Bridgeton pioneer., 1912-07-04
An Impression of Roosevelt.


Mr.. White spoke humorously Of Mr..
Roosevelt's appearance at that time.
1--WE used to call men who dressed
stylishly in those days dudes," he said.
although Mr.. Roosevelt was utterly
careless about it, he wore a straw hat
with a soiled blue ribbon and a red
necktie. 1t was evident, however, that
there was a great deal in him. Mr..
Roosevelt took an active part in the
proceedings naturally. He introduced
committee and chaffed and joked with
them amiably.
"At the next moment when the com,
mittee was in session he would be at
their throats. He was on good terms
with them. but when there was busi-
was his influence that forced Mr..
Platt off the national committee.
1.-THE New York delegation decided
to support Senator Edmunds of Yer
mont, man of the highest ability and
character. The Massachusetts delega-
ton also determined to support Mr..
Edmunds.
Senator Edmunds, however, did not
wish to be a candidate. He could not
be induced to take part in the move
ment against Blaine. An effort was
made to persuade General Sherman to
allow his name to be used, but that
old warrior laughed and declared: 4
am not fit for it. l told Grant he was
not fit for it and should never have
taken it,"
One of DR.. Whites vivid impressions
of this convention was that for the
first time he saw the big convention
crowds, the vast army Of spectators.
the packed galleries and their attempts
to dominate the convention. He thinks
such conventions are not democratic.
that the delegates and substitutes are
far outnumbered by the crowds and
that the convention frequently ceases
to be a deliberative body. He saw men
and women standing on chairs shrek
ing Historically.
"Such conditions are unworthy of
convention of a great party" he said
land they bring discredit upon us
abroad. Compared to the two earlier
conventions, this convention Of 1884
did not impress me. Those conven-
tions were masters Of themselves. This
one was mastered by a crowd which
had no business to be there at ALL
T. R. Was Bound to Be Heard.
LAS we came into the convention on
the morning of the day fixed for nomi-
nations l noticed the portraits of
Washington and Lincoln, previously on
each side Of the presidents chair, had
been removed. spoke to Curtis about
it, and he replied: Yes 1 have noticed
it, and 1 am glad of it. Those weary
eyes of Lincoln might have been upon
me here during our whole stay, and
l am glad they are not to see the work
that is to be done here today
81 think the best speech of the con
vention was made by Governor Long
Of Massachusetts. 1t was one of the
best nominating speeches l have ever
heard. But in spite of all we could
then came the nomination of vice pres
ident. The mob packed the galleries and
demanded General Logan of Illinois,
DR.. White did not think Mr.. Logan
was suitable and cast his vote for his
old student at Cornell university, Jo-
seph B. Foraker. That was the only
vote Mr.. Foraker got.
DR.. White recalled an incident that
occurred when Mr.. Roosevelt tried to
make speech against Mr. Logan. He
was in small minority, and the mob
was bent on bowling him down. Un
daunted, he mounted bench and stood
waiting. The mob yelled "Sit down.
sit DOWN.
"They might as well have tried to
howl down bronze statue" declared
DR.. White. "He was there to say some
thing, and he said it. After a lone
time the mob quieted down, and Mr..
Roosevelt delivered his sDeech."