Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-16
"GRAVEL TRAIN" SMOOTHS
OUT THE TEXAS SITUATION
Delegations Expected to 'Get Down
to Brass Tacks" Today.
GRONNA MAKES EN- SIT UP
Favoring of Former President in
Case of Emergency Causes Com
ment-Stampede Fizzle Re-
wives Third Party Talk.
BY N. o. MESSENGER.

CHICAGO. H.. June 15.-Well the
stunt of Il came. | saw. / conquered.
was pulled off, and still the Chicago river
has not been set afire although the
Roosevelt men claim it is smoldering at
the bottom.
The colonel came in as per picturesque
program and in truly T. r. style. The
rough riders We're on the job, there were
bands galore, playing both ends against
the middle with our two dear old conven-
ton favorites, There Will Be a Hot
Time in the Old Town Tonight and THE
Gangs All Here, very sonorous. lie
made speech from the balcony and all
that sort of thing. and then the crowd
turned TO other thoughts
Thems not votes in the convention"
said westerner. pointing with stubby
thumb to the rooters who had lit them
selves up like a cathedral while waiting
for the arrival of their hero. Which,
taken by and large, may be considered
rather sapient, if illiterate, remark.
The colonel had something to think
about Immediately upon arriving The
steam roller-they are beginning to call
1T the gravel train now-had been
busy all afternoon, with pretty salts
factory results to the Taftites. They
had rolled out the Texas situation to
the satisfaction of the Taft men and
the intense Indignation of Cecil Lyon.
Lyon Foreshadows Outcome.
However, the Taft men needed the
money" and there you are. Cecil Lyon
foreshadowed the outcome in a story
he told about the supercanine accom-
plishments of rat terrier the point of
which was but dot dog vas a ratter
und rattin' vas his pisiness."
The head hunters brigade" was busy
All day. You see, under stress of condi-
tons we abandon the forms of polite
speech and revert to terms admissible
east Of SueZ" and this expression re-
fers to the committee OF the Roosevelt
outfit which is charged with the duty
of begging. borrowing or-no, won't
say buying, because that is not club
aole-deiegates who hold themselves
free moral agents" and who are
the voice of reason"
The head hunters up to present writing
have brought in but few trophies They
are making loud claims Of what they ex-
pect to do, but it is like the guide at the
nshing club who says IF you'd only been
here last week you could have caught
some beauties
The fact is. heads are scarce and COM
ing nigh. with the market going up stead
~. ~ tyHiSSil Olu pOlltlClan, VINO has q
hoo-nailed conscience-and liver too
probably-remarked TO the writer today:
WI ny, haven't seen such pickings since
lso2, when places on the credentials COM
mittee ran up TO four figures. L will
never forgive myself for not getting into
the bread line on this game" whereupon
ne sighed deeply and walked off most
disconsolately.
Discount Stampede Talk.
The coming of Roosevelt was widely
heralded as the first move in an effort to
stampede the convention. One of the re-
dictionary. moss-chested, case-hardened
old standpatters in the Taft group boast
fully remarked that it would be inst as.
feasible to stampede Lake Michigan"
However, he may have another guess
coming before 1t is over. Anyhow,
don't bet yet: keep your money i'm your
jeans and lets look 'em over for day
or two. There are some very disouietinr
rumors about disaffection in this Taft
delegation and the other and. as has
been pointed out. nobody really has a
cinch on this game yet
AFTER tonight We get down 10 brass
tacks. The delegations begin to meet
10 arrange their members of the various
committees. credentials and so on and
there we'll be test votes A .sb0v down ;:
In other. words. Get Your pad and pen
Gil out and keep close tab; units count
and decimals are precious gold.
~ Is a herce game, everybody holding
ms cards close to his bosom and chew
ing his cigar because he is afraid to
mt his eyes from the stakes long enough
to scratch match.
Gronna Makes EN- Sit up.
Taft and Roosevelt leaders sat nm and
took notice tonight when II bac.ma
known that Senator Gronna of North
Dakota had made the statement that if
the time came in the convention when
the La Toilette forces had 10 make
choice between the two candidates that
they would throw their support 10 the
former President Senator Gronna is one
of the La Toilette leaders He is takine
part in the La Toilette councils day by
day. and although not a delegate NAV
have "A hand in directing the La Toilette
fight in the convention.
All week the Taft and Roosevelt lead
erS nave been anXfously awaiting word
from the La Toilette headquarters There
have been conflicting reports as to the
purposes of the La GILLETTE men but until
today the belief was quite generally en-
tertained that In the event of a show
down. the followers of the Wisconsin
senator would go To Taft as the lesser
OF two undesirab.es. Senator Gronna to-
day made the statement that IL an
emergency arose that seemed to compel
the La Follete men to go to one candi-
date or the other he would advise sup
port of Roosevelt
According to Senator Gronna the La
Toilette men will put forward a candi-
date for the office of temporary chair
man. Just who will be placed in nom
ination by them has not been decided
Ii probably will be Gov. McGovern.
Colonel's Headquarters Opened
Roosevelt headquarters for the visit
ing delegates opened tonight in the
Florentine room. Imagine an apart
ment about hundred and fifty feet
long. at the far end of which is a great
painting of T. r. in hunting costume.
waving his hat over a dead lion. The
poor lion looks pathetic in contrast
To L. RS. jubilancy one Immediately
Continued on Second PaSel