Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1912-06-27

the front with cutting rebuke for the
discourtesy shown the speaker.
Coming all the way from Europe
to second the nomination of his
friend, Mr.. Taft, John Wanamaker
delivered an address that doubtless
was very excellent. But only those
close to him could hear his words.
He may be fine merchant but he's
no speaker" said Policeman Rafferty,.
why didn't he stay in Europe?"
There was considerable surprise at
the silence of Iowa, in view of the
hopeful talk of the Cummins shouters
before the last session But Wiscon-
sin made up for this loss by sending
Michael B. Olbrich, the boy orator Of
Madison, to the platform. Mr.. Olbrich
never entered an oratorical contest
without emerging with the first prize,
and at the Coliseum he endeavored
to live up to this reputation. With
mighty voice and gesture, he told the
delegates all about the long and soul
wearying fight which had been made
for progressive policies in govern
ment by son Of the Badger state.
He called forth the repeated applause
OF the Wisconsin and North Dakota
delegates and the shrill screams of
approval Of young woman in the
east gallery who continually pounded
the bald head of gentleman in front
Of her with a small flag. But that
seemed to be the full measure of the
results accomplished by Mr.. Olbrich.
He spoke for an Internationally long
time, and at last in response to re-
peated demands to name your man"
he sprung on the astonished audience
the name of Robert Marion La Fol-
lette. Up leaped the Wisconsin 26
and, assisted by few scattered knots
Of shouters, they managed to make a
tremendous amount of noise for so
few people. But then the young
woman in the gallery helped i'm
mensely.
Taft Flaunted In His Face.
During Mr.. Olbrich's speech two
men made their way along the grid
ers Of the roof and let down a banner
with Taft's picture upon it, so that
the worthy president was staring the
young orator in the face. The entire
gathering resented this discourtesy
loudly, but Chairman Root didn't mind
nearly so much as he did the action Of
some Roosevelt men who, earlier in
the day, flung from the north gallery
a placard reciting his opinion of the
Penrose machine in Pennsylvania.
The latter manifesto was quickly re-
moved by virtuously indignant police
men.
Incidentally, Mr.. La Toilette took an
awful chance Saturday afternoon. He
sent to Chicago and had read to the
a statement to the effect
that he did not approve the platform,
and IL he were nominated for presi-
dent, he would not bind himself to
make the race standing upon all the
planks selected by the committee.
But Mr.. La Toilette was not nominal
ed.
Thursday and Friday were not very
interesting days in the convention
nall On those days the work was be-
ng done in committee rooms and ho-
eel conferences. Each night some rad
cal plan would be fixed up and the
next day II would be abandoned. /
First it was bolt of all the Roose-
1elt delegates. Then it was a double
And again it was a pol
cy Of silent non-participation. There
vas no bolt; there was only one con-
ion; there was nothing that even re-
notely resembled silence except the
'efusal to vote on the final ballots by
he colonePs stanchest adherents.
Rosewater Prompt, But
Victor Rosewater, who as chairman
# the national committee called the
to order, was only three