Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-06-16

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Chicago on the tiptoe of anticipation,
| with final preparations well matured
| for candidates and platform, except
the ever doubtful Vice Presidency, and
| with the whole city astir with those
| tumuituous scenes which usher in a
national convention. Tonight the
streets are ablaze with light; flags
have brought forth a wealth of color
on the tall buildings; bands with glee
clubs in the packed headquarters of
candidates and the open air; march,
ing clubs in fantastic regalia parade
the main thOroughfares singing Taft,
Taft" or Knox, Knox" and there Is
that universal pandemonium which
bestirs the night before national
convention. The full force Of the Grand
Army is here, leaders and followers,
delegates and rank and file, marching
clubs and glee clubs, bands and drum
corps. The last of the state delega-
tions, from the far South, came in to-
night
But while the din purOceeds without,
the final preparations of the leaders
proceed within. Their plans are we'll
laid. probably with greater precision
than has ever been known before a
national convention has met, and I'M
less the unexpected happens, or the
spectre of stampede rises from it's
grave, the convention of 1908 will es-
tablish record for the methodical
execution of well established plans
Tomorrow will see the convention as
Sembled within the vast coliseum
building, with the first flow of con-
vention eloquence from the vetern
senatorial orator, Julius Caesar Bur-
rows and the first opportunity to greet
the name of Roosevelt Taft, Knox C
some other favorte with an ear-split-
ting and sight bewildering demonstra-
ton, breaking all records for volume
and duration.
Senator Burrows arrived today, his
shaggy beard whittier than when he last
attended a national convention. In
view of the reports that the senator's
speech omits a tribute to President
Roosevelt, it is being conjectured to-
night that the senator will depart from
the prepared text, but whether he does
or not, the pent up enthusiasm is sure
to find expression tomorrow in a
Verocious demonstration. With Mr.
Burrows arrived Asher c. Kinds, the
expert parliamentarian of Congress,
who will stand at Burrows elbow to
weather any storm that may blow
Kinds was with Speaker Reed during
the turbulent days of his iron rule,
then with Speaker Henderson, and Is
now with Cannon. His genius is for
Immediately solving the knottiest par
liamentary tangle. and should the I'M
expected stampede show It's head to-
morrow, Kinds will be relied upon to
throw against it the full force Of pre-
cedent and established procedure. At
ter the preliminary gathering of to-
morrow. there will be a period Of sus-
pense for practically two days, during
which the committees will meet and
the organization be perfected, so that
the actual nomination of President is
not likely to occur before Thursday.
The bushes Of today has been divid-
ed chiefly between the canvassing Of
states for election OF officers and rep
resentatives on the various commit
tees-platform. credentials, national
committee. etc. These selections by
the states has an influence In deter
mining the complexion of the various
controlling committees of the conven-
ton.
Among the more important state
caucuses of the day We're those OF
Ohio, New York. Indiana and Iowa, as
each has some bearing on the perplex-
ing question of the Vice Presidency.
Each of these gatherings brought forth
the odd negative conclusion of dec!ar-
to- .@t tn r. p1r x,f
date for the Vice Presidency. Ohio
because the Taft leaders do not wish
to be in the attitude Of debating; New
York because advocacy Of Sherman or
Low or any other New Yorker might
impugn the loyalty to Governor
Hughes; Iowa because their state
wants Dolliver to remain where he is
in the Senate and thus avoid hari-
kari Of state politics; Indiana because
long distance persuasion has not in
duced Mr.. Fairbanks to change his at
titude towards the first and second
places on the ticket. Other state cau-
cuses were qually fruitess in solving
the Vice Presidential mystery. which
deepens as the ballot approaches, I'M
til it really seems that the prize may
he thrown in the arena of the conven-
ton, for a nerve racking struggle. The
DoiIiver movement experienced vary
ing fortunes today.
Early IN the day it was reported that
the White House favored an IOwan.
Mr.. Dolliver, or Governor Cummings,
which sent the Dolliver stock up with
bound. But this was offset by the
Ohio managers, who are supposed to
reflect Secretary Taft's wishes. inform
ally declaring that the Taft forces are
scrupulously avoiding the support of
any Vice Presidential candidate. More
over, Chairman Perkins of the Iowa
delegation and Congressman Hepburn
Of Iowa called on Ex-Governor Herrick,
chairman of the Ohio forces, and told
him positively that Dolliver could not
and would not be candidate. This
brought the DOlliVer stock down ar1in