River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1912-08-15
ROOSEVELT AND JOHNSON ARE NOMINATED
Religious Songs Sung
as Ticket Is Named.
Candidates Thank Convention and
Pledge to Work UntIreingIy for
Victory of the New
Party.

Chicago. - Singing Onward Chris
tian Soldiers" and the Battle Hymn
of the Republic" the delegates to
the first national convention of the
new Progressive party proclaimed
Theodore Roosevelt of New York as
their candidate for president, and
Governor Hiram w. Johnson of Cali
fornia as their choice for vice-presi-
dent.
Marking new departure in the pro-
ceedings of national conventions, the
two candidates Immediately were in
formally notified of their nomination
and in the midst of deafening cheers
appeared before the delegates to voice
their acceptance and pledge their best
effort to the coming campaign.
For several long hours during the
afternoon and early evening the big
throng in the Coliseum had listened to
flow of oratory in nominating and
seconding speeches in which the domi-
nant note expressed was the belief
that victory would come to the new
party in the November elections.
Raymond Robbins of Illinois pledged
a 100000 majority for the national
ticket in Illinois and Clifford Pinchot
predicted a 100000 majority for Col
onel Roosevelt and Governor Johnson
in his home state of Pennsylvania.
These statements were cheered to
the echo.
The party formally christened itself
'"The Progressive party" leaving out
the prefix national" by which it here
tofore was known, but provision was
made for the cognition Of "reaP' Pro
gressives in any of the states of what
ever name they should be locally
designated because of the state laws.
The convention adjourned at 7:24
D. m. with the delegates singing the
Doxology.
During the three days it was in SEES
sion there was not single roll call,
nor a ballot taken. The delegates
asked no such formalities either in
placing their candidates in nomination
or in voting for them. There was not
Roosevelt or Governor Johnson. The
delay in nominating them was due to
the large number of seconding
speeches allowed.
AS has always been the case in ma
tional political conventions, the bulk
of the work of the Progressive gather
ing was carried on in the committees.
The only semblance of conflict of
opinion on the floor was brief debate
as to whether or not an hours recess
should be taken.
The point was not material, but, as
one delegate expressed it, I'VE just
had to fight about something to make
1t regular convention"
There was sharp discussion, how
ever, in several of the committee meet
ings and no little difficulty adopted.
Colonel Roosevelt worked with the
subcommittee in charge of the plat
form, going over their work and Wig
orously helping to mould the draft
which at last proved acceptable to
him. The platform did not take up
the negro question.
In this connection, one the inter
esting seconding seeches of the day
was that of F, r. Gleed of New York,
a negro Gleed declared that the
negroes had faith in the new party,
faith that it would do all in it's power
to right the wrongs of the race.
1--WE stand by the platform" he
said, I'VE stand by Colonel Roosevelt S
letter; we stand by his speech. And
as we stood by him at San Juan Hill,
so we will stand by you in November
and fight for victory"
Miss Jane Adams of Hull House
Chicago, was among those who Sec
onded Colonel Roosevelt and she was
enthusiastically greeted.
The new party formally placed itself
on record as favoring equal suffrage
and further recognized the woman suf-
frage movement by providing for four
women members at large on the ma
tional committee.
Colonel Roosevelt, in his seech OF
acceptance said:
"Mr. Chairman and men and WON.
en- who in this convention represent
the high and honest purpose of the
people Of all of our country; / come
forward to thank you from my heart
for the honor you have conferred upon
me and to say that of course ac
cept.'
Colonel Roosevelt's name was plac-
ed in nomination by Prendergast, OF
New York. The colone's speech OF
acceptance was short and to the point
In speaking of his running mate, Mr.
Roosevelt said:
I'm Governor Johnson we have q
man whose every word is made good