Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-07-07
IN C0NTs@7:
OVVsSsVss ssvlk American flag and
ia, California; Hearst.
SachuSet' caused cheering.
m page ~


,se in his place and was given
Ger. Then an enterprising member OF
20 Montana delegation created a di-
ersion by ringing a COW bell.
Again Chairman Jones demanded
hat the convention be in order and
It once directed the secretary to read
he call for the convention.
Applause followed the reading Of the
all, After quiet was restored, Chair
nan Jones announced that the conven-
ton would be opened by prayer by
Rev. John F. Cannon, pastor of the
Grand avenue Baptist church of st.
Louis.
During the invocation the convention
stood DIR. CannOn's voice was entirely
Inadequate to reach even the center of
the hall. The prayer occupied several
minutes.
Enthusiastic cheering greeted the
chairman's announcement that he was
directed by the national committee to
appoint John S. Williams, temporary
chairman and G. A. Walsh, temporary
secretary, and John I. Martin. tempo
rary sergeant-at-arms. The chairman
appointed Col. ]. NJ. Guffey OF Pennsyl-
vania and M. F. Tarpey Of California
to escort Mr.. Williams to the chair. AS
the platform was enclosed by a rail-
ing 1t was necessary for the committee
and Mr.. Williams to climb over the
railing. The committee lifted Mr.. Will
liams safely over and the entire con-
vention burst into cheers as he ascend
ed the platform. Il have the honor to
introduce to you John S. Williams as
cot hni n n
Jones and again the convention cheer
ed.
Mr.. Williams was attired in a light
gray suit and a white waistcoat. He
delivered his address calmly and with
out gesture. Several cries OF louder,
louder" interrupted Mr.. Williams as he
began, his clear but not powerful voice
at first falling to reach all parts Of the
hall.
Mr.. Williams speech from the Open
ing sentence was a severe arraignment
of the Republican party, and criticism
OF the course and utterances of Presi-
dent Roosevelt and others of the ad-
ministratiOn. ~
As Mr.. Williams proceeded his voice
increased in volume and the delegates
listened attentively.
He said:
There is an appropriate place ana
time for Democratic convention. The
place Is st. Louis, the chief city of the
most populous state out of the Louis
lana territory. acquired by the father of
Democracy. The time Is the centennial
anniversary celebration of the acquisi-
ton of that territory. whose possession
was necessary for seYf-defence and
which was fitted in climate and soil for
home making by the sons and daugh-
tiers of the republic"
Later on he said: 1.-The most import
ant uuadrennial event in the world Is
the election by the American people OF
the Chief Executive, before the great
elevation takes place at which all mer
are supposed to arrive at choice of by
ways of honesty and intelligence
would to God they did-at least two mi
nor elections of a different character
are held. They have always been two
great parties, which, since the first ma
tiOnal political convention. have elect
ed delegates to the conventions for the
purpose of selecting a candidate and
prOmulgating a platform. One of these
parties has gone through it's party cleo
tiOn of delegates, has selected a candi-
date and announced platform. 1t was
one Of the 'quietest and most harmO-
NOUS sessions that the muses. of his
tory have recorded. Everything seemed
to have been fixed beforehand. There
are some cOnveniences about a conven-
tion of that sort. one of them is that
the temporary chairman knows six or
nine months beforehand that he Is gi-
ing to be temporary chairman. He also
knows what he Is wanted to say. COM
pared with what he wants to say. /
could appreciate that / assure you. The
permanent chairman also knows what
Is expected of him for half a year be-
forehand. The platform comes ready
written-nO discussion about it-and is
perhaps revised by the. candidate him
self. who has also been agreed upon.
Il shall not pay undue attention to
the temporary chairman Of the Repub-
Hcan convention. After interrogating in
the light Of reason a few utterances,
l shall pass on to the authoritive voice
OF his party which is its platform. for
proof of the fact that Mr.. Root knew
how to pay a debt. The country has not
yet forgotten when Mr.. Roosevelt paid
a glowing tribute to his cabinet, which
wound up with the sentiment and the
greatest of these is Root
"'Praise indeed yes. and what praise
I'm return could be adequate in repay
ment? In this wonderful mutual admi-
ration society of me too. Teddy and
me too. 'Lihu' Is the return raphs3dy
of Mr.. Roots peroration at all extrava-
giant considered from the standpoint OF
repayment of course. y,
What a magnificent piece of humor
is this unbounded alteration of our feI.
low citizen in the White House by the
chief Of these How humorous t.
praise SO highly our fellow citizen ir
the White House who is the long linz
of great men who have filed the seat
he now occupies, has himself fount
only about three in his opinion worthy
Of anything like unstinted praise
George Washington, Abraham Lincolr
and himself. Verify, the other humor
lists will have to retire from business.
Mr.. Root says: offenders have
been relentlessly prosecuted and stern
ly punished Isn't this remarkable
laundering in the index when com