The Sentinel=record., 1912-06-19
TAFT LEADERS OVERLOOKED AT WINNING FIRST CLASH IN
 NATIONAL CONVENTION.
ROOSEVELT SMILES HAPPILY
First Session Said to Insure Roose- velt'c Nomination-Teddy
 Directs Fight Personally

Chicago, June NIT m better war rior than a prophet" said Colonel Roosevelt when he was asked his opinion of the outcome of the convent ion. That was all he would say to- night.
 MT. Roosevelt directed his own bat. tie in the convention hall over a tele- phone wire. Hidden away in a room in his hotel, he spent most of the time with a receiver at his ear. listen ing to reports of his lieItenants and issuing orders in person. He was seen only once or twice during the day as he hurried through the corridors. lie waved his hand and smiled at the peo- pie. who cheered him, and appeared to be as vigorous as the day he left Oyster Bay.
 The wire over which Colonel Roose- velt gave his directions was specially installed and had no connection with any switchboard. Arrangements were made so that no person other than Colonel Roosevelt and the man at the Coliseum end of the wire coulI over hear the conversation. When the con- vention had adjourned the Roosevelt leaders hastened back and began q series of conferences with their chief, which extended late into the night.
 Colonel Rooseyelt's associates pre- dicted confidently that the fight would be won although they guarded care fully the plans for tomorrow, which were framed at tonight's conferences. They had with them tables of figures based on today's developments which showed to their satisfaction that they could not be beaten Colonel Roose- welt. they said, after they had seen him, was pleased with the showing male oil the first day
 After the dinner hour, a throng des- cended on the Roosevelt headquarters By 3 o'clock, the corridors and the lobby of the hotel were filled with a solid, struggling mass of men and women. Police reserves were rushed to the place, but they could do little to move the crowd. The rear stair ways, servants elevators, and even the fire escapes. were thrown open, but if was almost impossible for one who was caught in the crowd to move abont
 In the hall of the Roosevelt head quarters, the crowl was kept in lively spirits with band concert, impromptu orators, who prophesied victory with out a doubt, and a quartette whitx sang a song entitled "Steamroller Bill'' amid great chears.
 When the crush became so great as to he perilous, the hall was cleared and then began secret caucus of Roosevelt delegates and alternates. Colonel Roosevelt passed through the corridor from his rooms to his office with the aid of his squad of strong men. He fought his way through the struggling, cheering throng as though he enjoyed the tussle, and finally es- capped through a doorway into the council chamber in which Senator Dixon. Governor Hadley, Governor Stubbs, Senator Borah and others of his leaders were awaiting him
 It was explained by an old friend of the colonel that the secret of his ability to endure hard work is that he does not worry. During few spare minutes which he was able to have, he told with delight a story to the effect that when he went to Africa, Wall Street was hoping that every lion would do it's duty"