The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-09-07
IA STIRRING SPEECH MADE
New Yorker Nominated By "Suspende,
Jack" and the Delegates Received
Nomination With Hilarious
Unanimity.

4
the nominee for governor of the Pro
gressive party by stampeded conven'
ltion yesterday afternoon.
Mr. Straus' nomination came about
under circumstances that were not only
unexpected but dramatic. The former
icabinet member, acting as the conven-
ito entertain motion from former Lieut.
IGov. Timothy L. Woodruff to expedite
1.-THE roll call on the nomination of State
Chairman William H. Hotchkiss and
Comptroller William A. Prendergast OF
New York for governor, when a delegate
from New York county leaped to his
lchair and demanded that he be heard.
"lt's 'Suspender jack Niece" cried
Ia voice from the gallery. Chairman
IStraus looked puzzled. McGee, who got
his name In the Indian country by rid
ling broncho into camp with suspenters
fused as reins, moved resolutely toward
the platform.
! 'rhey say I'm crazy, but I know
what I'm doing he cried as he swung up
the platform steps.
Chairman Straus looked with surprise
ION the man, who with a flaming ban
dana swathed around his neck and his
icoat blazing with badges, tossed his
rough rider hat on the floor and de-
manded the right to make nomina-
tion.
who do you wish to nominate" asked
Chairman Straus, but Mc1ee gave only
meaningless shake of his head while
| the delegates, irritated at what they
deemed only an interruption at a mo-
ment when the convention was about
| TO lock arms on a vote for Prender-
CAST and Hotchkiss, cried "Put him
tout" But McGee stuck to bis pur-
pose and in a husky voice insisted on
speaking.
@You may have but Ave minutes"
said Mr.. Straus impatiently glancing at
his watch.
~ want ten insisted McGee
Delegates and spectators booed and
5eered as he began TO speak. There
was general laugh when he cried:
name will bring tears of sympathy to
the eyes of almost every man and wom-
an The civilized land" but "Suspendef
Jack only waved his arm in defiance
Iof the jeers.
Chairman Straus turned to Mr.. Chad
bourne. who had placed Mr.. Hotchkiss
in nomination, and asked: 'FWhat does
he mean to dor"
Chadbourne, too, was non-plussed and
thought the speaker might be perpetrat-
ing some joke. Then came the climax
when delegate cried "Name your
man."
McGee paused but a moment and then
cried.
II nominate the illustrious and Hon.
Oscar s, Strauss
The delegates seemed stunned and then
a few of them cheered. Mr.. Strauss
gave an amused laugh at "Suspender
Jack" bowing before him. McGee Kept
on with his speech and the first few
faint cheers from the half a dozen or
more delegates gradually grew into a
pandenionium of sound that swept the
convention hall from one end to the |
other, The standards were wrenched |
from their supports and delegates yell
ing and cheering for Chairman Straus,
paraded the aisles.
All was confusion in the ball. Chair
man Straus at first shook his hand de-
at the growing ovation. He !
turned to his friends and remarked
"This must not be, / cannot accept"
State Chairman Hotchkiss left his seat
among the delegates and rushed to the
platform, placing his hands on Mr.,
Straus' shoulders and said: "You must
accept, you must accept. All the dele
gates are for yoaP
Meanwhile there was a press of deie-
gstes to the platform to urge Mr.. StFaus
70 make tbs decision, Then Mr.. Hotch.
kiss burst from the group that sur
rounded Mr.. Straus and held up be-
fore the crush of excited delegates III
the aisle ways a sheet of yellow pa.
per on which was written: "He accepts =
the delegates and spectators
passed back tbs word of Mr.. Straus'
and another demonstration
followed.
Chairman Hotchliiss asked the priv
1ege Of the convention TO act as per-
manPnt chairman in place OF Mr.. Straus.
The Ropipation ef Mr.. HotchiSiss for
governor was withdrawn by John q.
who moved to make M I
straus pomination unanimous. But
here were other delegates who demand
a to be heard and Mr. Woodruff said
hat in ths absence OF Mr.. Prendergast he
would take il upon himself to withdraw (
lis naIra and IL doing SO be felt tha.
". Preadergast would concur in hiss '
tction. With the names of M-. Prem
'ergast and Mr.. Hotchkiss withdrawn.
here was food Of seconding speeches
Il the nomins tion of former minister to
Turkey.
"Snspender jack MCGEE was not lost
light Of in the enthusiasm. Delegates
lressed about him on the convention !
loor and proclaimed him The man of
he hour" Later the convention passed [
vote OF thanks to McGee for nominal 5
ng Mr. Straus.
"Suspender jack MefSee came back {
2 his hotel here last night. He and y
Governor Hiram johnson of California. !
ice presidential candidate ON the Pro- J
ressive party ticket, shook hands and
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