Mower County transcript., 1904-06-29
AT CHICAGO | CONVENTION . \ E / \
A Flower County Visitor Tells of His
Experiences There.
CHICAGO, ILL.,, June g, 1Qo4,,

,...,,.- CHICAGO, ILL.,, June %, 1oo4,,
DEAR. UNCLE
assume that you are familiar with
the main story of the Convention asst ap-,
peared in the newspapers and will try
to give you only suGh sidelights as will
be of special and personal interest to
you. The convention certainly gave
every one who was lucky enough to hold
a ticket splendid opportunity to see
what a great many of the most promin-
ent men of the day look like and act
like, As it was impossible to get good
view of the delegates and the men on
the platform from any place where visit.
ors were allowed, provided myself with
an opera glass and was able with its
help to fix every feature of the great
men at whom aimed it, firmly in my
memory. Being an assistant sergeant at
arms, was not entitled to seat, but
! was at liberty to station myself where
saw fit and take the chance that some
seat holder would forget to come to the
great gathering. Thus it happened that
! had fine seat in the front row of the
gallery on the second day of the conven
lion, and had all the delegates facing
me. 1t was another piece of luck for me
that an usher stationed in the section |
was taking care of was a young lawyer
of Chicago who is acquainted with all
the most notable men who were present
at least by sight, and was kind enough
10 point them out to me. Of course |
looked for Winston Churchill and had
no trouble in locating him among the
New Hampshire delegates. He is
very dark skinned young looking man.
He seemed to take great interest in the
proceedings but did not join in the many
demonstrations uf enthusiasm to any
great extent. He would give smile of
approval, and that was about all.
Senator Beveridge sat in the very
front row and on the second day had
Fairbanks beside him. 1t seems that
Fairbanks modesty kept him from at
tending the Thursday session when he
was nominated. | watched Beveridge
especially on the third day. In the first
place he made splendid speech second
ing the nomination Of Roosevelt The has
a tine ringing voice and is fine orator.
and then, alter replacing his wilted col
lar with clean one, he led the cheering
OF the Indiana delegation for Fairbanks.
Time and again he mounted his chair
and motioned the rest to get up, cheer
ing and waving a flag in the air like
good fellow all the while. While he was
making his speech man in the gallery
said, "Iheres man who will be nomin-
ated for president one of these days."
He certainly makes the impression of
being a man of great power. His face
is firm and impassive but his eyes are full
Of life and fire.
Uncle Joe Cannon is certainly the
idol of his party in his way. While he
was making his speech Wednesday he
had the delegates IN constant roar of
shaking his head vigorously when saying
something emphatic, sometimes even
jumping up and down on his toes and
dancing from side to side. He makes all
his gestures with his lett hand and is also
lefthanded with the gavel. Half the
time today he didn't take the trouble to
20 back to his table, but pounded the
floor of the platform, almost hitting the
fingers of one Of the gentlemen OF the
press. He is an expert presiding officer
as anyone could see. There was a com.
manding way about him when he waved
his arms tnat never failed to restore
order in a short time.
Black, Odell, Depew and Plat sat in a
row next the aisle with the imposing
New York delegation. Root joined them
when he had finished his duties as tenn.
porary chairman. 1t was great sight.
These great men acted like enthusiastic
school boys during the great twenty
minute demonstration following Blacks
nomination of Roosevelt. They swung
their flags and marched around the del.
egates' section bearing aloft great pic
ture of Teddy and yelling at the top Of
their voices. Depew listened attentively
to everything that went on. He had q
way of listening with his mouth slightly
open. He was more at ease while or
the platform than other men that spoke.
might add that every speaker of the
convention except man from Georgia
had powerful voice, and not once did
hear any man so much as hesitate in hi:
speech. There were no break downs, ne
hens and haws, no repetitlons. It was
collection of speakers of the first class
| was surprised at the number O.
negroes who we're seated among thu
delegates. All were great shouters TO-
Roosevelt and most OF them wore Roose
welt buttons. There was native primo,
IN the delegation from Hawaii and h,
acted as chairman of his delegation. HI
spoke the words, Hawaii casts he
votes for Theodore Roosevelt" in ex
cellent English. 1t was amusing to not
the different ways in which the votes o
the delegations were announced. Sena
tor Clapp referred to Roosevelt as tn
next president, which elected cheer
Texas called him her adopted son; Ne,
York, the distinguished man of the En-
pire State; and southern man took tn
opportunity to shout out vigorou
speech and was laughed at. When tn
roll call was finished another demonstrs
tion ensued, but not so long as the frs
The man from Georgia mentioned abov
wore light sack suit and looked 'ridic
lous compared with the other correct
trock coated men. He was not listene
to at all and they had to send him no
to stop. Knight of California carrie
off the honors so far as voice was CO
cerned. He could be-. heard plainly
all times.
Yates, Cullom, Hopkins, Lorimer al
Stewart sat in the front row with the Il
nois delegation. On Thursday Car,
H. Harrison was there evidently as
guest and listened to the things Il
co;l ah1.,< 1,o