The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1912-06-28

A4oAlA-
ination at the hands of the Republican
convention for the asking. Twenty
minutes later the delegates, won by
the caprices of a woman, were wildly
cheering for Colonel Roosevelt and
seemed to the casual observer anxious
to present the gift to him. In just
half an hour later, however, the same
delegates, exhausted from cheering
and through with spontaneous enthusi-
assn, were back in line with the Taft
machine.
They voted as they did Tuesday,
almost to a man. The one notable ex.
ception to this was that the Hawaiian
delegation switched it's six votes from
the Roosevelt side to President Taft.
The one vote of the day showed the
strength of the Taft forces to be 564
and that of the combined opposition
to be $40.
Test Vote Taken.
The test vote was on a motion to
table an amendment made by Govern
or Deneen of Illinois, the motion of
James E. Watson.
Under the amendment the Illinois
governor had hoped to prevent certain
contested delegates from participating
in the temporary organization of the
convention. This would have left the
Roosevelt forces in control of the con
vention. The then sane delegates re.
fused to do this, however. When the
convention adjourned for the night it
left the followers of the president ap.
parently exactly six votes stronger
than they had been when the night
adjournment came the previous night.
The spark that set the convention
on fire was dropped by the merest
chance by James E. Watson, floor lead
err for the Taft contingent, while OPP
posing Governor Hadley's motion.
Mr.. Watson's Sally.
Il do not believe that the conven-
right of the contested delegates to
hold their seats here, even if it's mem
bers knew the merits of the cases,
which they do not" said Mr.. Watson.
why, do you know that even Gov
ernor Hadley favors passing the whole
question on to the credentials com-
mittee. with certain reservations"
Governor Hadley, who was standing
near Chairman Root, back of Mr.. Wat.
son, showed that he did not agree with
this statement. He started to inter-
rupt the speaker to say so, but decided
not to do SO.
Meanwhile, this. little by-play had
not beer lost on the delegates. They
wanted to hear the explanation of the
Missouri executive and they made
known their wants in a vOciferous
and Governor Hadley advanced down
the platform to make his explanation.
Vent to Pent-up Yearn.
What, followed may have been be-
cause it was the psychological moment
for a demonstration or because the
long-pent-up feelings of the delegates
refused to be suppressed longer.
At any rate a storm of applause
greeted the Roosevelt leader. Like all
storms, it began in distant rumblings
that increased in volume until it
seemed that the roof of the Coliseum
would be lifted from it's iron sup
ports.
Delegate after delegate, state after
state, was struck by the nOise-making
mania and it seemed that nobody
could make noise enough to express
his feelings. Men who at first had
only cheered began to leap up and
down in their places. Then these de
cided to have a real convention demon
stration, which cannot be had without
marching about the building, hands or
shoulders, perspiring, shouting, waving
state signs and in other ways actins
like men bereft of their reason.
The convention was called to order
shortly after II a. m. with Senator
Elihu Root, elected temporary chair
man, presiding. Governor Hadley re
newed his motion for the %unseating O
the contested Taft delegates and three
hours were allotted for debate
Among those who had been heard vi
to 2 p. m. we're Governor Hadley, Sen
ator Hemenway, Henry J. Allen o
Kansas, w. T. Dovell Of Seattle, ant
, George E. Record of New Jersey.
/ Band Gives Concert.
The Coliseum was a sea of empt.
chairs at $50 a. M, when the band
in it's perch near the foor, struck tn
, opening note of the morning concert
5 A file of policemen came in through
5 side door, stepping lively to the marcl
time. The bluecoated guardians too
2 their places across the front OF tn
4 hall, where the line held back surgin