The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1912-08-09
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MEET TO LAUNCH
new THIRD PARTY
Roosevelt Supporters Open
Convention in Chicago.
Delegates to National Progressive
Meeting in Introductory Session
Choose Albert j. Beverage
Temporary Chairman.

The first national convention, held
in Chicago, of the National Progress
sive party was called to order in the
Coliseum at noon by Senator Joseph
M. Dixon of Montana, head of the
provisional National Progressive COM
mittee.
After a prayer, Ex-senator Albert
J. Beveridge of Indiana was chosen
temporary chairman, and made the
keynote speech.
Now the bull moose will fiatten his
antlers and make his getaway in the
race against the elephant and the
donkey.
There will be none Of the difficult
ties in picking rider for the latest
addition to the menagerie of political
symbols that attended the selection
of a mahout for the pachyderm at the
Republican convention in June and OF
a driver for the Democratic burro at
Baltimore. Compared with the Repub-
Iican and Democratic conventions the
National Progressive convention will
be more or less of cut-and-dried af-
fair, devoid of dissensiOn and fights.
But a new party is not born every
day, and the formal launching Of the
third party will be attended with much
of the spectacular. 1t will undCubted-
" be one of the most vociferous con-
ventions in political history and for
the next two days the Coliseum will
echo with the same tumult and en-
thusiaSm that filled the FlOrentine
room of the Congress hotel in June.
When the delegates were called to
order the question of who is to be
Theodore Roosevelt's running mate
was almost the only matter of i'm
portance not decided upon before
hand.
Colonel Roosevelt has expressed
desire that the second place go to a
southern Democrat, with the idea of
strengthening the ticket In case this
plan is followed General Luke E.
Wright of Memphis, who was secre-
tary of war in Roosevelt's cabinet, is
considered a strong probability. An
other southern Democrat who was
considered is John M. Parker of New
Orleans. However, Mr.. Parker de-
clared himself out of it and avowed
that the chief matter in which he
would interest himself in the conven-
ton would be to make the new third
party a white mans party" in the
south.
If it is decided to make an Feast and
west" ticket instead of an least and
south" ticket, Governor Hiram w.
Johnson of California is most promi-
nentIy under consideration. He de-
clares that he will not seek the nom
nation, but among the delegates, who
regard him as a second edition Of
Roosevelt, the sentiment is strongly
in favor of placing him in second
place. 1t is argued, however, that
Roosevelt is so strong in the west that
it would not strengthen the ticket to
pick a westerner for running mate,
while by giving the position to a
southern Democrat, the ticket would
gain popularity in the south, region
L
ing to make a great fight.
Mr.. Roosevelt came to the city from
New York on the Twentieth Century
limited. Nearly all the state dele
cations had representatives at the
station to meet him. The official re-
ception party was made up of Chaun-
cey Dewey, sergeant at arms of the
convention; Governor Hiram Johnson
of California, James R. Garfield,
Frank H. Funk nominee for governor;
Ralph Otis, La Verne w. Noyes, Oscar
Hundley. Senator Poindexter, Medill
McCO mick and Senator J. Nj. Dixon,
Roosevelt's manager.
There were several hundred persons
lined along Jackson boulevard and
Michigan avenue to whom Roosevelt
continually waved his hat as he was
driven to the Congress hotel in an