The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1908-06-24
FIRST BALLOT IN REPUBLICAN CONVENTION
GAVE HIM 7o2 VOTES.
Supporters of Other Candidates Make the Nomi-
nation of Taft Unanimous.

CHICAGO, June 1.-THE second day
OF the republican national convention
has brought the long expected Roose-
velt yell, q whirlwind Of enthusiasm
which ragged within the vast ampithea-
ter of the Coliseum for fully As minutes
today, for time presenting to the
timid the specter Of Roosevelt STAN.
pede. The demonstr alton was the fea.
ture of q day otherwise notable for q
stirring speech from the permanent
chairman of the convention, Henry G.
Lodge of Massachusetts.
"The president" exclaimed Mr..
Lodge, sis the best abused and most
popular man in the United States to.
day. This was the long awaited
signal. Immediately shouts rang out
from the galleries and were taken up
by the lower floor, with shouts of
"Teddy," but gradually the whole
crowd Joined in the outbreak. Some
had mounted chairs-Texss, Ken.
lucky, Tennessee-and were gesticu.
lating madly. One delegate, far to
the left, had torn off his coat and was
whipping it wildly about his head.
Thirty minutes, IS minutes, 40 min.
utes, As minutes. A full three.quar-
ters of an hour had passed in this
bewildering confusion.
Probably the most important act OF
the day and the one having greatest
significance was the adoption Of the
committee report re.seating
the Taft delegation practically
in toto. If there had been any
lingering doubt of the strength
OF the opposition disappeared before
this decisive action, which. in effect,
placed more than seven hundred
delegates in the Taft column. Equally
important, and even more remarkable,
was the final acceptance of this result
by the "allies'' without the formslity
of dissenting minority report, and
without carrying the question to the
floor of the convention for the open
fight which has been long threatened.
The scene within the hall today was
a repetition of that of yesterday in the
magnitude and brilliancy Of its spec.
tacular features. Again every seat
was occupied and $4,000 people, pack.
ing floors and slsles and galleries
and platforms, Joined in the ebb and
flow of agitation and enthusiasm.
CHICAGO, June 1S.-For presiden
of the United States, VIM. H. Taft Of
Ohio. Taft on the first ballot by 702
votes, Taft by the unanimous choice
of the convention.
Such is the record of the culmi-
mating day Of the republican national
convention of 1908, effected amid
sounds of tumultuous enthusiasm and
after q nerve-racking continuous ses-
sion, lasting nearly eight hours.
With president named and platform
enacted, there remains only the nom.
ination of the vice president to COM
plete this momentous work. Tonight
the whole city is given over to wild
exultation in honor of the new candi.
date, whose name goes echoing through
the country.
The picture within the}lwalls of the
vast amphitheater as the presidential
candidate was named today was one
truly grand in its magnitude. In
front, to the right and to the left, be-
low and above, the billowing sea Of
humanity, restless after hours of wait.
ing and stirred from one emotion to
another, was in fever OF expectancy
for the eliminating vote. The favor.
ite sons of other states had been
named save Knox and LsFollette and
now, on the roll call came Ohio. As
the Buckeye state was reached the tall
gaunt form of Theodore Burton, with
student.like face and severe black
clerical garb advanced to the platform
to nominate Ohio's candidate. He
spoke fervently, with the singing voice
of an evangelist, which went ringing
through the great building. The close
OF his speech of nomination was the
signal for the long pent'up feeling OF
the Taft legions. Instantly the Ohio
delegates were on their feet, while the
galleries and other parts of the hall
roared wish enthusiasm.
Other delegations came in and the
roar of laughter followed when flag.
pole, to which was attached pair OF
trousers of most generous proportions
was held aloft by the members of the
Texas delegation. Across the con.
solid ated portion of the trousers, fore