The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-06-20
ROOSEVELT IS CHEERFUL
Colonel and His Supporters confiden
Of Victory

Chicago, June lS.-'lm Detler
warrior than a prophet" Col. Roose-
welt said when asked his opinion OF
the outcome Of the convention. That
was all he would say tonight.
Mr. Roosevelt directed his own
battle in the convention hall over a
telephone wire. Hidden away in
room in his hotel. he spent most OF
his time with a receiver at his ear,
listening to reports OF his lieutenants
and Issuing orders in person.
He was seen only once or twice
during the day as he hurried through
the corridors. He waved his hand
and smiled at the people who cheer
ed him, and, in spite of the high pres
sure under which he has been work
ing, he appeared to be as vigorous as
the day he left Oyster Bay.
The wire over which Col. Roose-
welt gave his directions was specially
installed for the convention, and had
no connection with any switchboard
Arrangements were so made that no
person other than Col. Roosevelt and
the man at the Coliseum end of the
wire could by chance overhear the
conversation.
When the convention had adjourn
ed the Roosevelt leaders FASTENED
back and began series of conferen-
ces with their chief which extended
late into the night.
Col. Roosevelt's associates predict
ed confidently that the fight would be
won, although they guarded carefully
the plans for tomorrow, which were
framed at tonight's conference. They
had with them tables of figures based
on today's developments, which show
ed to their satisfaction that they
could not be beaten. Col. Roosevelt,
they said, after they had seen him,
was pleased with the showing made
on the first day.
In the hall of the Roosevelt com.
mttee the crowd was kept in lively
spirits with a band concert by i'm
promptu orators, who prophesied vic
tory without doubt, and by a quar-
tet, which sang a song entitled
Steam Roller Bill" amid great
cheers. When the crush became sc
great as to be perilous the hall was
cleared, and then. began a secret eau
Gus OF the Roosevelt delegates and
alternates.
Col. Roosevelt passed through the
corridor from his rooms to his Office
with the aid of his squad of strons
men. He fought his way through thu
struggling. cheering throng as though
he enjoyed the tussle, and finally es
capped through a doorway into tn,
council chamber in which Senate
Dixon, Governor Hadley, Gov Stubs
Senator Borah and others of his lead
ers were awaiting him.
1t was explained by an old frien
of the colonel that the secret of hi
liability to endure hard work is tina
The does not worry. During a fe,
spare minutes which he was able [
have he told with delight story t
the effect that when he went to Afr
ca Wall street was hoping that ever
lion would do its duty"
Today's proceedings demonstrate
one thing clearly That was that tn
situation. so far as the nomination fo
president is concerned, is all up /
the air. The Taft managers for
denomination elected their temporar
chairman. Elihu Root. by 55S vote
or only Is more than a majorit
which is none too encouraging a sho
ing.
| President Taft must have $40 vote
to obtain the nomination. A carefl
analysis of the vote cast today doe
not justify the prediction that th
president will have that many on II
first ballot, but the outlook is no MOI
cheerful for Theodore Roosevelt tina
: It is for Mr.. Taft.
Consequently the talk of compr
mise candidate is being heard on a
sides tonight. but it is expressed &
a hope rather than as a demand, an
strength is not being concentrated G
ANY one man.
d President Taft's managers are pu
a ting out the claim that they will
able to hold enough OF the 55S vote
cast for Senator Root today to gi'
Mr.. Taft a majority when the vo
is taken. Roosevelt's manager. {
the other hand, declares that 90
2 the delegates who voted for Mr.. Ro
:, today are instructed for and mu
vote for the nomination OF Col. Roos
u welt, which would bring Taft's vo
c down to $50, four less than are nee
ed.
=, The Sc votes pledged for La Fl
\ lette and the ten votes pledged 4
Cummins represent the balance
power but there is no sign which vi
|. they are going to swing or that thu
are going to swing at all. 1t is
mighty complex situation. with
v solution in sight.
u The Roosevelt shouters, who ha
been declaring victory for him I
the first ballot. are saying tonig
that he will win all right but III
n Taft can't win anyway"
" The faithful runners, whose bu
ness II Is to bring news to the colo
els managers from the rival can
and who have been describing bro
en- hearts and sobs In the rooms
Chairman Barnes and OF Manager J
Kinley, carried the news to the Roo
4 welt headquarters a few hours aft
the convention had adjourned III
the Taft people were searching
" a compromise candidate.
Other reports were brought In al
to the effect that certain state de
cations that had voted in whole
in part for Senator Root for temp
airy chairman would not vote for \