Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1912-06-28
BANDANNA HANDKERCHIEF IS
THE ROOSEVELT BATTLE FLAG"
STANDS FOR PLAIN PEOPLE
Roosevelt Leaders Announce That ths
Third Party Will be Rapidly Or
ganized-Plan of Action
Outlined.

3 Cnlcago.-Ihe progressive" party,
born Saturday night, was dedicated Sun
day. In the presence of perhaps five
hundred men, some of them recognized
leaders of the movement, Others merely
onlookers, the first formal step was
ta,en. Gov. Hiram Johnson of California
was empowered to appoint committee
of seven members to confer with Col.
Roosevelt and formulate @ plan of 40
ton.
"Here is the birth of new party"
said Gov. Johnson, when this was done.
"The movement is going steadily
ahead" said James R. Garfield of Ohio.
Those who think this is fash in the
pan are mistaken"
In the opinion of the leaders, the new
party enters the field with formidable
equipment. These leaders, however, said
that as to the men who took a conspicu-
GUS part in the campaign for Col. Roose-
velt's nomination, each must speak for
himself.
The attitude of Gov. Hadley of Mis-
souri, was the chief point of discussion
along this line. The governor left town
without waiting to declare himself.
1t was said several weeks may elapss
before the programme is decided upon.
Gov. johnson, in the meantime, will act
as field marshal, and in cooperation with
Col. Roosevelt, will decide upon the MEM
bership of the committee of seven and
guide the preliminary work of organiza-
ton.
The meeting was held in the head
quarters of the national Roosevelt COM
mittee, under the direction of the most
prominent Roosevelt supporters, who
had not left town. Seated at table
with Gov. Johnson was Mr.. Garfield,
Clifford Pinchot, Gov. Stubs of Kansas,
Medill Mccormick of Chicago and Sem
ator Clapp of Minnesota.
Scattered through the hall were
large number of Roosevelt delegates to
the Republican national convention, as
well as some of the "steam roller" dele
gates to whom seats were refused. 1t
was impossible to ascertain how large a
proportion of the full Roosevelt strength
at the convention was represented, al
though it was said that nearly every
state which sent Roosevelt delegates to
Chicago had its share of men there.
The bandanna handkerchief was adopt
ed as the Roosevelt battle flag"
Most of the delegates wore flaming
bandannas tied around their arms and
others were distributed by the hundreds
to the crowd. The bandanna, it was ex-
planned, stands for the plain people, who
ordinarily use them.
Were all plain people here, and this
is movement of the plain peoplee," said
one of the delegates.
Col. Roosevelt gave his sanction to the
battle flag by appearing with one
in his hand, which he waved to the
crowd on the street. His daughter, Mrs.
Longworth, wore bandanna on her hat.
Scattered through the hall were large
number of Roosevelt delegates to the
Republican convention.
Il am not acting as the leader of this
movement" said Gov. johnson, when the
meeting of delegates had been called to
order. "The active leader must be
man from more accessible state than
California. / am merely acting as chair
man of this meeting, at which we are
to begin on the road which leads to POI
litical freedom"
Judge Ben B. Lindsey, of Denver, q
Democrat, arose.
"Surely there can be no more solemn
occasion than this one," he said. eve
are beginning on Sunday great move
ment. I believe that we should begin
it by asking the guidance of him for
whom we are here"
w. H. Nixon, of Selma, Ala, negro
clergyman and Roosevelt delegate, who
was excluded from the Republican con-
vention, began to recite the psalm which
begins:
''The Lord is my shepherd" The dele
gates arose and repeated it with him.
A prayer by Nixon followed. Some one
began to sing America" and in mo-
ment the others were singing. The meet
ing was in contrast to the uproarious
ones which had been held in the same
sion. The solemnity of the occasion,
which was believed to signalize the birth
of new party, impressed itself upon the
gathering, and hush fell over the crowd.
broken only by the voice of the speakers.
Gov. johnson, in his opening address,
appealed to the delegates to stay in the
fight they had begun.
sThis is a solemn OCCASION" he told
them, "as it was the last night when we
met to tender the nomination for presi-
dent to Theodore Roosevelt The time
for action has come. Let US begin to
act, rather than to waste our time in
talking"
Mr.. Garfield made motion, which was
adopted, directing Gov. johnson to ap
point the committee of seven.
Oklahoma Rampant.