Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-09-07
Stampeded New York Convention
ACclaiins Oscar Strag7s IS the Pro-
gressiye Nominee FOR Governor.


and labor in the cabinet of President
Roosevelt was unanimously acclaim
cd the nominee for governor Of the
Progressive party By stampede6
convention, this afternoon.
MIR. Straus' nomination came about
under circumstances .that were MOI
only unexpected but dramatic. Tn,
former cabinet member. acting as tht
Convention chairman. was able to en-
tertein y motion from FORMER Lieut.
Gov. Woodruff to expedite the rol
call On The n9iuatioas for Governor. OF
State Chairman Hotchkiss ana Comp
trcller PYendergast Of New York
wien delegate from New York
county leaped to his chair and de
nlaaded that he he heard.
It's 'Suspender jack McGee," cried
q voice from the gallery Chairman
Straue looked puZzled. MeGee. wht
got his name In the Indian country
by riding broncho into camp with
sgspeuders used as fcins. moved res
olu:ei, toward the platform.
They say I'm crazy. but / know
what am doing he cried as he
sW ung upon the platform steps
Chairman Straus looked With sur
Prise on the man, who. With n dam
ias faHdana swathed around his neck
aeid his coat l,l3ziae with badges
tossed his Rough Rider hat on the
floor ara demanied he right to make
a nominal ton.
Who do you wish to nominate. "
asked Chairman Straus but MCGEE
gaze only a meaningless shake of his
head. Tile delegates irritated at what
they deemed enty an interruption at a
plnment when tn convention was
about t. lock arms on a vote for Prem
dergast and Hotchlliss, cried: Put
lin out" But Niece Insisted upon
speaking.
You may have but five minutes. =
said MIR. Straus. impatiently glancing
at. his watch.
Z want TO-" insisted McGee.
Delegates and spectators booed and
jeered as be began to speak There
was a general laugh when he cried
"t'i name man the mention of
whose name will bring tears of sym
pathv to the eyes of almost every man
and woman in the civilized land" bat
"Suspender jack only waved his
arm in defiance of the. jeers.
Chairman Straus turned to Mr..
Chadbourne, who had placed Mr..
Hetchkiss in nomination aud asked
What does he mean 10 do?s
Chadbourne, too, was non-pulssed
ana thought the speaker might be
perpetrating some joke Then came
The climax when a delegate cried
'Napae2 Saf11e tonp r1a,4
Mr. MCGEE paused a moment and
then cried; Il nominate the iilustrious
and honorable Oscar $. Straus"
The delegates seemed stunned and
then a few of them eheered. Mr..
straps laughed as. suspender Jack
bowed before him. MCGEE continued
his speech, and the first few faint
cheers gradually grew into panderuo-
nium that swept the hall Standards
were wrenehed from their supports
and delegates, yelling and cheering for
Chairman Straus paraded the aisles.
Chairman Straus ri first shook his
head depreeatingly at the growing
ovation. He turned to his friends and
remarked: This must not be. ! can
not accept" State Chairman Hotch-
kiss left his seat among the delegates
and rushed to the platform Placing
his hands on Mr.. Strauss shoulders.
he said:
You must accept, you must accept.
All the delegates are for you"
Meanwhile delegates pressed to the
platform TO urge Mr.. Straus to make
the decision. Then Mr. Hotchkiss
burst from the group that surrounded
Mr. Straus and held up before the
crush of excited delegates in the aisles
sheet of yellow paper ON which was
written: He accepts" Whereupon
the delegates ana spectators passed
back The Word u Mr.. Strauss accept
anee and another demonstration fol-
lowed
The nomination of Mr.. Hotehkiss
for governor was withdrawn by John
A. Kingsbury, who moved to make
Mr. Straus' nomination unanimous.
But other delegates demanded to be
heard ard Mr. Woodruff said that in
the absence Of Mr.. Prendergast he
would take it upon himself to with
draw his name With the names of
Prendergast and Hotehkiss withdrawn
there came flood of seconding
speeches of the nomination of the
fofp1er minister 10 Turkey.
''suspender jack was not lost
sight of in the enthusiasm. Delegates
pressed about him on the convention
floor and proclaimed him 'the man of
the hour Later the convention
passed vote of thanks to Delegate
MCGEE of the 18th assembly district
for mis-, action in nominating Mr.
Straus. Before the convention adj
journed McGee was hurried to the
platform. where the first one to greet
him was Mrs. Straus, who warmly
shook his hand.
How did | come to do it?'' sale
MCGEE. "Well, l got to thinking il
over on my way down from Vermont
and the more ] thought ii over, the
more>I made up my mind that Oseal
StraTs was the man for this conven-
ton to nominate. And 4 just Wen
ahead and did it on my own account.
When the convention had recovered
from the storm Of enthusiasm ant
Mir. Straus had been chosen -unani
nously, Chairman Hotchkiss in in
PRODUCING Mir Straus as the party
candidate for governor, said:
Those delegates present who attende,
the convention in Chicago know that /