Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-06-19
TAFT AND SHERMAN.
Republican National Convention Names
Its Men.

fOT pTSSlueHl the DUlleu OldlSS,
William H. Taft, Of Ohio.
Taft on the first ballot: Taft by 702
vOtes-Taft by the unanimous consent
of the convention.
Such Is the record of yesterday, the
eliminating day of the Republican ma
tional convention Of 1908. effected
amid scenes of tumultuous enthusi-
asm, and after a nerve -racking contin-
uous session lasting nearly eight hours.
With a president named and platform
enunciated, there remains only the
nomination of the vice president to
complete this momentous work. Last
night the whole city Of Chicago was
given over to wild exultation in honor
of the new candidate whose name goes
echoing through the country.
The picture within the walls Of the
vast amphitheatre as the presidential
candidate was named was one truly
grandiose in it's magnitude. In front,
to the right and left. below and above.
the billowing sea Of humanity, restless
after hours Of waiting and stirred
from one emotion to another, was I'm a
fever of expectancy for the culminat-
ing vote. The favOrite sons Of other
states had been named, save Knox and
LaFOllette, and now on the roll call
came Ohio. AS the Buckeye state was
reached, the tall gaunt form Of Theo-
dore r. Burton, with student-like face
and severe black clerical garb, ad-
vanced 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 loosen
ing the long pent-up feeling among the
To 10 T,,cf nt1 nhin
gates were on their feet, other states
following, while the convention hosts,
in gallery and on floor, broke into mad
demonstration.
Taft! Taft! W-H-Taft!" came in a
roar from the Ohioans.
Megaphones seemed to spring from
concealed places and swell the Taft
tumult into thunder. A huge blue silk
banner bearing the familiar features
of the statesman-secretary was swung
before the delegates, awakening a
fresh whirlwind Of enthusiasm.
All semblance Of order had been
abandoned and the delegates arena
was a maelstrom Of gesticulating men;
the guidons Of the states were snatch
ed up by the Taft enthusiasts or borne
under by the storm Of disorder. The
band was inaudible-a mere whisper
above the deafening volume Of sound.
Ten, fifteen, twenty minutes this up
roar continued. 1t was a repetition
of the scene Of Wednesday, when the
name of Roosevelt threw the conven-
ton into frenzy, repeated In intensity
and almost in duration. But there Is
limit to the physical resources Of
throat and lung and at last the tired
voices died down to a hoarse shout,
and finally subsided.
The lull now gave the opportunity
for the speech seconding Taft's NOM
ination by George H. Knight of CAL
ifornia his big, round face beaming
forth on the sympathetic multitude,
and his splendid baritone voice we'll
ing forth like the tones Of a great
church organ. California's tribute to
Taft was brief and fervid. Now there
was another lull in the Taft movement
while the remaining candidates were
placed in nomination.
1t was late in the afternoon before
the convention, sweltering with the
intense heat and weary after nearly
seven hours continuous session, reach
ed the end Of the flood Of eloquence,
and the decks were at last clear for
the eliminating act-the ballot. But
no: Just as the last swell Of oratory,
the seconding speech for LaFollette
had died away, like a cyclone from a
clear sky burst a LaFollette demon
stration which swept the convention
from it's very bearings. 1t was the
same deafening wave Of sound that
had greeted Roosevelt Wednesday, and
Taft a few moments before, intense
and maddening and with the vital ring
Of genuine enthusiasm. The delegates
sat calm and waiting, except the fran
tic Wisconsins, but the convention for
the time being was In the possession
of the galleries.
Now a singular transformation oc-
curred-gradually the whirlwind Veer-
ed from LaFollette to Roosevelt
banner bearing the Roosevelt portrait
and waved from the gallery was the
signal for the change.
Amid the pandemonium and with
the galleries in full control, Chairman
Lodge ordered the roll call of states
to begin for the vote on president.
Such a CALL under such circumstances,
has probably never before occurred In
the history of national conventions. A
ballot was taken to nominate a candi-
date for president while the conven-
ton was cheering frantically for a
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 uninfluenced by the clamor Of
the crowd. More than this the first
states on the call-Alabama and Ar
kansas--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.
Selling a megaphone the secretary
shouted the roll call of states-Alaba-
ma-Arkansas-but his voice was
up in the mad uproar.
Gradually, however, the curiosity Ut
the multitude conquered their enthu-
siasm. 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 totalled
427. Ohio carried the Taft total tol
511, or 90 more than enough to nom
mate. Still the call went on until the
final result was announced by Chair
man Lodge.
A great shout went up as Lodge
concluded his announcement and
with one accord the cohorts of Can
non and Knox. and Hughes and the
other heroes, Joined in a common
tribute for the candidate of the par
ty.
General Stewart L. WOodford. for
Governor Hughes. moved to make the
nomination of Taft. unanimous; Sena-
tor PenrOse. for Knox and BOutell.
for Cannon. and Henry. Of Georgia,
for Foraker. and Wisconsin for La
Toilette. seconded the movement. The
vote was given with a ringing cheer.
and then with shouts of eXultation
over the new candidate the cOnven-
ion adjourned until 10 o'clock this
morning when the nomination of a
candidate for vice president would
conclude the sessions