The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1912-10-24
(By Charles w. Rife.)

johnson Aptimistio.
(By Charles w. Rife.)
Columbus, o. - (Special.) - Hon.
eourke Cochran had just completed
one of the best speeches he had ever
made. Memorial hall was filled with
over 5000 men and women. The
speaker closed his great address by
saying: Theodore Roosevelt will
not die. He will live to carry our
movement to it's culmination he will
live to be the next president of the
United States. The Progressive cause
will triumph because it is external
and will prevail"
The speaker was not aware that
Colonel Theodore Roosevelt had been
shot. His prophetic words brought
forth a cheer that almost shook the
famous structure The echo of the
cheering was still reverberating
throughout the halls and corridors of
Memorial hall when Rev. DR.. Rexford
stepped to the front of the stage. His
tottering arm was raised and fell
limp. Again he attempted to raise it
hut without avail Then he raised
his right hand in which he held his
cane. White haired and a little bent
with the age Of more than three score
years, the speaker in a trembling
voice commanded order.
AS if by magic quiet was restored
A pin dropped in any part of the hall
among the thousands assembled would
have interrupted the scene. Rev.
Rexford, by the greatest mental and
physical force, controlled himself,
stood erect, and said slowly but dis
tinctly;
What has just been said about
Colonel Roosevelt dying may, indeed,
come true, for we have just received
word that he was shot in Milwaukee
this evening"
The great throng stood as if strick-
en-. Not one moved. They we're wait
ing for another word from the speak
~er. sigh, silent prayer and tear
bedimmed eyes showed that the truth
of the tragedy had been comprehend
'ed. They understood. For another
moment they stood in their places,
then they began to pour out. 1t seem
ed as if the board floor had been sud
denly transposed into one of velvety
down, for not footstep, not sound
was heard. - oas57.e.. -...---
Bourke Cochran, lifelong friend of
Colonel Roosevelt, twisted his glasses
}nervously in one hand then the other.
Tears trickled down his cheek, and
his great form fairly shook with emo
ton. At one side sat A. L. Garford,
the Progressive candidate for COVER
nor, On the other stood Walter F.
brown, state chairman of the Progress
sive party Not one word was spoken.
They looked at each other, then at
the crowd, then into space.
Then they sought more news, and
the three were hurried to a nearly
hotel, where arrangements were made
to get every bit of news that was car
ried over the wires regarding the con-
6ition of their leader
The shooting of Colonel Roosevelt
has upset the plans of the state COM
mittee for the great leader in Ohio.
He was to have spent Monday and
Tuesday in the state this week, with
speeches in Cincinnati, Columbus and
Cleveland, with brief addresses at a
dozen other points.
The speaking engagements were all
cancelled last Tuesday, and while
some other speaker of note will be Sc.
cured for these cities later on, most
of them will be called entirely off
kilograms came in by the score al
the headquarters Of the state com
mittee and Chairman Brown gave
them all his personal attention. He
was in direct communication with the
leaders in Chicago and was kept post
ed on the condition Of the distinguish
ed patient, and he in turn sent tele
grams to inquirlng friends throughou
the state during the following tive
days.
Governor Hiram w. Johnson, tn,
candidate Of the Progressive party TO
vice president, reached Columbus tn
other day and had a couple of hour
that was not utilized by the state CON
mittee. Instead of locking himsel
up in his hotel room, and permittin
only the favored few to meet him an
talk over the political situation, h
basked in the sun in front of one G
the leading hotels, met and shoe
hands with hundreds and talked righ
from the shoulder on the work of tn
Progressiyes throughout the countr!
No one can deny that Governo
johnson is certainly one of the mos
democratic of men, He has sper
much of the past two months in ira
cling throughout the east, and ca
see nothing but victory in store fc
the new party, and feels certain {
success at the polls next month.
The governor objected strenuous