The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1908-07-03

Secretary Taft. walton In the ar
Engagements was the absence of q bar
in the building, due to the growing in
1uence Of the temperance forces. Bur
rows reviewed the history Of the party
and spoke words Of unqualified in.
dorsement Of the courts. much to the
delight of the conservative faction
which was preparing for a desperate
fight against the proposed anti-injunc-
ton plank approved by the president
and Secretary Taft. The session was
brief and spiritless.
The committee on credentials seated
all the Taft delegates, so that there was
no hope left for the allied opposition Oh
any score. The emotional forces, of
the immense gathering of delegates
and spectators were brought into play
during the speech of Permanent Chair
man Lodge the second day when he
abused and most popular man in the
United States today" The cheering
then started lasted over forty minutes.
although many Of the delegates did not
Join in. This incident was ominous of
the feared stampede to Roosevelt when
the roll Of states should be called for
nominations. Some reports said that
hired shouters were stationed in the
galleries to keep up the excitement and
noise. In point Of time it broke all
records. Lodge told the people that
the president retired by his WI de-
termination and that his refusal to run
again was final and irrevocable. No
friend of his would suggest his name.
Then came the main fight Of the con-
vention-namely, on the injunction and
trust planks Of the proposed platform
In the platform committee. Arguments
were presented on one side by Presi-
dent Gompers of the Federation of
Labor and on the other by President
Van Cleave Of the Manufacturers as
ISOLATION and others representing cor
porate interests. Gompers repeated his
threat of secret and forcible resistance
on the part Of labor if his demands
were ignored. His plank would pledge
the party to pass a law guaranteeing
the right to organize and to strike and
preventing injunctions without due
notice; also to laws for the eight hour
day, employers liability, woman suf-
frage, department of labor, postal saw
ings bank and a bureau Of mines. The
conservative forces, under the leader
ship of Speaker Cannon and Senator
Crane, vowed that they would exclude
all reference to the courts in sighting
vein. Van Cleave urged the committee
to pay no heed to the clamors of labor,
warning that its vote would be divided
between the old parties anyway. The
outcome was a somewhat different
plank from that planned. but still fol-
lowing the main demand of the presi-
dent in that, while lauding the courts
and promising to uphold their integ-
rity, it says that the rules of procedures
in injunctions should be more accu-
rately defined by statute" and that no
Injunction should be issued without
notice Except where irreparable in
Jury would result from delay" It does
not assent to the idea Of jury trial for
contempt cases committed not in the
presence of the court, as desired by
Gompers.
With the adoption Of the platform
the roll call Of states began for presi-
dental nominations, which resulted in
a tremendous demonstration, lasting
twenty-five minutes, when the name of
Taft was presented. Taft was nomi-
mated on the first ballot.
The expected effort was made to
stampede the convention to Roosevelt
while a big demonstration for La Fol
.lette was In progress. Roosevelt BAN
ners were unfurled. and the shouting
was at its height when Chairman
Lodge ordered the voting by states to
proceed, the clerk using q megaphone.
This finally checked the ardor Of the
stampeders, and the nomination Of Taft