Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-08-06
Meeting Called to Order
Shortly After Noon by
Senator Dixon; Beveridge
Yields the Gavel.
ROOSEVELT WILL
NOT ATTEND TODAY
Colonel Arrives in Chicago
During the Morning; Will
go to Coliseum Tomorrow
to Make Speech.

Chicago, Aug. 5.-The national pro
gressive party took its place In the
arena of American politics here today
when Its first convention assembled
In the coliseum where the republican
national convention was held seven
weeks ago.
Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, spon.
sor for the new party, arrived In Chi.
cago this morning but did not attend
the first session OF the convention. He
will deliver his confession OF faith
tomorrow. Former Senator Albert B.
Bevertdge of Indiana was elected tenn.
porary chairman of the convention az.
er Senator Dixon had called the a.
semblage to order and prayer had
been offered.
Senator Beveridge, greeted with pro-
longed cheers, delivered his keynote
speech bristling with the most adj
vanced ideas Of progressiveism
The floor Of the big convention hall
was crowded and the galleries. slow
to fill at first, held but comparatively
few empty seats when the convention
got under way shortly before. ono
o'clock. " es
The delegates were most enthusias.
tic, frequently interrupting the. pro-
ceedings with cheers and applause.
Psnrose Draws Moose Fire.
The big coliseum. transferred In 3
few weeks from the battle-ground Of
the republican national convention to
the meeting place of the national pro
gressive party was thrown open short
ly before IL o'clock today, but Il was
nearly an hour after that time before
the first of the delegates began to ar
rive. When the big phalanx OF dele
gates from Pennsylvania arrived sing.
Ing We'll Hang Boise Penrose to
sour apple tree as we 60 marching
on they got a demonstrative welcome.
The galleries OF the hall were all
but empty as the hour set for conven-
ton approached and spectators were
coming in slowly.
The scene in the hall, except for the
lack of a jam in the galleries was al.
most identical with that Of the repub-
lican convention. Many Of the stand
ards had been raised on the identical
spot where they stood during the tu-
President Taft. New York, Ohio and
Pennsylvania had front row seats.
Sounding Board Aids Speakers.
California was promoted to prom
inent front position at the right OF the
stage. The hall was gaily decorated
with flags and bunting. The big sound
ing board suspended by wires over the
speakers stand looking for all the
world like an aeroplane In flight, was
constructed particularly for Colonel
Roosevelt's speech tomorrow after
noon, but similarly assisted every 9TH
er speaker.
Large canvas portraits were fea-
ture of the decorations. Back OF the
stage were those OF Washington. JET
ferson and Lincoln. At the left OF the
stage was portrait of Hamilton and
at the right, one of Andrew Jackson.
at first labelled Jefferson.
The Washington, jefferson and Lin.
coin portraits have been linked on all
the conventions tickets and badges.
Suspended from the band gallery at
the far end of the hall where all could
see was an oil painting of Colonel
Roosevelt. The artist did not at all
flatter the progressive leader Over
the main entrance was the stuffed
head Of splendid specimen Of bull
moose.
SSs08atSo SVVS w SUOUtsU8s .4tEf
Shorting after noon the delegates
began to arrive in increasing numbers.
They came In singing and shouting in
their enthusiasm.
The Delaware delegation, carrying
a banner with. the inscription: Della
ware progressives. Watch us grow,
was cheered.
Californlas delegation. carrying the
same banners they used at the repub-
lican convention and each member
wearing a bandana about his neck, was
greeted with prolonged cheers.
The band regaled the assemblage
with popular and patriotic airs.
The New Jersey delegation came In
shouting the same yell they used at
the republican convention.
"Rah. rah, rec! rec. who are we.
eve are the delegates from New
Jersee
"Are we In it, just you wait.
"Till we give Teddy % straight"
Campaign Poets Busy.
| The New Jersey delegates brought
q new battle hymn with them. which
A.