The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1908-06-25
William Howard Taft

for the vote on president. Such a
call, under such circumstances of in
| tense confusion, has probably never
before occurred in the history of
national conventions.
A ballot was taken to nominate
a candidate for president while the
| convention was cheering frantically
for man whose name had not been
| presented to the convention. The
votes we're being counted for Taft
while the people were shouting for
Roosevelt. The delegates, however,
cast their votes uninfuenced by the
clamor of the crowd. More than
this the first States on the call, Ala
bama and Arkansas, had been relied
upon by a few Roosevelt fanatics
TO start the stampede for the Presi-
dent, but they held by their instruc-
tions while the stampede ragged all
about them.
Defying The Galleries.
The cheering developed definitely
into a Roosevelt demonstration and,
encouraged by it's continuance, the
men on the stage lifted again the
lithograph of the President which
had previously been lowered at the
command of the sergeant-at-arms.
Chairman Lodge, abandoning all
effort to still the crowd. ordered Sec
retary Malloy to continue the call
OF the delegations. This was done
in the midst of a terrific uproar.
The chairman then announced in a
tone which, although strained to the
utmost, could be heard only a few
feet away:
That completes the roll of States
and the roll-call will now be had for
the vote. We will not wait a minute
longer"
The scene was absolutely unique
in American political history, the
vote being taken during a terrific up
roar in behalf of man whose name
was not before the convention.
Alabama" shouted the reading
clerk.
There was a round of yells and
Kisses from the crowd
The chairman of the delegation,
however, made his way to the edge
of the platform and called:
Alabama casts her % votes for
Taft"
The vote was repeated by the clerk
and there were cheers from the dele
gates sent to mingle with the tumult
of the gallery crowd.
Kisses, cheers and cat calls contin-
ued to come from the galleries as
the States of Arkansas, California,
Colorado and Connecticut cast their
solid votes for Taft
Pay no attention to the crowd, >"
said Senator Lodge, directing the
clerks to proceed. Il shall not have
the President nominated by a Chi
cago mob" he shouted in anger.
ROll-CaH Under Difficulties.
The secretary was powerless to
make his call of the States heard
above the deafening clamor Selling
megaphOne, he shouted the roll OF
States-Alabama, Arkansas-but his
voice was swallowed up in the mad
uproar. Gradually, however, the
curiosity of the multitude conquered
their enthusiasm and they lapsed into
silence to hear the result of the roll
call.
A hush of expectancy 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 totaled
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 announced
by Chairman Lodge:
For Theodore Roosevelt 8 votes
for Joseph B. Foraker, of Ohio. 16
votes; for Charles w. Fairbanks. OF
Indiana, 40 votes; for Joseph G.. Can
non, of Illinois, 81 votes; for Robert