The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-06-19
The BATTLE is ON
Ebert Hubbard Discusses the
Opening of Convention.
MarveIs at the Machinelike
Precision.
NO CHANCE FOR A RIOT
Great Care Taken to Preserve
Order.
Drunken Men Not Admitted TO
the Hall.
(By Gilbert Hubbard.)

The arrangements were perfect
Like the Jealous salesman who was
kicked down stairs, no matter what
your political preferences you could
not but admire the system.
There was 10 jam at the doors. and
none in the streets.
Half a square before you reached
the hall you were gently detained by
men in blue, who evidently had receiv-
ed orders to be courteous and keep
their tempers above all things.
These men asked Can we be of SER
vice to you?
You might have supposed they had
been reading Sheldon on Salesman
ship.
tickets.
Then they directed you where to en-
ter.
There were enough policemen. 90
they kept the crowd we'll back, SO
there was no jostle within the sacred
precinct At the doors you were
again carefully looked over.
Parties with a smell of liquor on
them or a suspicion of firearms, never
tickets, the pasteboards were politely
declared irregular or counterfeit:
I saw two men from 1.-THE Prov
inces" who were needlessly CONVERSE
tional, walking arm in arm These
men were gently but firmly turned
back, after the patrolman had called
the captain.
The men had tickets all right. but
the parties were in a condition where
they might make a needless amount
of noise: and the noise of this conven-
ton must be harmonious. That is to
saw there must be no shouting off key.
The vibrations must be inspired py
political enthusiasm and not by mere
vulgar booze.
The policemen had no clubs in sight.
They were white gloved. Their shoes
were shined. They were clean snaV-
en-, brushed and groomed. They were
picked men-not too old, not absurdiy
young.
And so the throng passed quietly
into the great building, and at every
aisle were more policemen.
Then there were lady pohceihe.n
who asked the ladies to remove their
hats and be careful about hat pins:
II was a throng of which America
might we'll be proud. There WASH
a. moor man in sight-certainly not
poor devil; Every yi.esS was wsii
The proletarist. the -sansculotle'
the plebeian, the agrarian, were not III
evidence. Tickets were worth $40
apiece. 1t was grand onera crowd.
If there was any one with elbows
slightly shiny, they were in the space
set anart for delegates, not among the
visitors.
The day was perfect. The sky was
blue. and a cool. refreshing breeze came
purling in from the lake.
Moved With Precision.
At exactly high noon-I trust I use
the right phrase-there was a pan
tomimic presentation of gaVel, and
a little speech by Victor RoseWater:
which no one hearo eAcepIihS eHe
Then came an invocation, brief ano
short ending with the Lords prayer
evidently the clergyman who ofnciateo
in this capacity expected that the
crowd would join in with him IN tns
oniIogue But he had to plough
t tpr.vS alone. and at the end rip
nile of mild, sardonic laughter ran over
the convention.
The atmosphere was tense with sup
pressed excitement.
A line of helmeted policemen stood
solid between the platform and tnc
audience.
At the intersection of every aisle
stood notice in twos. Interpreted with
these were officers in plain clothes, Out
with badges in sight.
The notice had evidently been thor
oughly instructed. Everything IN tne
line was to be suppressed INSTANTLY
and quickly, too.
IF three men, delegates or visitors.
happened to move in certain Director
together, a policeman pushed IN De-
tween them and accidentally stopped
their progress.
No Opnortunity for Riot.
No riot could possibly have started
and all that talk about some one rush
ing M and Selling the gavel, or two
being held at the same
time. was an impossibility-
Little Victor Rosewater was hanging
right on to the safety valve of the
steam roller. Victor certainly COM
handed the admiration of every on
Ioo,ze-.
The whole program was well lubrica-
ted.
reached the stenographers. named
E;Iihu Root as temporary chairman OF
The convention, Governor Hadiey, ten
feet away arose and was recognized
by the chair.
Governor Hadley carried his manu-
script in hand, but he mad his speech
in his mind. He was dig
1ified, strong, earnest, and not riotous.
His language was that of a Chester
field. Missouri certainly should have
been proud of him, and whoever put |
him forward as a spokesman for the
forces. has wisdom incar. |
nate.
This vast assemblage was in no mood |
for rough talk or rough action. If
any rough riders were here, they wore |
white waistcoats and had their trousers |
freshly creased. |
And so Governor Hadley made his |
plea that the delegates assembled had
no right to appoint a temporary chair |
man.
The case was argued in 20 minute |
speech and Victor Rosewater, without
vinking an eyebrow, voted the revolu-
tionaries down and out and announced |
that the question of the Craftsmanship
was before the house.
Job Hodges did himself proud, and
got the first laugh by quoting the high |
est authority that could be brought as |
to Roots character and qualifications
Roosevelt.