Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-06-17
Missteps of the
Performing Elephant

Chicago. June 17-Senator Burrows
speech is regarded as the first break |
of the convention. Who will make the
next?
And still the hotels are grieying.
They say the crowd is not nearly sol
large as was anticipated.
y 4
j. Hamilton Lewis has established
the mode in hats for. Senator A. J..
Beveridge. who is not without sartorial
prestige In Indiana, Washington, and
Russia. The senator appeared yesteH
day in peculiar panama that was rem
iniscent of another startling effect in
headgear, the origin of which was not
recalled by aquestioner. 1.-The hat is a
facsimile of Colonel ]. Hamilton Lewis
hat c, series b." explained Senator
Beveridge. "The prototype looked so
comfortable on the head of Colonel
Lewis that / asked him for the recipe.
He gave 1t to ME and the hat was con-
structed and delivered to me today. 1t
is not a bid for the southern vote for
Fairbanks. 1t is merely copy of an
old master, which l am delighted to
be able to procure
For several days rumOr has been
floating around the Hobbies that a great
surprise Is to be sprung ON the conven-
ton by the placing in nomination of
Theodore Roosevelt, and after il had
sifted through the tunnel TO the Audi
forum and back a number of times
the rumor became further embellished
with the claim that large rush order
of Roosevelt badges and buttons had
been placed with a local firm. AS a
clincher, the name of the firm, which
is located at Clark and Madison streets,
was given. The badge part of the story
was easily exploded by the statement
of the manager of the badge company
that no such order had been received,
but that the firm had plenty of Roose-
welt buttons on hand from four years
ago and could turn out any additional
quantity on short notice. The other
part of the rumor still is in circulation.
There is to be no regular nominating
speech, so the story goes, but several
of the California delegates are going
to vote for Roosevelt. California is
close to the top of the list of states.
and it is argued that such lead would
find ready followers and cause a STAN
pede.
James Bonner Peat, democratic dele
gate from the Philippines, is in Chicago
and willing to waive his prestige and
position in the democratic convention
for a spectators seat in the one now
in session. After Mr.. Peat had been
named as delegate TO the democratic
convention and reached Chicago to con-
fer with, the democratic leaders he
learned that they were to give no rec
ognition to the foreign possessions in
their convention. Il am not worrying,
anyway" declared Mr.. Peat. 81 really
wanted to see the republican conven-
ton, and my credentials may be good
for gallery seat at the big show
While the battle royal of the conven.
ton will be fought over the labor in
junction question, there will be lively
contests over five other burning sub
jects, as follows: The tariff; govern
ment supervision of future issues Of
railroad securities; increased federal
control over trusts; postal savings
banks; limitation of southern represen
tation in future conventions. The re
naming planks in the administration
platform probably will be adopted with
out any change, save of phraseology.
The demands of labor received it!
first official blow last night from tn,
republican national convention wheI
Samuel Gompers, president of tn
American Federation of Labor, wa
distinctly snubbed by Chairman HoT
kins of the resolutions committee
President Gompers had been advise
by telephone that the committee woul
be ready to receive him and hear hi
demands in behalf of his constituent
at $3.50 o'clock last night. When MI
Gompers arrived at the Annex, wher
the committee was sitting, he was me
at the door by Senator Hopkins an
informed that a quorum was not pre-:
ent. 81 suggest that you come agai
some time tomorrow, Mr.. Gompers,
said Mr.. Hopkins. Unfortunately W
have no quorum now and are in no pr
sition to consider your requests" Pal
and agitated, Mr.. Gompers turned ava.
!: =
Stephen r. Mason, chief of doc
keepers at the republican national COZ
vention, is one of the busiest men (;
the big gathering With hundreds I
persons employing every imaginab