Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-06-19
laPoIIette Nominated,

Continuing the call Of the roll from
Rhode Island down, there came no re-
spending voice until Wisconsin was
reached and Henry +. Cochems OF Mil
Waukee came forward to nominate
Senator LaFollette. The applause and
cheers of the Wisconsin delegation fol-
lowed him as he spoke.
Mr.. Cochems spoke in behalf of Sem
ator LaFollette. with vigorous manner
that carried the convention with him
and no man who spoke today received
more attention than he. Only when
the galleries broke in he said 'eniphati-
cally and pleasantly:
Il am not going to cumber the rec
ord. but am going to have nay say in
a decent way"
His declaration was heartily. approx
ed and he went On with renewed vigor.
Something of an inexperienced speaker
to large assemblies he frequently
turned to address the platform. His
stage arrangements was corrected by
Senator Beveridge of Indiana who said
to him Face the crowd boy, face the
crowd"
Another time when interrupted by
the galleries he replied in the. same
manner as he had used on the first
occasion.
1T is about all Wisconsin will get
here" Can't you give me a few min
utes?"
When man standing near the ros-
trum urged him ito name him." CO.
chens replied:
That's all right, four dollars
week"
You're four flusher," retorted the
man on the floor. who was at once
threatened by violent exit If he did
not put a period to his public CONVEX
sation.
Name him, name him." shouted the
crowd
Il know you are tired men, replied
the speaker" but / am too Don't
think that this is fun for me. 1t Is
not. 1t is the performance of sacreo
duty One minute more and I am
through"
Back to Wisconsin," called out a
delegate in the third row.
Mr. Cochems weathered several more
storms of protests of the crowd be-
fore he brought the name of his candi-
date in a peroration the effectiveness
of which was all but lost in huski-
ness of voice, the result of his battle
with the haunting throngs.
The nomination of Senator La Fol-
lette was seconded by c. A. A. MCGEE
of Wisconsin,
4 wild cheer greeted Mr.. MCGEE as
he closed and the demonstration that
followed exceeded in intensity that
which had greeted the presentation of
any other candidate except Taft. The
Wisconsin delegates and alternates
went frantic. The cheering rapidly in
creased when man named Seifert.
who is a messenger in the United
states Senate held up picture Of
Roosevelt. The uproar was SO great at
the time the picture was shown that
it was impossible to tell exactly where
the LaFollette enthusiasm ended and
the Roosevelt cheers began, The Wis
consin men took full charge of the out
burst. however, and led it with vigor
and increasing energy minute by min
ute as the time witt on. "
Sergeant-at-Ar Stone directed
one of his associates to go to Seifert
and order him to take down the picture
of Roosevelt. 1t was promptly done,
but the cheering went on undimin-
isl.ed, the tumult being so great that
neither human voice nor the lusty
strokes of the chairman's gavel were
able to penetrate it and bring order
out of the vocal chaos. The excitement
was entirely in the galleries, the dele
gates, with the exception of Wiscon-
sin, remaining quietly in their seats.
waiting for the tornado to pass.
Then in the balcony there appeared,
an immense American flag, bearing a
picture Of the President. The men
marched across the balcony and plat
form in the rear of the stage and the
cheering was taken up anew, mingled
with cries Of -Four, Four years more"
Chairman Lodge, abandoning all eff
fort to still the crowd, ordered Sec.
Malloy to continue the roll call of the
delegations. This was done in the
midst of the terrific din.
Tho 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 tremendous
demonstration for a man whose name
was not before the convention.
Alabama shouted the reading
cleark.
The chairman of the delegation,
however. made his way to the edge of
the platform and called:
Alabama casts her % votes and for
Taft"
The vote was repeated by the clerk
and there were cheers for the delegates
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, Colo
RADIO and Connecticut cast their votes
solidly for Taft.
PAY no attention to the crowd"
said Senator Lodge. directing tho
clerks to proceed. II shall not have
the President nominated by a Chicago
mob" shouted the senator in anger
AS the roll call proceeded the chair