Omaha daily bee., 1908-07-10


had planned to meet before the convention
assembled. but this idea was abandoned in
favor Of an election for national committee
men TO be held after all the delegates had
reached their seats In the convention hall.
This plan. too. was given up and 1t was
finally agreed that the caucus should be
held Immediately after the adjournment Of
the first session Of the convention.
At Il O'Clock, the hour set for converting,
s arcely a hundred delegates were in their
places and It was evident there would BE-
quite a delay in beginning the days pro-
tcedinas.
Tie committee on permanent organization
had been ready with It's report ever since
Tuesday night. simply holding 1t for raj
nuation after the credentials committee
had completed its work.
Hall begins 60 Fill.
The hall began to fiji more rapidly after
II o'clock, each delegation pouring It's hun
dreds into the Auditorium, which already
began to feel the effect Of the midsummer
heat outside. Anticipating a long session
many Of the delegates DOTTED their coats
room after arrival and a shirt sleeve con-
vention was in prospect,
During the wait for Chairman Bell to
cali the nssemblage to order before finally
re inquishlng the gavel to Congressman
Henry d. Clayton OF Alabama, the perma-
n Mt chairman. the Cowboy band, which
has earnod a wide reputation both for its
endurance and the quality OF It's music,
lept Up a lively fus'llade bf patriotic Sc
lie, ti,ns, with songs OF the south inter-
8 ersel from time to time and calling out
the most enthusiasm.
At 1870 O'clock Chairman Bell began the
ten minutes OF hnmncrlng with HIS gavel.
which he has thus FAR found necessary In
calling tho convention to order. He Kept
up @ monotcnous hlnmcring like that of
a cooper driving a hoop ION a barrel. but
after q time ne gave up and retired. Then
he anne back to the front, and drove on
another hoop, and followed this with
another brief rest.
A third perisd Of rapping. however, began
to produce some effect and the temporary
chairman was able to make himself heard
as he ordered the aisles cleared, and re-
peated the sentence gentlemen, take your
seats"
Prayer of Rabbi Koch.
At nA0 the convention was quiet and
the chairman announced that the prayer
would be made by Rabbi Samuel Koch of
Seattle. The Invocation was as follows:
Great God, weakness isy arrogant, but
strength Is modest. Piety treads upon the
task Is the consciousness of Thee. Assem-
blages charged with q mission potent with
possibilities need Thy guidance much. And
80 We who are assembled here in the in
terest OF democracy, once again begin our
sessions In prayer to Thee. Our prayer is
no polite cepitIlation TO popular supersti-
ton II is the fervent utterance OF earnest
souls, conscious OF the greatness OF their
task and seeking strength and light in
A glorious past %confers no present moral
lien on the future greatness. In every pre-
sent moment a nation must vindlcate it's
right to live, II the average of the indi-
eousness he strong, progress Is sure. Par
tisanship may hasten this progress; parti-
sanship may retard this progress, but par
tisanship cannot undo this progress. Be
meath our temperamental difference in poll
tics Is embedded the foundation stone of
character or which national strength
rests. Righteousness alone exalteth a ma
ton.
vouchsafe. o God. that we, who are
here In convention assembled may appre-
ciate that noble action is the greatest prize
We can offer Thee. Partisanship is not
always patriotism. Liberty Is not license.
The bursting OF bombs need not mean a
Shouting is no proof OF the integrity of a
cause, nor silence OF its baseness, Loyalty
means, Long after the delegates here shall
truth they helped proclaim shall live.
But the specious In their action shall be
inferred with their bones. We are now
within the afterglow of the Independent
day. One hundred and thirty-three years
OF notable history are looking down upon
us. The makers OF our nation In the CEN
fury past, pass In array before us. What
ever their party affiliation they had this
in common-a representative Americanism.
Grant, Oh God, that our political selves
may be touched TO his uses by these ma
tional memories. Lest we forget, be these
monitors that tell us Of the magnlflCenca
in political life OF fealty to principle. Of
honor and character and sincerity In man
days work Is ended, be ours The con-
with us yet.
When the prayer was concluded. Chair.
man Rel recognized Mr.. McQu,ster Of
Pennsylvania, who stated that UP to the
present time he had b~eeR-dnable 20 So
cure admission tickets and badges for the
eight eontesting delcgateFS rom Pennsyl-
vania who were seated last night.
Roger Sullivan arose and stated that the
badges had been Issued 10 a representative
OF Mr.. McQulsten and II he had not re-
cetved them Il was dine 10 the failure Of his
own messenger.r tl--rz
The chairman settled the question by
directing the sersssnt-at-arms to admit ths
Il was announced by the chair that all
members OF the new and old national COM
mittees would meet late in the afternoon
at the Brown Palace hotel.
Clayton Introduced.
As chairman OF the committee on per-
manent organization. Senate McCreary OF
Kentucky, presented the report OF thai
body. II recommended Representative