The state herald., 1908-06-26

for some formal occasion. Yesterday
afternoon the sibilant lisp of the great
crowd in the Coliseum fell like a great
wave on the shores Of the place, in
Idle conversation as the proceedings
of the convention droned on. Tho
committee on credentials made its re-
port, and the great crowd Tapped It
up as the sea laps up the sand-im-
personally. uninterested. utterly idle.
There was no fight, and evidently the
crowd knew there would be no fight
The regular order proceeded. and
Senator Lodge was installed as per-
manent chairman, and the great crowd
the great bun sea. rocked idly TO
look at him. lie began to speak with
some fervor. and little ripples OF ap-
plausc played across the tide. His
earnestness deepened the billows
slightly. \
And the waves lulled and were quiet.
And then. not while he was at ell
max, but as the man before them was
reaching deeper and deeper into tho
soul OF the place and the occasion. tho
slbilant lisp OF the crowd hushed. and
In the great silence tho man spoke,
simply and strongly and without ora.
torical flourish or emphasis. He has
enforced the laws as he found them,
and so he is the best abused and most
popular man In America"
II was not much Of tribute. But n
wave Of sincere feeling swept over
the quiet tide OF humanity Il was not
a strong waye-not much stronger
than the FIRST wave that came rolling
In. But another wave followed It. ana
another higher and stronger came af.
ter II. The speaker. who did not rsa-
lize what was about 10 come. put out
his hand TO beg silence. but n huge
wave Of applause came over him, aud
he duckcd and backed on good.na.
turedly and let the wind OF emotion
play ms It would across tho restless
sea before him.
At Flood Tide.
In another minute, perhaps two. Sen.
ntor Lodge rose again 10 face tho ris
ing tide, but II rolled In on him with
a great roar. and men knew that tho
storm OF applause had como which
Theodore Roosoyolts work as an
American citizen had conjurod So
thoy let Il rage. and for nearly an hour
tho waves Of that storm broke and
roared In that place.
Then the crowd, In that hour OF Joy.
gathered individuals in and they
ceased 10 DO individuals and became
tho crowd. A. times the delegates
were swept on tholr feet State aft.r
state rose, like black pillows on tho
faoo Of the waters. and ohoored and
waved pcnnnnta and sank 20 equiilbri.
nm only 10 rniiic up again and cheer
with the crowd, No state was abb. TO
Ecop itH mooring And In the tumult
and the shouting thoro were no 70.
netionnricn. New York was a. bols.
ferrous An Wisconsin. and Kansas
Joined Pcnnsylyanla
Roosevelt Roosevelt. four years
more they foaroi. and the cry
skinned over tho waves Of applause
like gull. and like a gull II was oyan.
scent II siEnlncd nothing. And thon
slowly. when the deep answered deep.
tho calm came and tho speaker went
on With his speaking
u was nil 10 simply and go natur
ally done. MI no evidently sincere.
without c'aque or prcnrfanEamcnt.
that there wEB IN itH undateurrent an
element Of Fadnoaa For II seemed q
roodby rather than bait 20 Thoo
dore Roosevelt, and those who have
feared him feared him no more. and
those who have trusted him were hap
ny. but rather sad than Joyful
once tho biz shoW=lhe presidential
npmihnilon-wa over. The remainder
of tho work ~ the convention. tho ~.
lection ~ running mate for Bacte.
tnry Taft, waa completed In short
order on Friday morning when lion.
James y, sherman of New York was
named Tor second place nh tho ticket.
WILLIAM ALLEN WHITE
Copyright 100, w Geo Matthew Aaan.)