Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-08-08
PLATFORM is ACCEPTED AS
WRITTEN OVER BY COLONEL
Governor johnson Named for Second Place on
Ticket-Formalities Eliminated and Speeches
of Acceptance Are Heard before Party
Sings "Doxoogy" and Adjourns

Chicago. Aug. 7.-Singing Onward
Christian Soldiers" and the Battle Hymn
Of the Republic the delegates to the
first national convention Of the new Pro-
gressive party tonight acclaimed Col.
Theodore Roosevelt Of New York as their
candidate for president and Governor HI
ram w. johnson of California as their
choice for vice-presdent
Marking a new departure in the pro-
cecdings Of national conventions the two
candidates Immediately were informally
notified of their nomination and in the
midst of deafening cheers appeared be-
fore the delegates to voice their accept
ance and TO pledge their best efforts in
the coming campaign.
For several long hours during the aft
srnoon and early evening. the big throng
in the Coliseum had listened to a flow
Of oratory IN nominating and seconding
speeches in which the dominant note ex-
pressed was the belief that victory would
come 10 the new party in the November
elections. Raymond Robbins of Illinois
pledged a 100000 majority for the nation
al ticket in Illinois and clifford Pinchot
predicted a 10000 majority for Colonel
Roosevelt and Governor johnson In his
home State of PENNSYLVANIA. These state
ments were cheered to the echo.
The party formally christened itself the
Progressive party. leaving ont the prefix
national" by which It has heretofore
been known but provision was made for
the recognition Of real progressives in
any of the States by whatever name they
should be locally designated because of
State laws.
SPEECHES THE ONLY DELAY.
The convention adjourned at 7:24 p. m.
with the delegates singing 1.-The Doxol-
ogy' in lusty voice During the three
days 1t was in session there was not a
single roll call nor ballot taken. The
delegates asked no such formalit!es either
N placing their candidates in nomination
ol In voting for them. There was not a
voice Of opposition either to Colonel
Roosevelt or Governor johnson. The
delay in nominating them was due to the
large number of seconding speeches al
lowed.
AS has always been the case in national
political conventions. the bulk of the work
of the progressive gathering was carried
on in the committees. Colonel Roosevelt
worked with the subcommittee in charge
o! the platform until late this afternoon,
going over its work of the two previous
days and nights. and vigorously helping to
mould the draft which at last proved ac-
ceptable to him. The platform did not
take up the negro question.
In this connection one of the inter-
esting seconding speeches of the day
was that of +. II. Gleei, negro.
Gleed declared that the negroes had
faith In the new party; faith that 1t
would do all In its power to right the
wrongs of the race.
Miss Jane Adams Of Hull House.
Chicago. was among those who Sec
onde3 Colonel Roosevelt and she was
enthusiastically greeted The new
party formally placed itself on record
as favoring equal suffrage and fur
ther recognized the suffragist move
members at large on the national
committee.
ROOSEVELT'S ACCEPTANCE.
Colonel Roosevelt. in his speech of
acceptance, said in part.
"Mr Chairman, an1 men and women
who in this convention represent the
hIgh and honest purpose of tho people
of all of our country, l come forward
to thank you from my neart for the
honor you have conferred upon me and
to say that of course I accept. I have
been president ana l measure my
words when ] say I have seen and
known much of life. hold 1T by far
the greatest nonor and the greatest
opportunity that has ever come to me
to be called by you to the leadership
for the time being OF this great move
ment in the interests of the American
people.
"And. friends, I wish now to say
how deeply sensitive ! am to the way
In which the nomination has come tc
me and to tell those who proposed
and seconded my nomination that
appreciate TO the full the Significance
OF having such men and such woman
put me In nomination and / wish to
thank the convention for having given
ne the running mate 1t has given
"In Governor johnson we have q
man whose every word Is made good
by the deeds that he has done. The
man who as the head of "A great state
has practically applied in that state
tor the benefit OF the people Of that
State the principles which we intend
10 apply throughout the union as a
whole. We have nominated the only
type of man who ever ought to bs
nominated for the vice presidency; we
have nominated man TT at the
moment to he president OF the United
States.
"Friends, have come here merely
to thank you from the bottom of ms
heart for the honor you have Conferred
upon me and to say that I appreciate
It exactly as know you meant H.
-AaaA &isRaaA wttA ~ Wx AAart ~