The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-06-18
He Will Not Be Bound by Action of Contested
 Delegates
MIGHTY WELCOME
 AT MASS MEETING
Storms of Applause Greet His Every Attack on the President and the National Republican
 Committee

Chicago, June 17.--On the eve of the re- publican national convention Colonel Roosevelt tonight disclosed the line of at tack he will make. He laid down two principles. He said the delegates whose selection he contests must not vote in the organisation of the convention or upon the settlement of the contest and made 1t clear that he would resist 1t. He de- clared that no action of the convention based upon the votes of these "fraud- nlently seated delegates would be binding upon the republican party
 Given Mighty Welcome
 It was at the Roosevelt rally in the Auditorium that the ex-President mads his challenge. He was facing cheer ins throng which jammed the huge build ing as tightly as the fire marshal would permit. Present were delegates from every part Of the country, Roosevelt leaders and host of priTates in the Roosevelt army. They gave the ex-Pfesident mighty welcome Colonel Roosevelt made fight ing speech Ills hearers were in hghting mooas They cheered him on as he de- Lounced his opponents and shouted to him.
 Go at them. Teddy Knock out the steam rcller Hit em again"
 Long before Colonel Roosevelt reached the Auditorium every seat was taken. Outside the building were thousands un- able to gain almssion Two hundred po- iicemen held them back
 Senator Eoiah made a speech while the crowd was waiting for Colcnl Roosevelt. His remarks were brought to an untimely end when the people leaped to their feet with yell. "the colonel has come
 IL was nearly fouf minutes later when the uproaiious welcome subsided.
 The colonel stood on the platform. waved his hands and smiled.
 Consistently Interrupted by Applause
 The crowd was eager to cheer Colonel Roosevelt was constantly interrupted dur ing his speech with storms of applause. lie frequently departed from his prepared speech for an extemporous thought which brought the house to their feet. shouting and waving the flags which were handed to each person on entering the hall.
 T made my iight square and fair in the open, and wpri. he said. T don't in~ tend mat my opponents Shall cheat me out of it."
 The colonel gave a new definition of the national committee.
 The national committed he exclaimed,
 who arc they? About 50 people with the ratio of honesty ranging from about l4 to 20, and the remaining 30 sure thing men
 Colonel Roosevelt began to call the roll of some of his most prominent opponents. At the first name he made a groan came from the crowd. The next name the groan became a roar.
 Gives Up Roll Call
 To preserve peace the Colonel gave up his roll call. He said that his chief op- ponents on the national committee were men who had been repudated in their own state.
 Tt is bad enough" ss complained, "to have the victory stolen by the bosses that are living, but 1t Is an added outrage to have It stolen by bosses that are among the unburied dead
 When Colonel Roosevelt said that any action of the convention, if brought about by the votes of delegates fraudulently seated. would not be binding upon the party, there was the widest outburst of applause of tbe evening. The crowd leaped Up with shout and refused to be quietcd despite the colonels attempt to continue.
 ''If they ask for the sword" said he, when at last he could make himself heard. they shall have It."
 Colonel Roosevelt made fl plain. in a sentence which he interjected. that the decisive test in the convention probably would be made on the vote for temporary chairman.
 He appealed to every delegate elected for MT. Taft, who is an honest man" to stand with his supporters in organizing the convention.
 W. J. Bryan sat in reporters row in tho orchestra pit. He was cheered loudly when he appeared, but refused even to make a bow.
 Pm newspaper man tonight" he ex- plained.
 On leaving the Auditorium Colonel, Roosevelt went to the soiithside to ad- dress meeting of negroes. He was in- troduced by A. IT. Robertson, who said:
 "Of all the people in America the black people are the people who want a Presi- dent that has not got a spaghetti back bone"
 Colonel Roosevelt avoided politics and gave what he called a sermon. It's bur. den was that the black man should res ceive a square deal.
 Colonel Roosevelts speech in full will be found on page eight)