The Progressive West Virginian. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1911-1913, 1912-06-27

ing. and q banner bearing the picture
Of the winner was carried through
the Rtsiesg but no one followed 1t. and
the tired spectators at once began to
make their way out of the hall Even
the delegates could not be kept in
their seats for the vote on Sunny
jim" The reading clerks jumped
about like crazy men trying to catch
the vote in the midst, of the din, and
nobody cared very much whether or
not they succeeded.
This purges the party Of a most
disturbing element" said the Taft
men. soberly.
This is the death of the good old
Republican party. Now for q new
party--a party OF progress" said the
defeated friends of Colonel Theodore
Roosevelt.
Such Democrats as were present
said little, but looked joyful.
Taft Forces Win Every Point.
From the day when the national
committee met to begin the hearing
of contests, the Roosevelt forces
never won point Of any moment.
With all the machinery In their con-
troll, the Taft men did not let go Of
anything that could endanger their
cause in the least. An instance Of
their clever work was the way In
which the report of the committee on
credentials was submitted to the con-
vention. 1t came in to the hall piece
meal, state or a district at time.
This enabled Chairman Root to make
the eminently fair ruling that the
delegates whose seats were involved
In each fragment Of the report should
not vote on its adoption. 1t sound
ed good, but it was perfectly safe.
On only one Of these reports was the
Taft majority reduced to a perilous
point That was the California case,
considered one of the strongest
brought up by the Roosevelt men, and
the Taft vote was 542. just two over
majority.
On most Of the reports the Roose-
welt leaders did not. demand roll
call First would ZONE the commit
tee report. Then a minority report
with motion to substitute It. Next
Chairman Root would turn to Jim
Watson of Indiana, who would rise
and move to lay the minority motion
on the table. AYE" would vote the
Taft men, stolidly. MOO" would
come the long drawn out and loud re-
Spouse Of the colonels delegates. Aid
to the footing Of steam roller"
whistles and the jeering laughter OF
the Roosevelt men would come the
chairman's high pitched "The ayes
seem to have It; the ayes have It."
Even Senator Root Smiled.
Even Senator Root himself could
not always keep straight face as
this process went on. Once coIored
delegate from Mississippi rose to q
point Of order asserting that the
steam roller was exceeding the speed
limit.
Point of order sustained" said the
chair, but will explain that we are
moving swiftly In the hope OF get
ting home for Sunday
As the rest of the show was little
but a Formally, the crowd was
mighty glad to receive this assur-
ance Of an early adjournment. But
the thousands Of spectators stuck
manfully and womanfully-th through
the long nominating speeches and the
balloting on the head OF the ticket.
For the spectators there was always
the hope Of some exciting or spectacu.
lar incident Now and then something
really did happen, and every one
jumped to his feet, as when a tire
bursts in an automobile race.
"Riot and Bloodshed."
Once there was a sudden commo-
ton in the back of the section where
the delegates were seated. All hoped
UP and how1ed, without knowing what
it was all about. Then a police lieu
tenant came past the press seats and