Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1912-06-25
ROOSEVELT BOLTS CONVENTION
Followers Of Former President Sit Silent In Chicago Coliseum While the
"O|d Guard Carry Out Their Program by Renominatnq W H.
Taft and James S. Sherma1Ieddy Announces He May
Head a Third Ticket Much Bitterness

Showing no mercy at any stage of
the proceedings and working with
deadly precision, the "old guard" OF
the republican party, last week, at
Chicago, put through their entire pro-
program just as planned out months
ago and renominated William Howard
Taft for president and James School
craft Sherman for vice-president.
Week Of Bitterness.
The republican national convention
OF 1912 will 60 down in history as one
Of the bitterest fighting in the history
of that party. The big fight started
months ago when former President
Theodore Roosevelt announced that
his that was in the ring" meaning
thereby that he was a candidate for
a third term as president Of the
Uniten States. For months the con-
test was fiercely waged. Vast sums
of money were spent by the rival can
didates and their supporters and the
nation was treated to the disgusting
spectacle Of the only living ex-presi-
dent and the president engaging In a
personal controversy in which dignity,
not to mention decency, was thrown
to the wind and abuse took the place
Of argument
Roosevelt Cause Popular.
Although it was generally conceded
at the start that Taft had an over
whelming majority, Roosevelt COM
menced to close up as the various
states began to hold their primaries.
Illinois, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Ohio,
California, Minnesota and Oregon gave
the ex-president overwhelming plu-
ralities. Plainly the rank and file OF
the republican party were with Roose-
velt But Taft had the organization
and was uniformly successful in states
in which no primaries were held.
Committee Settles II.
Roosevelt was in the lead by big
majority, so far as instructed dele
gates were concerned, when the re-
publican national committee met in
Chicago one week before the conven'
! ton opened. This committee was con-
! fronted by the huge task OF determin-
ing the validity of over $50 contests,
brought chiefly by the Roosevelt man.
ayers. The bitterness manifested by
the contending elements in the com
mittee was sure and certain fore
runner of yet greater bitterness In the
convention. The committee settled
practically all of the contests in favor
of the president and thereby made
certain the defeat of Roosevelt.
Root Chosen Chairman.
The fight started promptly when
the convention was called TO OrdeI
by Victor Rosewater, chairman OF the
national committee, Tuesday. Ihe
Roosevelt men sought to substitute
the roll of the convention member
ship which they had prepared Tor the
one submitted by the national com
mittee. They were defeated by wide
margin and the 562 votes cast for the
Taft roll seemed to indicate the solid
strength of the presidents forces
The fight over the selection OF tenn
poray chairman was the second de-
feat for the Roosevelt forces. Elihu
Root, of New York, was chosen TO tha'
position and sounded an exceedingly
tame keynote"
| Fighting Continuous.
/ Wednesday, Thursday, Friday anc
Saturday the convention was In con
stant uproar, due to the reports o.
the committee on credentials. Ine
battle made before the national com
mittee was fought all over again II
the credentials committee and once
more on the floor of the convention
The efforts of the Roosevelt men were
futile throughout. Twice the insurgen'
or progressive members of the com
mittee walked out. The Taft sup
porters were as adament. They gave
no quarter and Roosevelt himself
finally threw up the sponge Friday
and the bolt sentiment began tt
crystalize.
Finish Saturday Night.
Worn out by ceaseless fighting, tht
convention decided Saturday to rusf
things through. Beaten at every turn
the Roosevelt adherents announced
that they would take no part In thu
work of nominating candidates.
was 1O:45 Saturday night when Chair
man Root called the convention II
order for the. final act of the drama
or, perhaps, 1t might better be terme'
tragedy.
Governor Johnson, of California
left the hall and stated that he woul'
no longer sit in the convention ant
would not be bound by its action
Warren G.. Harding, Of Ohio, place.
William Howard Taft in nomination
Roosevelt's name was not formal!
presented. John Wanamaker, of Penn
sylvania, and Nicholas Murray Butler
of New York, seconded Taft's nomina
ton.
olbrich's Great Speech.
The really great speech of the con
vention was made by Michael Olbrich
Of Wisconsin. who placed the name o
Robert Marion LaFOllette before tn