The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1912-06-28

that he did not approve the platform,
and II he We're nominated for presl-
dent, no would not bind himself to
make the race standing upon all the
planks selected by the committee.
But Mr.. Ia Toilette was not nominal.
ed.
Thursday and Friday were not very
interesting days in the convention
hall. On those days the work was be-
ing done In committee rooms and no.
tel conferences. Each night some rad
Ical plan would be fixed up and the
next day It would be abandoned.
First it was a bolt Of all the Roose.
welt delegates. Then 1t was a double
convention. And again 1t was a pol
icy of silent non participation. There
was no bolt; there was only one con-
ton, there was nothing that even re.
motely resembled silence except the
refusal to vote on the final ballots by
the Colonel's stanchest adherents.
Rosewater Prompt, But
Victor Rosewater, who as chairman
Of the national committee called the
convention to order, was only three
minutes late in pounding out with hts
gavel the announcement that the show
vas about to begin. The Omaha man
looked pitifully small and weak, and
could not make himself heard ten feet
away from the platform. For fifteen
minutes confusion reigned, and the
chairman was unable to quell 1t. A
little later, when the Roosevelt adher-
ents were making their first fight by
seeking to substitute their W tenn.
porary roll for that prepared by the
national committee, Mr.. Rosewater
plpod feebly until some one shouted,
Speak up, little boy Then he sue
cumbed to the roar of laughter and let
a clerk read his rulings.
1t was no easy job keeping the great
crowd in order. for while the dele
gates themselves were mostly grim
and tense. apparently imbued with the
idea that they were making history"
there were numerous skillfully placed
claQues in the galleries which inter-
rupted the speakers at frequent inter.
walls.
One man there was who was not
subject to ribald Interruptions and
jeers. That was Governor Hadley Of
Missouri, the Roosevelt field captain,
Whenever he arose he was accorded
respectful attention and often hearty
applause, for even his political enc.
mics couldn't think up weak spots in
his record with which to taunt him.
"Bill" Finn, another Roosevelt
fighter, was not so fortunate, but he
seemed to like the storm that ragged
about him and did not give an inch
until squelched by the gayel. Senator
Bradley Of Kentucky, too, came in for
n share of "boos" and Kisses and was
stirred to rage by many illusions to
the fact that he had voted In favor OF
LOrimer,
"Helnie" Cochems In Action.
The little furry in the Wisconsin
delegation, caused by Mr.. Houser's as,
sertion that the delegation would not
support Governor McGovern for TEN,
porary chairman, gave "Heinie' Coch.
ems a chance to show some Of the
spirit which used to take him through
an opposing football eleven. Coch.
ems had placed McGoveru in nomi,
nation, and all had gone swimmiugly
until Houser got up and protested that
La Toilette would not enter into any
combination with any other candidate
and therefore the Wisconsin dele
gates should not support the Badger
governor, who was the choice Of the
Roosevelt forces.
Up jumped "Heinie' and. being
given two minutes, explained that the
Wisconsin delegation in caucus haG
split on the question, but that he, as
an individual La Toilette delegate, hat
presented McGovern's name. But
shouted Cochems, sQuaring his jaw
II dare any progressive delegate from
Wisconsin to vote for Root" And hi
made good, for when the ballot was
taken thirteen Badgers voted for thu
governor and the other thirteen spill
up their votes among North Dakota
men and Mr.. Houser
Wild Demonstration for Hadley.
Hadley was the man OF the seconC
days session--Hadley of Missouri, HI
had stepped forward to speak in sup
port of Governor Deneen's motion
which was designed to prevent the Il
contested delegates voting on theil