Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-07-02
IN THE LIMELIGHT.

CONVENTION HALL, BALTIMORE
July 2-Hats of to the cheer leader Of
the Wilson forces. He has put ginger
into the line-plungers for the New Jer-
seyite. and they have hit the line hard,
torn big holes through the opposition and
kept the fasteners halfbacks and full
backs going on and on with the ball to-
ward the goal line of two-thirds.
The workings Of the cheering machine
in convention hall have been well oiled,
always ready and smooth almost to per-
lection. 1t has seemed that almost
every one in those vast audiences gath
cred in the convention hall kept an &C
curate tab on each states vote, for a
gain of one for Wilson has been marked
by cheers and applause in the galleries
as well as among the Wilson delegation
on the floor. OF course. there have been
shouts of approval when Speaker Clark
and Majority Leader Underwood claimed
some votes not already in their pos
session.
But the opportunities for the Wilson
sympathizers have been more numerous,
and they have not been asleep at the
switch single time. There have been
repeated evidences. however, of excellent
organization and a signal giver.
The crowd in the hall enjoys James
Hamilton Lewis. who is more often re-
ferred to as Jim Ham Lewis. and who
will succeed the venerable Senator Gull
lom In the upper House of Congress il
the democrats captuye Illinois next fall,
when he is called to preside while Chair
man Ollie James goes out for sandwich
ard a triangle of pie at one of the nearby
lunch counters. And a greater contrast
in presiding oEicers between Lewis ana
James would be hard to imagine.
Chairman James, at outbursts or ap-
pIause or cheers from the galleries. pounds
the table with his gavel and shouts to the
chowd:
Il am going to have the galleries cleared
by the policemen unless there is order"
Here is the way Acting Chairman Lewis
puts it: Please defer your applause:
quiet is consistent with your convenience"
And once when one man gave the shout,
'Hurrah for WILSON, Mr.. Lewis turned
toward him.
VIII the gentleman please maintain
quiet or absent himself?''
Jim Ham was given an ovation last
night when Iowa cast one vote for
Lewis for the presidential nominee.
Lewis pounded a whole minute before he
restored quiet.
Let the roll seriously proceed he then
announced.
1t requires only the slightest variation
from the routine to set the crowd going
with boots and cheers and applause. And
II is always watching and waiting for the
call for Mississippi. Former Gov. Earl
Brewer always gives a sing-sing intona-
ton TO the announcement that "Mjssissip-
pi casts all twenty votes for Oscar w.
Underwood" The crowd takes up the
note sounded by the Wood" at the end
and makes 1t swell throughout the hall
with a chorus of sevexal thousand voices.
When the Indiana delegation announces
its twenty eight votes for Wilson. one
vote for the junior senator from Indiana
John W. Kern, is also announced.
That must be strong adrnirer Of Sen
III 30 ~ tl,.N to
the remark that has been made repeat
eddy.
AS matter OF fact the vote is cast
by bitter political opponent of Mr.
Kern, a man who has fought him continu-
ously in political seasons. He is ". Men
zies, delegate at large.