Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1912-06-22
SENATOR ROOT ELECTED
TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN
Taft Men Win First Blood In
Preliminary Roll Call
VOTE STOOD: ROOT 558, McCoyERN sO2

VOTE STOOD: ROOT
Chicago, June l9.-The first days
session of the Republican National
Convention closed with the selecting
of a temporary chairman, after long
struggle for supremacy between the
Roosevelt and Taft factions.
- Taft forces won the initial victory
by clecting Senator Elihu Root, OF
! New York, temporary chairman over
I after tumultuous session, In which
the Roosevelt forces lost every point
they attempted to make, preceding
the first test vote OF strength
The vote stood Root sos, McGoyern
602, with thirteen votes scattering.
few absentees and two Delegates
Root and McGoyern--not voting
Prior to the election OF Senator
Root. Governor Hadley. Of Missouri,
the Roosevelt floor leader, attempted
to have a substitute roll OF Roosevelt
delegates seated in the place of the
contested Taft delegates, but Chair.
man Rosewater ruled the motion out
the election Of Senator Root was car
ried.
Taft Mems Predictions Right.
The vote, called by individual dele.
gates. bore out the prediction of the
Taft men, who declared that Senator
Root would win, and also showed that
there had been few if any desertions
from the Taft ranks. The LaFollette
men divided their vote, thirteen going
. 10 McGoyern, their home governor,
and the others were cast for Walter
L. Houser. manager of the LaFollette
campaign; Frank Lauder, of North Da.
Rota, and Senator Gronna, of North
Dakota
During the arguments on the motion
OF Governor Hadley there were TIL.
multuous scenes, the Taft delegates
loudly cheering at each mention of
point for their side, while the Roose
welt forces were equall' noisy when
the argument was TO their advantage
At one point In the argument Senator
Bradley, of Kentucky, answered an in.
terrogator with the word liar" re-
peated three times.
Francis ]. Heney, of California, a
staunch Roosevelt supporter also was
ON his feet frequently, attacking the
seating of the contested Taft dele
% gates, and the action of the national
convention. and was cheered and
f, jeered intermittently.
r Governor Johnson, of California, an.
other Roosevelt leader, announced
that he would cast the solid vote of
the California delegation for Roose-
b, welt, but his protests were unavailing.
Chairman Rosewater raped for or.
der several times during the argu-
ments, and at one time threatened to
have all the noisemakers elected from
: the hall if quiet were not restored,
and in this he was successful, for the
delegates We're less vociferous in their
cheers and yells thereafter.
VS. Root Jeered and cheered.
Following his election, Temporary
Chairman Root was escorted to the
platform and in an address of welcome
thanked the delegates and predicted a
Republican victory at tine fall cleo
g., ton. During his address Chairman
Root was interrupted with ieers, start.
ed and led by the Pennsylvania delega- .
ton, who were joined later by other
Roosevelt adherents
Then followed the second motion OF
Governor Hadley to have the substi-
.tute roll call for the Roosevelt dele
gates to take the place of the contest.
ed Taft delegates. This was allowed
to go over as unfinished business.
..- Police Guard Coliseum.
Policemen at every corner, at every
door and in every aisle were the dis
tinguishing feature OF the scene at the
. Coliseum in the early hours before
the doors we're opened to the ticket
holders.
The nervous tension due TO general
expectation Of tumultuous scenes
from the drop Of the hat at the
upculAE u tlAE NbAAf tNLI@A as dpDdT
ent on all sides. The police were as
nervous as anybody else II was diff
cult even for persons with proper tick.
cts, Including newspaper men, to get
into the hall.
Assistant sergesnts.atarms. door.
keepers, ushers and other subordinate
officials were so keenly alive to the
possibilities that their hands tremblei
as they took tickets and the ushers
showed persons to their seats with
furtiye glances about them, as If there
were something explosive Just under
their feet.
No kind Of elOqueuce, no argument
no plausible story OF imperative bust
ness on that side Of the street was o.
any avail. Every policeman had t
be shown ticket, the right kind Of
a ticket, at the right door. There
fH-g