Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-06-25

in the floor and galleries was occupied,
while on the stand occupied by the
chairman were men whose names are
among the greatest which a great party
possesses. Many of the delegates had
been in their seats for an hour or more
and there was, accordingly, little delay
in the opening.
Twelve thousand pairs of eyes were
centered upon the erect, smooth-shaven,
keen-viSaged chairman when he raised
his hand to command silence Nearly
1000 delegates and their alternates
were assembled from every State and
Territory of the Union, as well as the
District of Columbia, Alaska, Hawaii,
Porto Rico and the Philippines, for the
purpose of nominating men for Presi-
dent and Vice President of the United
States. The other 10000 were spec
tators and newspaper men, who will
record the proceedings of the conven-
ton. Every seat was filled, and the
standing-room capacity was taxed to
its uttermost Four years ago only
1000 people gathered on the opening
day.
Scene an Impressive One.
1t was wonderful and impressive
scene, this great body of $50 delegates
gathered from every part of the coun-
try and its remote possessions, calmly
settled down to carry out the wishes
of the party they represent and nomi-
candida 70 no iphn afSa
the people can give.
President Roosevelt got applause
when Chairman New spoke first in an
nOuncing that the time had arrived to
take up the business of the convention.
The chairman declared the country had
just ended twelve years of the most
brilliant administration in the world"
The cheering itself was evidence of
the double-wrap hold the President had
on the convention. One wild yell, and
that was all.
John +. Malloy, temporary secretary,
who has a powerful voice, read the
call for the convention, and then Chair
man New announced that the national
committee had recommended julius c.
Burrows, of Michigan, for temporary
chairman. Senator Burrows was warm
ly received as he stepped to the front
of the platform. He bowed his &C
acknowledgements and began his key
note address.
From the time the gathering was
called TO order until Senator Burrows
concluded his 15,000-word keynote"
| speech, the interest and attention of
the 1900 persons in the hall seldom
| tagged Parts Of the Michigan SEN
ator's address were wildly cheered, par
| ticularly his mention of Theodore
Roosevelt, AID later on his declaration
| on the anti-injunction question. Still
more cheers greeted the keynote"
declaration that any tariff revision
| would not put out the fires of any
| American industry"
Senator Burrows spoke for an hour
| and eight minutes and concluded amid
| hearty applause. Then the band, which
! had been kept out of the proceedings
for longer than an hour, had its inn
ing.
| 4OOSS
| among the Southern delegates, when the
band played Dixie" This was follow
ed by a shout that filed the big hall
and it gradually began to look like a
national convention. When in its med
| ley the band struck up America" the
delegates and visitors stood en- masse,
waving flags and giving mighty shout.
The secretary read the list of tenn
porary officers, which was confirmed,
following which the membership Of the
| several committees, chosen by the State
delegations, was announced. Then, on
motion of a New York delegate, the
rules of the last Republican national
convention were adopted for the con-
| troll of the gathering. The convention
then adjourned until Wednesday noon.