The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-06-19

When there came lull, the speaker
put in this one:
oh, you can't embarrass me by
cheering for Roosevelt. / shouted for
him for seven years"
Then some one was recognized by. the
chair down among the delegates, and
man was boosted up on the platform
who made a vigorous speech for La
Toilette.
This man made it clear and unmis-
takably felt that no matter what hap
pened the wise delegates would vote
for La Toilette. first, last and always.
and go down to defeat, If necessary,
crying his name.
And this man nominated as temper
airy chairman Governor McGoyern of
Wisconsin. Both the Taft and Roose-
welt delegates seemed to feel kindly
towards La Toilette evidently consid-
ering that he was of no consequence
one way or the other, and they wanted
to treat him respectfully and give him
his little twenty minutes in court
Then came Governor Hadley again,
tall. spare and sinewy, and speaking
straight to the point, ending UP with a
small sized oratorical bomb when. in
stead of nominating Senator Borah as
the Rooseveltian candidate for temper
airy chairman, the governor seconded
the nomination of the delegate from
Wisconsin.
The First Surprise.
This evidently came as a complete
surprise to the convention. 1t was the
only thing, thus far that was not down
on the program and thoroughly I'M
derstood Even the Roosevelt dele
gates, / noticed, turned to each other
and made inquiries as to what this all
meant. Had Roosevelt gone over to
La Toilette, or had La Follette-God
bless my SOUL
Then came Pennsylvania and an old
political vvi% riT7c
vcice-but unmistakable in it's intent
declared Pennsylvania sixty-five in
structed delegates voted for McGovern
as temporary chairman.
Teddy had compromised. He was
not ready to test his strength in the
convention and the belief of everybody
was that the LaFolIette delegates
were going to stick through to their
colors and go down to defeat voting
for the man with the pompadour. For
whatever LaFollette is, he is not a
trimmer. Stubbornness is his long
suit.
Roosevelt had come over to the La
Toilette side. And with McGovern as
presiding officer. the Roosevelt forces
could not, certainly, storm the citadel
of power.
The crisis has been passed.
If this fight were to be won on
noise. threat. bombast and caloric. it |
would have been all over last Satur- |
day when Bombastes Furioso arrived |
and made his speech to the waiting |
multitude at the lake front
The noise was tried, all right, but it
didn't work. But that does not mean |
the extinction of T. R.-not the
slightest.
But neither Elihu Root nor Cover |
nor McGovern would allow that gavel |
to be snatched out of the hands of him |
to whom it had been entrusted by |
orderly, parliamentary procedure of
the convention.
Theodore Roosevelt is a very wise |
man. He will go just as far as he can, |
but he, above all men, will not go |
further than the people will back him |
And this time he receded and saved |
his political life alive. His strength |
is still in doubt.
If he goes down to defeat it will be |
defeat with honor, or at least what he |
considers honor.
1t Is a Taft Audience.
Several of the men who obtained the |
floor began to talk about thievery, |
bribery. corruption, hand-picked dele
Missed and hooted them |
down. They did not help their cause. |
1t is Taft audience and the people |
who have seats in the Coliseum real |
ize to whom they are debtors for the |
favors conferred.
If there is any thievery, brigandage |
and holdups in the proceedings of this |
convention, it is all according to law.
al Tics anu
ploitation would do well to consult |
their attorneys before making any di-
rect move. If any stealing has been
going on, it is according to the code
laid down, fully understood and back
ed up by legal precedents.
He who steals illegally is a mon
keys hind foot.
No blood, so far has been split, and
on the points Taft seems to have the
best of the bout.
Progress has been made, but the end