Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-06-27
Governor johnson of California
Empowered to Appoint Com
mittee of Seven.
AWAIT PLEDGES OF SUPPORT
Attitude Of Governor Hadley
Chief Point of Discussion
Bandanna the Roosevelt
Battle Flag.

Chicago. June 23.-The progress
sive" party, born last night, was dedi-
Gated to-day. In the presence OF per-
haps 500 men. some of them recognize
cd leaders of the movement, others
merely onlookers. the first formal
step was taken. Governor Hiram
johnson of California was empowered
to appoint 4 committee of seven mem
hers to confer with Colonel Roose-
Welt and formulate plan of action
Here is the birth of a new party
said Governor johnson when this
was done
ahead" said James r. Garfield Of Ohio
Those who think this Is flash IN
the pan are mistaken"
In the opinion of the leaders, the
new party enters the field with fos-
midable equipment These leaders,
however. said that as to the men who
took conspicuous part in the cam
paign for Colonel Roosevelt's nomina-
ton. each must speak for himself
The attitude of Governor Hadley of
Missouri was the chief point of dis
cussion along this line. The Governor left
Town without WalunB 10 ueCitle
NO DEFINITE IDEA OF PLAN.
No definite idea of the plan to be fol-
lowed could be obtained. 1t may be sew
eral weeks before the program is decided
upon. Governor Johnson In the mean
time will act as field marshal and in
cooperation with Colonel Roosevelt will
decide upon the membership of the COM
nittee of seven and guide the prelim-
mary work of organization. Colonel
Roosevelt will leave for Oyster Bay to-
morrow afternoon and Governor Johnson
will return at once to California but
they will keep in communication with
each other.
To-day's meeting was held in the head
quarters Of the national Roosevelt COM
mittee under the direction of the most
prominent Roosevelt supporters who had
not left town. Seated at table with
Governor johnson were Mr.. Garfield,
Clifford Pinchot, Governor Stubbs of
Kansas, Medil Mccormick of Chicago
and Senator Clapp of Minnesota.
Scattered though the hall We're n large
number of Roosevelt delegates to the
republican national convention as we'll
as some Of the steam rollered" dele
gates to whom seats We're refused 1t
was impossible to ascertain how large
a proportion of the full Roosevelt
strength at the convention was repre-
scented. although it was said that nearly
every State which sent Roosevelt dele
gates to Chicago had its share of men
there
BANDANNA PARTY EMBLEM
The bandanna handkerchief was
adopted as the Roosevelt battle flag"
Most of the delegates wore flaming
bandannas tied around their arms and
others were distributed by the hundreds
to the crowd. The bandanna. It was ex-
planned, stands for the plain people who
ordinarily use them.
We're all plain people here and this
Is a movement of the plain people," said
one OF the delegates.
Colonel Roosevelt gave his sanction "a
the battle rag by appearing last nigh,
with one in his hand. which lie waved ia
the crowd on the street. His daughter
Mrs. Longworth. wore bandana on her
hat.
Scattered through the hail warc large
number Of Roosevelt delegates 20 the
republican convention.
u am not acting as the leader of This
movement" said Governor Johnson wher
the meeting OF delegates had been called
10 order, '"The active leader must be q
man from more accessible State thar
California l am merely acting as chair
MAJ OF this meeting, at which We are to
begin on the road which leads to polit.cs
freedom"
Judge Ben p. Lindsey Of Denver, {
democrat arose.
Surely there can be no moro solemn
occasion tnAn this one" he SAID. I'VE ar,
beginning. ON Sunday. great new move
ment. | believe that we should begin /
BY askinc the guidance of Him for whom
We arc here"
1NVokES DIVINE BLESSING
d.: ". II. Nixon Of Selma. Ala,
negro clergyman and Roosevelt dele
gate who was excluded from the re
publican convention, began to recit
tho psalm which begins: The Lord I
my shepherd" The delegation aros
and repeated it with him. A praye
by DR.. Nixon followed. Some one be
gan TO sing America" and in a mo
ment others We're singing The meet
ones that had been held In the sam
room while the convention was 4
season. There was no cheering .
handclapping, no cry of Eat er
alive Teddy" The solemnty of tn
occasion which was believed to sig
naliZe the birth of the new party in
pressed itself upon the eatherinl
and hush fell over the crowd. broke
only by the voices of the speaker.
Governor johnson in his opening ad
dress appealed to the delegates to sta
In the fight which they had begun
This Is a solemn OCCASION" he toll
them. las it was last night when we met
TO tender the nomination for president
Theodore Roosevelt. The time for actio
has come. Let us begin to act, rattle
than to waste our time in talking"
Mr. Garfield said it was realized thu
extreme care must he taken in the organ
ton OF the movement Each State.
said. must work out its own problem
organization and adapt itself to the law
which govern the selection of candida
for the electoral college.
MUST AVOID SERIOUS ERRORS.
1T would be idle for us at this time
he continued ito attempt to suggest eve
the outline Of a method of organization
All we can do now Is to avoid serio,
mistakes and make an appeal which WI
be heard by all serious minded men ar
women throughout the country"