Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-06-21
CONVENTION OPENED.
Chairman Hanna Calls the National
Republican Meeting to Order.
VoLCOT1 TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN.


Phlladelphla, June W.-Chalrman
Hanna, with rabbits foot suspended
from a miniature of Mckinley in the
lapel OF his coat, surveyed an impos-
ing spectacle when he called the
twelfth republican national conven-
ton to order in the Export EXPOSE
ton building in West Philadelphia at
1885 yesterday. In the valley below
him were crowded the $4,000 dele
gates and alternates and stretching
away to the four corners of the i'm
mense hall were endless vistas Of peo-
pie rising in terraced seats to the
walls. He looked into the faces Of
fully $4,000 men and women. Oppo-
site in broad gallery were massed
100 musicians, their leader mere
pigmy in the distance. The platform
on which he stood jutted out like a
huge rock into an ocean of humanity.
Below him and flanking the stage was
an embankment thronged with the
representatives of the press of the
country. Above was riot of flags,
bunting, eagles, shields, the whole
scheme of the elaborate decorations
eliminating in huge portrait of
Mckinley nesting in the graceful
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 white-haired men who had been
present at the party's birth in this
city almost half century ago.
1t was not a riotous convention.
There were no wild outbursts of en-
thusiasm from the frenzied partisans
of rival candidates, no entrance OF
delegations with banners to set the
multitudes cheering; no fierce Skin
mishing and clashing Of candidates
managers over rules of procedure
and contrasting delegations. The chief
tain in the coming 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 plat
form was the record of his admins
tration. The only question that re-
manned for the convention to decide
was the vice presidency and it was
not sufficient bone of contention
to produce the tumultuous scenes
which usually attend the assem-
bling of a national convention.
A scattering applause met Mr.. Han
ma as he made his way to the stage.
Gen. Grosvenor, Senator Lodge, Sen
ator Foraker, ex-senator Quay and
few others aroused futtering of
handkerchief and round of hand
clapping, but Mell of national repu-
tation. whose fame has spread away
from our shores across both oceans,
entered without producing ripple.
Perhaps most of them were not re-
cognized. 1t seemed tame. There
was only that indescribable buzz of
myriads of voices which belongs to
national convention. as the humming
of bees belongs to a field of clover in
summer, and it looked as though
nothing could galvanize the thou
sands into life. But just before
Chairman Hanna was ready to drop
his gavel, Gov. Roosevelt entered and
the vast audience was electrified. He
stalked in att 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
appearance swept over the vast am
phitheater and swelled into great
roar as he made his way towards the
seats of the New York delegation.
Chairman Hanna's reception when
he called the convention to order |
and later when he made speech was
tlattering in the extreme and the
smile on his face expressed the pleas
ure it gave him. But the Joy he ex-
perienced over his own reception
seemed nothing compared with the
delight he manifested when for the |
first time he mentioned the presi-
dents name. The convention went |
off like rocket. The applause was
deafening. Mr.. Hanna's face was a
picture. II was wreathed In smiles.
He showed the ecstacy of the Joy |
he felt over the storm of approval he
had raised. Many, in that moment,
remembered how the presidents War
wick had announced year ago that
his ambition would be satisfied and
his cup Of joy would be full 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 anything which would furnish a
peg on which a Roosevelt demonstra.
ton could be hung.
The address Of Senator Wolcott, the
temporary chairman, which followed,
lasted an hour and ten minutes. II
undoubtedly added to the brilliant
Colorado orators reputation. The
keynote he sounded-an account Of
the stewardship Of the party--was as
much for the millions of readers