The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1908-07-17
closed with a resolution in respect OF
the memory of the late Grover Cleve-
land.
The Second Day.


was not a cloud in the sky, and the
snow-c capped peaks of the eternal
Rockies glared in the distance. But
they always glare, fer every day IN
Colorado is a day of sunshine. How
different. too, was the atmosphere
from that dished up by the weather
man when the Republican convention
was on at Chicago In Denver there
was no waving of fans No coats
were removed-nO perspiratlon rolled
down the face of the fat delegate from
New Jersey-all was cool and invISor-
atng
Possibly this mile-high atmosphere
had something to do with the endur-
ance and yelling power of the lungs
that were to be tested later in the
day. The convention opened with
prayer-it closed with a whoOp. The
parson thanked the good Lord for the
best type of citizenship the world has
ever known" and the ball was on its
way. It was coming, first slowly, now
bounding in spontaneous leaps of en-
thusiasm, and again in smothered
rumblings. There was cloud, not
larger than a mans hand lowering
over Convention hall. OF this | will
tell you later.
The Associated Rose Marching club,
of Milwaukee, entered the hall, led
by a band. They played Dixie" and
the crowd roared. Dixie always
brought the house down. Now and
then the Volunteers Of Nebraska
| would raise their banner, bearing Bry-
ans portrait, and there was applause.
Then came the dry routine again.
Chairman Bell must be a humorist.
When things got too quiet he inter
rupted the proceedings by reading a
fake telegram which stated that John
F. Whalen, secretary Of the state OF
| New York, was wanted at the long
distance telephone by Gov. Hughes
This enlivened things. Another no
| tlce was READ. II Sdlu.
"Lost-The delegation from Michi
gan has lost its Bible" This was the
first intimation anyone had that Mich
igan had a Bible, and the convention
smiled out loud.
There was a lull. People seemed tC
be waiting, breathlessly, for some
thing to turn up. A calm always pre-
cedes a storm. 1t was calm-painful
" so. They were waiting for the com
mittee on credentials to report. Many
had gone to the convention hall with
out their luncheon. They were hungry
and restless. 1t was the first sign Of
dullness, and no one knew why. Their
came a cry for speeches.!
"speeches!" That was what was
NEEDED.
Someone wanted to hear Senator
Towne of New York, but he was no
to be found Kentucky then wanted
to adjourn until night The vote wa!
put, but there were too many noes.
And they waited-that vast audience
did, not knowing what would harper
next. The steam chest of enthusiasm
was filling up and something mus
happen to let out the steam. 1t hap
pened, and from the most unexpected
source. Among other prominen
speakers asked to talk little" while
the committee was making ready, wa'
Senator Thomas P. Gore, the blint
senator from Oklahoma. He pressed
the button at an unexpected time, blu
the current of enthusiasm that wen
through that great auditorium wa
electrified a thousandfold as the wear!
hands of the clock licked on. He hat
not spoken a dozen sentences until hi
voise had reached pitch of eloquence
With his hands extended heavenward
and his sightless eyes APPARENT.
sweeping the sea of upturned faces
he dramatically declared: