Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-07-18


the north gallery where group Of
Princeton boys had seats, and let out
a wild west yell. 1t never failed to
produce results. 1t was such a move
that started the demonstration on Sat
urday night when on the twenty
fourth ballot the New Jersey eXecu-
tive passed the four hundred mark.
Of the many visitors to the conven-
ton none created more interest than
Mrs. William H. Taft, when on Thurs
day afternoon and evening she occU-
pied a seat in the box Immediately
back of the speakers stand. She
was the guest of Mrs. Norman H.
Mack.
Mrs. Taft entered the convention
hall just before Temporary Chairman
Parker surrendered the gavel to Per-
manent Chairman James. The crowd
watched the first lady of the land with
eager interest as she listened to the
denunciation of her distinguished hus-
band and the arraignment Of his adj
ministration contained in the speech
of the permanent chairman. But if
they expected any evidences Of dis
pleasure on the part of Mrs Taft they
were disappointed, for she only smiled
at each telling point, and at the con-
clusion of the address applauded
vigorously. She did not applaud, or
even smile, when Mr.. James turned
his attention from President Taft to
Colonel Roosevelt and included the
latter in his arraignment and among
those to whom the Democratic party
was unalterably opposed.
AS Mrs. Taft entered the box with
Mrs Mack a gray-haired southerner
near enough to distinguish her start
ed an ovation for her. When pleas
antly chided for his actions by a
younger acquaintance, he replied:
"The first lady of this land, or any
lady, is entitled to the courtesy of eV-
cry gentleman, and 1 would have you
know, sir, that the Democrats of the
South are gentlemen"
Mr.. Bryan and his followers made
political capital from the appearance
in the convention of Ryan and Bel
mont They acted as a red rag to a
bull on the Bryan cohorts. Belmont
occupied a conspicuous place in the
first row in the box Immediately back
Of the speaker, while Ryan, though &C.
cupying a seat with the Virginia dele
cation ordinarily, was on the speak
er's stand a number Of times. Ryan
wore a plain business suit, and so far
as clothing was concerned could not
have been distinguished from any of
the other delegates. Belmont attend
el most Of the evening sessions
dressed in evening clothes, the broad
expanse Of his white shirt front max
ing him easily distinguishable from
others around him.
Bryan, when not on the stand, oc-
cupied a seat with the Nebraska dele
cation Immediately in front Of the
speaker and facing Belmont. During
the sessions as the delegates would
flock around the Nebraskan seeking
his advice or counsel, or upbraiding
him for his opposition, he would point
his finger at Belmont to emphasize his
points, and his action would nearly
always result in an uprOar.
On Thursday night, ct the close Of
Senator Reeds speech naming Clark,
the speakers beautiful daughter step
ped onto a chair in the gallery, and
with a big American flag wrapped
around her, and another in each hand,
led the cheering for her father. She
was the only woman who figured con-
S~icuousIy in the demonstrations.
Baltimore is by no means a conven-
ton city. 1t is a city Of homes with
limited hotel accommodations, which
made the housing of the big crowd a
hard problem to solve. This shortage
of hotel accommodations was met by
appealing to the people Of the city to
open their homes to the visitors The
committee in charge established d
roomTenting agency where those will