The new era. (Walden, Colo.) 1906-19??, 1908-06-25
WILLIAM H. TAFT NOMINATED FOR
PRESIDENT ON THE FIRST BALLOT

cials. 1t was adopted unanimously.
AS Senator Lodge stepped forward
to the speakers table. manuscript In
hand, he was loudly cheered.
In voice clear to the utmost cor.
ners of the vast auditorium he began
by thanking the delegates for the
honor of his selection to preside perm
anently over the deliberations OF the
convention.
His address had a welcome touch OF
campaign atmosphere about 1t and the
cheers were not long in breaking forth
In frequent and constantly increasing
enthusiasm. Senator Lodges drawing
OF contrasts between the Republican
and Democratic party was plain to
the delegates. He said. amid laugh
ter and cheers. that 1t was the main
object Of the Democrats to keep their
past history dark, while the Republi-
cans were anxious to publish theirs to
the world.
IF We refer to the past" he de
clared, they accuse us of calumny."
There was much laughter and
cheers at this, which was renewed
when he said: THE Democrats now
could only appeal, judge US on our un-
discovered future.
I'VE say" he continued, read our
record and judge us there
Turning from his haunting OF the
Democrats, Senator Lodge seriously
discussed the record of achievements
under Republican administrations of
recent years and it was In this con-
nection that he first mentioned the
President-not by name but by the
office
THE President has fearlessly en-
forced the laws as he found them upon
the statute books" Cheers came from
many quarters Of the hall at this, but
their duration was comparatively brief
and Senator Lodge fastened to re-
sumo. In a few minutes, however, he
came again to the President with the
declaration that in enforcing the law
the bayonets of duty must hurt some
body.
And the result" he went on, "is
that the President is the most abused
and most popular man in the United
States today"
At this the first real demonstration
broke loose. For time the cheering
appeared desultory, but after a minute
or two some of the delegates from the
territories jumped from their chairs
and a great roar burst from all over
the hall. AS the cheers came forth
Senator Lodge remarked to his friends
on the platform:
They said there was no Roosevelt
feeling in this convention, but l will
show them that there is"
The galleries took up the demon
stration with a will and helped to
maintain it for long time.
On the far side of the gallery num-
Der Of men waved star spangled ban
ner umbrellas over the railing and the
uproar broke out again on the floor
below. One Louisiana delegate pulled
off his coat and swung it around and
yell after yell. The cheers died away
but again they came with renewed Wig
or, the galleries playing an important
part in the demonstration.
Senator Lodge made several at
tempts to continue his speech, but at
every effort the cheering would break
out and he finally gave up the idea and
walked slowly back and forth, a
pleased expression on his face, waiting
for the uproar to cease.
Senator Lodge, after another long
wait, attempted to be heard.
Gentlemen" he said, "as l was try
ing to say when was interrupted
The cheering drowned his voice
again and his gavel could scarcely be
heard.
Determined. however, to proceed in
spite of the refusal of the gallery
crowd to follow the example of the
delegates in restoring order Senator
Lodge, in the midst of resultory cheer
ing, resumed his address.
The demonstration had proceeded
unchecked for As minutes.
Senator Lodge at last had the undi-
vided attention of the convention
when he came to that portion of his
speech which reiterated the determine
alton of the President not to accept a
denomination.
That decision" he declared. die
tated by the Hottest motives and by
! noble loyalty to American traditions,
is final and irrevocable