The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1908-06-18
THE KEYNOTE
IS SOUNDED
GREAT REPUBLICAN CON-
VENTION HAS CO M
MENCED WORK IN
EARNEST-BUSI-
NESS RAPIDLY
DISPATCHED

pointed anu are DIT WOl h. WCl"S
thousands persons, filling every
inch of seating space within the
walls of the Coliseum, helped to
form the first days spectacle.
1t is a splendidly managed con-
vention as to all of its physical
details. When the climaxes are
reached, the stage setting will be
all that could be desired. The
seating arrangements were never
so good, and $4,000 persons met
no more confusion than would
prevail on night at the opera.
There was the setting to make
the first day overwhelmingly
spectacular. 1t rested with the
temporary chairman to bring out
the inspiring and noisy picture Ell
fects, and in failing to arouse EN-,
thusiasm at any period of his very
long speech-it contained about
$4,000 words-Senator Burrows
showed that his selection to fill
that position was unfortunate.
There was no fire in the Burrows
delivery; OF the speech itself no
fault could be found as to its be-
ing good Republican doctrine,
but, as delegate in one front
row observed to his neighbor it
sounded like a New Years Re-
view"
Even with the conjuring name
of Roosevelt the keynote sound
er aroused little enthusiasm.
There was perhaps another reas-
on for that in the fact that the
great level-headed mass of the
delegates are inclined to be some
what careful over matters that
might suggest the probability or
the possibility of stampede to
the President. 1t was plainly ev-
ident that no chances along that
line are to be taken; that caution
is to be observed from the start.
ANYWAY, the first day of the con-
vention was not day for a super
abundance OF enthusiasm.
The very first time Senator
Burrows had occasion to mention
the name of the President he got
the syllables all tangled up, and
after an effort to straighten them
out that was almost as funny as
Joe Weber or the Rogers Broth
ers could have made it, the con-
vention had to do its cheering for
"Theorose Doravelt."
Conventions arr SO delightfully."-
human that the reception of the
first personal allusion to Presi-
dent Roosevelt was a roar OF
laughter. Then there was cheer
ing that lasted a little more than
minute. After the first burst
many of the delegations sat calm
and dignifed while the third term
boomers tried to whoop it again.
Five or six delegates over in the
Louisiana reservation yelled like
Comapche Indians. New York
was absolutely unperturbed and
silent after the first outburst. All
the big states were significantly
silent and the Roosevelt boom
was dead.
There was a minority report
from the committee on creden-
tials Tuesday morning. The allies
boiling with rage at their utter
failure to substantiate single
case before the credentials COM
mittee, determined to make their
last stand on the floor of the con-
vention, and desperate battle of
the allied forces against the COM
pact Taft-Roosevelt strength is
assured.
The committee on credentials
was in continuous session for
eleven hours, converting at 3 o.
clock in the afternoon and finish
ing the last hearing just after 2
O'Clock Wednesday morning.
The majority report was offer
ed when the convention assembl-
ed at noon Wednesday and was
signed by thirty-eight members
of the committee.
Sixteen members, all of the al
lies, stood for the minority re-
port
The majority report recon-
mends the seating of every dele
gate whose name went 10 the
temporary roll of the convention
by direction of the national COM
mittee.
The minority report declares
for the seating of 40 delegates
from the southern states who
failed to make good before the
national committee and whose
failure Tuesday night to make a
case was even more dismal, view
ed from the Taft standpoint.
George T. buckingham, repre-
sentative of the Cannon manag-
ers on behalf of the contesting
anti-Taft delegates, expressed
the views of the anti-Taft con-
tingent.
"This has been a perfect farce.
We have not had even the. SEM
blance of fair hearing. The'cases
have not been heard on their mer-
its, because there has been no op-
portunity to even state the cases.
1t is now certain that a minority
report will go to the convention
and that we shall make our real
fight for justice to the delegates
as they sit in the convention hall"