The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1912-04-16
SENDS MILITIA
To CONVENTION
Governor Osborn Criticised For
His Action
.OElEGATES IN UGLY MOOD

Meeting Of Michigan Republicans TO
Select Delegates,at-Large to Chi
cago Convention Pugilistic Affair.
Taft Supporter Knocks Roosevelt
Adherent From Stage, Man Is
Thrown Into Street and Pandemo.
MUM Eeigrs.
Bay City, Mich, April 12.-At the
Republican state convention blows
were struck, and one man tainted in
the terrible crush at the door of the
convention hall. Practically the
whole session was so fraught with
wild noises that not any per-
son in the hall could do much
more than guess what transpired
without asking the convention direc-
tors. Taft and Roosevelt men rush
| ed at each other with livid faces and
free-for-all fight was only prevent
| ed by the presence Of the militia
and police.
Out OF this pandemonium was
made national history. Two COM
plete delegations to the national con-
vention. one for Roosevelt, the other
for Taft, were chosen. Two conven-
| tions strove for possession of the
same hall, and both succeeded in
staying to the limit Of the proceed
ings it had mapped out
Judging from the usually accepted
criterion, which convention is vouch-
ed for by the chairman Of the party
organization, the Roosevelt conven-
tion seems to have been the regular
one and the Taft convention the
rump. The situation is complicated,
however, by the, fact that while
State Chairman Knox and 10 men,
bers of the state central committee
contended from the Roosevelt side. a
majority OF the convention, number
meeting. -
The big fight of the convention
was to get the Wayne delegation
into the hall. The sergeant-atarms
was called upon and he finally pre-
vailed. Every Roosevelt man from
Wayne was barred out. Only Taft
men were admitted.
Amid a scene of wild disorder ere
ated when the state convention
opened, w. d. Gordon of Midland, a
Roosevelt delegate, was thrown head
long eff the platform by Jack F
Creemer of Marquette, Taft worker
when he leaped to the stage and at
tempted to address the convention.
y Thrown From Platform.
/ Gordon tumbled over the press
tables and landed on his head on the
door, overturning dozen busily
writing newspaper men. A dozen oi
his friends jumped TO the stage ant
pulled Creemer to the floor, but ht
was Immediately surrounded by g
number of his own friends, who KEEP
Gordon partisans from beating him
Mayor George Ellis of Grand Rap
ids, who refused TO show his creden
tials at the inner door, was thrown
bodily out on the street
Policemen and militiamen at this
juncture took charge Of the stage
and the front of the hall and forced
back more than 100 men who were
clamoring to engage in the fight
Shouting, cursing, pushing and rush
ing back and forth, the delegates pu
the convention in turmoil and al
attempts to quiet them seemed use
less. Policemen brandishing thei
chairman tried in vain to make him
self heard.
When the Wayne county Taft del
; egation attempted to enter the hal
5 they were MET by a squad of nation
al guardsmen, who refused to ALLOW
; them to enter. They retired to al
5 adjoining grove and Indignantly de
e nounced Governor Osborn for cal
ing out the militia"
The Roosevelt convention selecte,
the following delegates-at-large Il
the Chicago convention: Governo
= Chase S. Osborn Charles A. Nichols
y Detroit; Sybrant Wesselius, Gram
l. Rapids; Theodore Nj. Joslin, Adrian
w. d. Gordon, Midland; Herbert +
Boughey Grand Traverse.
Taft delegatesat-large. John I
!. Mackay, Detroit; Captain William G
Richards, Crystal Falls; William JUG
son, Grand Rapids; George B. MOI
ley. Saginaw; Eugene Fifield, Ba
City; Fred A. Diggens, Saginaw.