New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-06-20

pIdCuNdDle III convention to duOpt
the rule that delegates whose seats were
contested could not otherwise take part
in its proceedings
otherwise" said Mr.. Root. "a minor
ity could at any time convert a majority
into a minority by including in one mo-
ton contest Of the seats Of a suffi-
cient number of their opponents 10 re-
| duCe them to minority"
Mr.. Root first pointed out that by
such a rule convention would destroy
itself, as, under certain circumstances.
every delegate would be contested and
thus disqualified from participation in
the business Of the convention"
Debate Proves Useful.
The three hours debate on the Hadley
motion served a useful purpose. II de-
monstrated that there are two sides to
every contest, proved the impossibility
Of the convention itself examining the
evidence and reaching anything APP
preaching a judicial decision within a
reasonable time and showed the futility
OF expecting a national convention com
posed Of los members 10 act from ju-
dicial motives and without being infu-
enced by extreme partisan feeling
Many ex parte assertions were made
most Of which would if taken at their
face value. seem to show that the seat
ing Of certain delegates was little if any
less culpsble than highway robbery.
Each time. however these were followed
by assertions If the most contradictory
character, and the unprecedented witness
was left wondering what measure Of
truth or falsity there was in the state
ments of the speakers and how any one
without a careful and painstaking study
could possibly reach a satisfactory con-
clusion
Senator Hemenway pointed out that,
after instituting and Roasting OF six
teen contests in Alabama, Colonel Roose-
Welt himself had met the news that all
except one Of his contests had been
thrown out with the assertion, "Oh,
we'll, We only expected to win one of
them, anyway"
George l. Record undertook 10 dis
cuss the Indiana contests, but he proved
so uninteresting that even his own sup
porters could not he prevailed on to alb
stain from conversation, and the chair
man had the utmost difficulty in pro-
tecting the speaker.
Thomas H Devine made a strong
point when he declared the action Of the
Roosevelt managers in stirring up con-
tests in the South was "damnahle," and
supported his statement with the undis-
puted assertion that Of the 1O7 Taft del
egates in the South whose seats were
contested 101 were seated by the unanl-
nous vote Of the national committee.
Mr. Devine was so frequently inter-
rupted by the disturbances raised by
Bill" Finn that Chairman Root. adj
vancing TO the front Of the stage and
shaking an admonshing finger at the
Pittsburgh boss, said TO him:
Il don't know whether or not you want
to hear the arguments on this solemn
subject, but do know that unless the
gentleman seated on that side Of the
aisle ceases to cause such disturbance he
Will. delegate or no delegate, be removed
from the hall by the sergeant alarms
After that the Pittsburgh boss was
kept constantly under the surveillance
of special policemen. and failed COM
pletely to live up 10 his reputation
Summing mp the opposition 10 the
Hadley motion. which would have cX-
cluded the two delegates from Arkansas
James Watson called attention 10 the
fact that not one word had been uttered
regarding their case. that no one knew
anything Of the merits Of the contest
and Vet that the adoption Of the Hadley
resolution would exclude them from all
participation in the organization of the
convention.
Trying a Roosevelt Stampede.
The Hadlcy Watson Roosevelt demon
stration assumed such proportions for Il
time as to start the report that the
Roosevelt forces would turn to Governor
Hadley as their second choice. That
Colonel Roosevelt has no such desire.
however, was pretty clearly manifested
by his telephoned request to Governor
Hadley 10 retire from the stage and by
the efforts Of his own shouters TO change
the affair into a Roosevelt dcmonstra-
ton.
George Manchester. of New York, was
sent to the gallery % escort the pretty
actress. Mrs. A. A. Davis, Of this city,
TO the floor, and it was he who superin-
tended the somewhat awkward task OF
lifting her to the platform.
Another factor which contributed to
the prolongation Of the cheering was the
antics Of William II. Coleman. Of Nc
Keesport, Penn, who succeeded in
climbing on the platform, where he APP
peared 10 be all limbs, all Of which he
seemed to wave at once, to the infinite
delight Of the shouters.
A hardly less potent factor IN con-
tributing 10 the shouting however, was
doubtless the Infinitely tedious character
Of the days proceedings, which up to
that time had been devoid Of interest
and, so far as the galleries were con-
cerned, hardly ineligible, except when
some loud-voiced clerk admonished the
spectators to retain from making a
noise. Every one felt II a relief 10 shout.
and almost every one did
When the vote which indicated the
hopeless defeat Of Mr.. Roosevelt had
been announced and Chairman Root had
succeeded in quelling the second demon