The Elk Mountain pilot., 1908-06-25


votes, Taft by the unanimous choice OF
| the convention.
Such is the record of the culminat
ing day of the Republican national
convention of 1908, effected amid
scenes of tumultuous enthusiasm and
after "A nerve racking continuous ses
sion lasting nearly eight hours.
The convention then adjourned until
| 10 o'clock Friday morning to complete
its work by the nomination OF vice
president.
The close of Mr.. Burton's speech OF
nomination was the signal for the long
pent-up feelings of the Taft legions
Instantly the Ohio delegates were on
their feet. other Taft states following
while the convention hosts in gallery
and on floor broke into mad demon
stration.
For ten, fifteen. yes, twenty minutes
this uproar continued. 1t was IA repe'
tition of the scene of the day before
when the name of Roosevelt brought
the convention into frenzy, repeated
in intensity and almost IN duration.
II was late in the afternoon before
the convention, now literally swelter-
ing with the intense heat and weary
after nearly seven hours of continuous
session. reached the end of the flood of
eloquence and the decks were at last
cleared for the eliminating act.
But no; just as the last swell of ora
tory, the second speech for La Toilette
had died away. like a cyclone from a
clear sky burst a La Toilette demon
stration which swept the convention
from its very bearings. 1t was the
same deafening wave of sound that
had greeted Roosevelt Wednesday and
Taft little while before. intense and
maddening. and with the vital ring OF
genuine enthusiasm. II seemed as
though Wisconsin had suddenly peo-
pied every foot of the galleries. The
delegates sat calm and waiting. except
the frantic Wisconsins. but the con
vention for the time being was in the
hands of the galleries.
Now n singular transformation oc-
Cured Gradually the whirlwind
veered from La Toilette to Roosevelt.
A banner bearing the Roosevelt por-
trait and waved from the gallery was
the signal for the change. but in the
confused babel of voices there was no
distinguishing where the La Toilette
cheers ended and those for Roosevelt
began.
the galleries in full control. Chairman
Lodge decided upon heroic action in
order again to make the convention
master OF its affairs. He ordered the
roll call of states to begin for the vote
on President.
Such call. under such circum-
stances. has probably never before oc-
Cured in the history OF national cen
ventions.
A ballot was taken to nominate a
candidate for President while the con
vention was cheering frantically for n
man whose name had not been pre-
sented to the convention. The votes
were being counted for Taft while the
people were shouting for Roosevelt.
The delegates. however. cast their
votes uninfiuenced by the clamor OF
the crowd.
More than this. the first states on
the call, Alabama and Arkansas. had
been relied upon by a few Roosevelt
enthusiasts to start the stampede for.
the President. but they held by their
instructions while the stampede ragged
all about them.
The secretary was powerless TO
make his call OF the states heard above
the deafening clamor Selling n meg
aphone. he shouted the roll OF states
Alabama" "Arkansas.-but.h his voice
was swallowed up in the mad uproar
Gradually. however. the curiosity Of
the multitude conquered their enthu-
siasm, and they lapsed into silence to
hear the result from call. A hum of ex-
pectancy hung over the assembly as
the call proceeded. Hasty summaries
showed that Taft was far In advance
When New York was reached the Taft
column totalled 427. Ohio carried the
Taft total to 511. or 20 more than
enough to nominate. Still the call
went on until the final result was an
nounced by Chairman Lodge:
For Theodore Roosevelt. 3 votes
For Joseph b. Foraker OF Ohio. 16
votes.
For Charles w. Fairbanks of In
For Joseph G. Cannon of Illinois.
5S votes.
For Robert La Toilette OF Wiscon-
sin. 25 votes.
For Charles f Hughes of New
York. ca votes.
For Philander C. Knox of Pennsyl-
vania. 6S votes.
For William II. Taft of Ohio. 702
votes"
great shout went up as Lodge con-
cluded his announcement and with one
accord the adherents of Cannon and
Knox and Hughes and the other candi-
dates joined in common tribute for
the candidate of the party.
Gen. Stewart l.. Woodfords for Gov
ernor Hughes. leaping upon chair.
moved to make the nomination of Taft
unanimous: Senator Penrose for Knox
Boutell for Cannon. Henry of Georgia
for Foraker, and Wisconsin for La
Toilette seconded the movement FOR n
unanimous vote to the candidate. The
vote was given with a ringing cheer
of exultation over the new candidate.
The convention then adjourned until
10 a. IN. Friday.
Naming Of Candidates.