The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1912-06-28
PROCEEDINGS OF THE SECOND DAY.

III Lne DOX reserved IOr SpcCldI
guests there were several early ar.
rivals. At 10 a. m, an hour before
the time for opening the session, less
than two hundred spectators we're in
the hall and but eight of the delegates
were present. Although the CONVEX
ton faced the real struggle of the
Roosevelt leaders to obtain control of
the permanent roll Of delegates. there
was a noticeable lack of excitement
or enthusiasm about the convention
hall.
James D. Preston. in charge of the
press section in the convention hall,
came in with a big bundle of mail in
his hand.
THE Coliseum postmaster wanted
me to help him get out the newspaper.
mems mail" he said. "Its all for one
reporter-William Jennings Bryan"
CIapp Is an Early Arrival.
Senator Moses e. Clapp of Mime
sofa, one of the Roosevelt delegates
at-large from that state, was an early
arrival at his place on the convention
floor.
Soon after Chairman Root had ar.
rived on the platform he was hanked
on one side by Governor Hadley. the
Roosevelt leader. and on the other by
James Watson of the Taft forces. AS
a preliminary to the days expected
hostilities all three shook hands and
retired to their corners"
Governor Hadley and Watson ar
ranged for an equal division of the
three hours debate that was to be al
lowed on the Roosevelt proposition to
substitute a roll containing ninety-two
Roosevelt delegates in place of ninety
two Taft followers seated by the ma
tional committee.
Before calling the convention to
order Chairman Root and the other
officers of the convention posed for a
series of pictures. This helped to de-
lay matters several minutes beyond
the scheduled hour, II a. m. At hat
time many delegates seats still were
vacant.
When CALIFORNIA; delegation ap-
peared it again bore the banners
which were barred from the hall pre-
viously. The sergeant-at-arms forced
the removal of the flags, leaving only
the poles surmounted by the gilt Cali
fornia bears.
Roosevelt Leaders Confer.
Surrounding Governor Deneen's sea
on the floor for fifteen minutes before
the call to order were the Roosevelt
leaders in earnest consultation In the
| group were Senator Dixon, Governor
Hadley. William Finn and Governor
Johnson of California.
Another fifteen minutes passed be-
fore Chairman Root again look up his
gavel and with emphatic blows on the
table insisted upon quiet and order.
Much of the confusion was due to late
corners in the galleries.
Estimates Are Made.
According to the estimates of very
careful observers, the vote in the re-
publican national convention, resulting
in the election of Senator Root, as the
Taft candidate, to be temporary chair
man, does MOI by any means indicate
with certainty that President Taft will
be renominated. The victory is i'm
portant to the Taft people as far as
it goes. When it is recalled, however,
that it was achieved by the help of
at least 21 votes which are instructed
for Roosevelt, it will easily be seen
that it does not necessarily point to a
final Taft victory.
The Taft leaders are hopeful, and If
they can hold the strength which they
are counting upon at this time, they
will pull through, but, at the best, it
will be a tight squeeze and it is unsafe
to prophesy regarding the outlook.
Nor has the Root vote added any
thing to the joy of the Roosevelt lead
ers. Colonel Rooseyelt's strength, as
shown by that vote, was SOP, from
which there must be deducted Is votes
which he got from Wisconsin and 9
which he got from North Dakota, a
total of %. When it comes time to
vote on a candidate for the presidency.
those % votes will be cast for La Fol.
lette.
Deducting them from the Roosevelt
column, therefore. the Roosevelt total
is brought down from SOP to $50, which
is 60 short of a majority of the con
vention. Conditions may arise which
will give Colonel Roosevelt a gain of
60 votes above the 4SO, but there is
an inclination to wonder if he did not
touch h%igh-water mark and to believe
that his nomination will be much
more difficult than early estimates
, have indicated.
WOMEN T.1KE IN ~