Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1908-06-18
yesterday morning.

Inc presentation OF the report
permanent organization was ,he
signal for Senator Burrows TO yield
Lis place as temporary cha,cmsn
and to escort to the platform the
permanent chairman of the c.nvcn-
ton. Senator Lodge, of Massachu-
sets. Mr.. Lodge. trim and bust
ness-like, looked as from a later
generation than the white haired
retiring chairman. His voice. too,
had that resonant New England
twang which made IL ring out To
the furthest corners OF the galleries.
THE fervid fancy OF an uneasy
dream" was his indictment hurled
against the visionary policies OF op-
potion parties.
The applause had hardly died
away when MIR. Lodge launched his
sentence which electrified the as
semblage into it's first real demon
stration OF wild enthusiasm.
The president" exclaimed Mr..
Lodge. 'is the most abused and
most popular man in the United
States today
This was the long-awaited signal
instantly a shout broke from the
galleries and was echoed back from
the floor. at first only a tempest OF
detached yells and cat calls and
shouts OF Teddy" but gradually
gathering force and volume until II
swelled into a wnirlwind of sound
and motion. as delegates and specta-
tors rose en- masse. mounting chairs
waving banners. hats, handkerchiafs
fiags. newspaperis-an anything which
could be seized upon TO add turbu-
lence to- the scene.
Amid the tumult thu band struck
up, but the cash OF brass and
drums was completely lost in the
Babel OF sound which wslled up
from $4,000 throats.
For the first minute Senator
Lodge stood waiting to proceed. oc-
casionally raising his hand for si-
lence. only to awaken a defiant yell
twice louder than before.
Five minutes passed and instead
OF abating, the uproar was increas-
ing. Senator Lodge sank back in
his chair to await a lull in the
storm.
Five minutes-ten minutes-fif-
teen minutes,
There was no lull. no abatement
A hoarse roar had taken the place
of the detached yells.
-Four! Four! Four years more!"
came in deafening chorus from
the full sweep of the gallery, as IL
preconceTed. each -Four. Flour!"
exploding like the boom OF heavy
artillery.
Fifteen enthusiastically minutes
twenty-five minutes!
Now delegations were joining in
the outbreak. Some had mounted
chairs-Texas. Kentucky. Tennes-
see-and were gasticulating madly.
One delegate far TO the left had
torn of his coat and was whipping
1t wildly above his head. Texas and
Kentucky appeared to be the center
of the agitation on the floor. New
York viewed the storm with calm.
and II did so, except strangely, ono
of the lonesome Foraker delegates.
Judge Marcus Shoup, who mounted
on chair, kept both arms in mo-
tion with a waving flag and a news
paper and his voice Joining in the
general pandemonium.
Thirty minutes-thirty-fv min
utes-foTty 1orty-hve min.
utes!
A full three-quarters OF an hour
had passed In this bewildering con-
fusion OF sight and sound. For a
time some fear was felt by some
that a stampede was imminent But
the political generals were glad to
give the pent-up enthusiasm OF the
multitude this outlet OF expression
and at no time was there the slight
est apprehension among them that
the well-devised plans would mis-
carry by some overpowerIng move
ment. Frank H. Hitchcock, the
Taft manager, moved about the
floor, smiling as the tumult was at
It's height.
Three cheers for Roosevelt to-
day will be for Taft tomorrow" 4"
said he with confidence.