The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1912-06-20
CONVENTION OPENS
IN FIRST SKIRMISH AT REPUBIl
CAN NATIONAL coNvEN.
TON TAFT WINS
FIGHT NOW ON OVER CHAIRMAN
Coliseum Filled to overfIowing-Hun
dreds or Policemen on Duty to Pre-
serve Order-chairma Ruled All
Motions by Roosevelt Men Out.

Convention Hail, Chicago, June Is.
With policemen at every corner, at
every door and in every aisle the
doors of the Coliseum were opened
10 ticket holders at 1916 o'clock.
The nervous tension due to general
expectation of tumultuous scenes
"frcm the drop Of the hat at the
opeoins of the Republican national
convention was very apparent on all
sides, TIE police were as nervous as
anybody else.
1t was difficult even for people with
proper tickets, including newspaper
men, to get into the hail. Assistant
sergeant-at-arms, doorkeepers, ushers
and other subordinate officials were so
keenIy alive to the possibilities that
their hands trembled as they took
tickets and ushers showed the spec
tators their seats with furtive glances
about them, as if there were some
thing explosive just under their feet.
Then the Band Struck Up.
The band was in it's place by $3.50,
far up in it's aerie above the gallery
at the north end of the hall opposite
the platform. The first notes OF its
music echoed among the steel Orders
in the great hall. BY the time the
doors were opened at 10 o'clock, two
hours before the convention was to
come to order, the crowd outside had
become pretty dense. but the police
kept the people moving. No kind OF
eloquence, no argument, no plausible
story of imperative business on that
side of the street, was OF any avail
Every policeman has to be shown
a ticket the right kind OF ticket. at
the right door. There were Chicago
politicians who had not been able to
get tickets, but who though they had
a pull" No sort of pull-no sort
of pull-no sort of local pull, at any
rate, was Of any use.
Precisely at 1902 o'clock Victor
Rosewater, chairman Republican Ma
tional Committee, called the conven-
ton to order. The national air THE
Star Spangled Banner" played by an
immense band, brought the past as
semblage to it's feet. After an invo-
cation by Father ]. P. Callahan, Gov
ernor Hadley of Missouri submitted
the Roosevelt roll as substitute for
that of the national committee. Ex-
Governor James Watson of Indiana
raised a point of order that the con-
vention must organize first. Chair
man Rosewater upheld Mr.. Watson.
the ruling permitting to each side
twenty minutes in which to debate
the question. Governor Hadley and
Ex-Governor Fort of New Jersey ar
gued holly for motion. Their speeches
aroused enthusiasm. Serene B. Payne
of New York and Mr. Watson replied
and were also cheered.
At 1874 o'clock there was great
confusion. Policemen. were sent to
different delegations to restore order.
Silence was brought about at y: Is
o'clock and fash photograph taken.
Chair ruled all out of order and
presented the name of Elhu Root for
temporary chairman. Henry F. Coch.
ems of Wisconsin presented the name
of Governor McGovern.
John Hedges of New York, easily
the most brilliant speaker in the En-
pire state delegation, caught the
| crowd with a few humorous remarks
and seconded the nomination of Root.
At the first mention of Roots name
the Taft people jumped to their feet.
The entire New York delegation
| climbed en- their seats and an old
| fashioned cheering bee was started
Wisconsin Back of McGovern.
Senator Borah announced an hour
before the convention assembled that
not himself would be the Roosevelt
candidate for temporary chairman.
That decision was reached at a con-
ference which Colonel Roosevelt had
with his leaders before they left for
the Coliseum.
| Governor Hadley seconded the nom
ination of McGovern. Governor John
son of California seconded the nomi
nation of McGovern and announced
that California would cast twenty-siS
votes for McGovern. Cheers and
Kisses greeted this announcement.
That Wisconsin would support Gov
ernor McGovern for temporary chair
man was announced by H. F. Cochems
Cochems placed Senator La Toilette
in nomination four years ago.
Cochems' voice was loud enough tt
be heard everywhere as he declared
that he was an individual delegate
from Wisconsin and progressive WHIT
wanted to nominate man whose
"republicanism was unquestioned
whose face was toward the light"
Il present the name Of the brilliant
impartial, and fearless governor @
my state. Francis E. McGovern."
1t appeared from the outburst o
cheers and applause during the after
noon that the public galleries wer
nearly soldily proTaft. On the floor
however. it seemed to be pretty even
lv dividod Roth Taft and R00covol