Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1904-06-25
rOGK. VT. SATURDAY. JUNE 25. 1904.
WAS WHOLE CONVENTION.
Speaker Cannon Carries the Delegate.
BY His EIoquence.

Chicago-Speaker Joseph G.. Cannon
was the central figure at the proceed
inss OF the Republican national con
vention which took plcturesqueness
and demonsrativeness which the day
before was looked for in vain.
From the moment he was escorted
to the platform to WELD the gavel as
the permanent chairman the entire at
mosphere of the convention changed
Enthusiasm, which had lain dor
mant, burst forth and the applause
rang true and hearty.
lie made a speech, and the audience
cheered, whether he spoke jocuarly
or in serious vein.
He was the entertainer; in fact, he
was the convention.
The announcement of the perma'
hent organization for the convention
started the continuous demonstration
which followed the introduction of
Speaker Cannon as permanent chair.
man. --.
He was escorted to the platform by
committee consisting of the Hon.
John ID. Long, Senator Cullom and
Representative Burton of Ohio. The
temporary and permanent chairmen
met in the centre of the stage, where
they clasped hands in a cordial greet
ing.
At this moment the applause was
deafening, the convention rising to its
feet.
Still clasDing his hand, Mr.. Root led
Mr.. Cannon to the edge of the plat
form and introduced him to the con.
vention as the man who presided over
the greatest legislative body in Ameri
ca, with a grip so strong, mind SO
clear and heart so sound that he
would WELD the gavel in that body for
many years to come"
The scene that followed was inspir-
ing; flags waved. hats were thrown
into the air, delegates Jumped to their
feet and then to chairs, shouting wild
ly, loudly and continuously.
Until the applause subsided, Mr..
Cannon stood awkwardly facing his
audience. In contrast with this, was
his appearance after he had made him.
self heard and his magnetism felt.
Speaker Cannon's oratory was de-
cidedly to the liking of the conven.
tlon.
so let us ramble awhile" That
is what he said. And then he aban.
doned himself to his limitless store
of profound political sagacity and his
original and characteristic vocabulary.
Throughout his address the cheering
was generous, intelligent and appre.
ciative.
From the standpoint Of political in-
portance the unanimous adoption of
the party platform, as revised by
Roosevelt, was the event of the day.
Live party enthusiasm, aroused by
the hearty reception given Uncle Joe
Cannon, as he Is known from coast to
ooast. spread even to routine business
and eliminated in contest over the
number of delegates to which Hawaii
was entitled.
Tho report VI III. ----,..o -,
rules accredited two delegates to
Hawaii. Senator Foraker offered an
amendment increasing the number to
SIN utieSdteS. Representative Ding
ham, chairman of the committee, pro.
posed that the representation hereaf
ter should be two delegates from Ha-
wall, but that the six delegates al.
ready seated should not be disturbed.
1t was carried by vote of 497 to
490.
The report of the committee on
credentials interested the convention
only SO far as it dealt with the seating
of the Spooner Wisconsin delegation.
In addition to the tariff plank,
there were incorporated several
clauses of striking interest.
One is a plank looking to the re-
duction of the representation of Ger.
lain southern states In the electoral
college and in congress.
II is built upon what Is known as
the Payne resolution, offered eight
ears ago, and the Quay resolution Of
Four years ago. but goes farther than
either.
The plank directs an investigation
to ascertain whether there have been
unconstitutional acknowledgements of
voters in any state, and If so. demands
reduction of the representation of
such states in congress, with the con-
sequent reduction in the electoral col
Iaoa ap1 In national conventions