna's reception when he
called the convention to order and later
when he made a brief address, was fiat
tcring in the extreme and the smile IN
his broad face betrayed the pleasure 1t
gave him, But the enjoyment he expert
rnccd over his own reception seemed moth
Ing compared with the delight he mani
Presidents name. The convention went
Oft like rocket. The cheering was deaf
ening. the OHIO delegation leading the de =
monStration. Mr.. iidnna's face was a
picture 1t was wreathed in smiles. lie
showed the ecstaCy of the JOY he felt over
the storm of approval he had raised Many
in that moment remembered how the
Presidents Warwick had announced a
year ago that his ambition would be salts
fed and his cup of JOY would he fun when
he called together the convention that
would renominate Mckinley. Perhaps it
was significant that in his speech Mr..
Hanna made no mention of Cuba or any
thing which would furnish peg on
which a Roosevelt demonstration could be
hung.
The address OF Senator Wolcott, the
temporary chairman which followed last
ed an hour and ten minutes. 1t undoubt-
edy added to the brilliant Colorado sena-
tors reputation as an orator, The key
note he sounded--an account of the stew
ardship of the party-was as much tor
ba rnilliOpa scattered the
country as for the few thousands who
heard II aud ii was a difficult role for a
fiery and magnetic speaker TO essay sen
ator Wolcott would he at his best speak
ing In the opportunity of the moment