The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1916-06-02

after caucus decided by few votes
to throw their support to Garfield it
was a signal for the stampede which
made Garfield the nominee and ended
the most dramatic convention struggle
in American history.
Harrison's Shouters.
II am Republican. l belong to the
grandest political body ever organized
by the human race
This was as far as he was allowed to
proceed In the last speech Colonel Rob-
ert Ingersoll ever made In a national
convention. The Republicans had gath
cred In Chicago In 1883 either to NOM
mate James G. Blaine or Benjamin
Harrison. Blaine was coaching In
Scotland with Andrew Carnegie. The
convention decided to offer him the
nomination by cable and take recess
until a reply was received. This was
about noon. There were fully $4,000
people in the big auditorium, and they
made it plain that they wanted to hear
from some of the leading Republican
orators. 1t was decided to crafty their
wishes. Frederick Douglass, the negro
orator, was the first speaker, and what
he said was highly pleasing to the
crowd. He spoke for nearly thirty
minutes.
While he was speaking the Harrison
managers observed Colonel Ingersoll
seated on the platform. He was there
in the interests Of Walter Q. Gresham
Of Indiana, Harrison's most formidable
opponent. Only the preceding day
there had been very impressive full
dinner pail parade for Gresham by
Chicago workingmen. Here was di-
lemma. Every man in the convention
hall knew OF Ingersolls skill as an ora
tor. Probably every one Of them had
read his famous "plumed knight"
speech In which he placed Blaine In
nomination at Cincinnati in 1876 To
permit him to speak now, even though
he should mention Gresham's name
only incidentally, would be to imperil
Harrison's chances. The Harrison
leaders held hurried consultation and
dispatched runners to all parts of the
building with instructions to stop In.
gersoll ut all hazards.
When Douglass concluded there were
cries Of "Ingersoll!' "Ingersoll!' De-
llberately the colonel took his place in
front Of the rostrum. He was given 4
wildly enthusiastic greeting. While the
cheering was In progress he stood calm
ly wiping his big bald head awaiting
the restoration Of order. The crowd
seemed to feel that something unusual
was about to happen. 1t was an anx-
ious moment for the Harrison cohorts.
Ingersoll surveyed his great audience
slowly and then in a strong, rich voice,
each word carefully measured. spoke
the two sentences quoted above.
The effect was electric. Seventeen
words had literally swept the audience
off its feet. Every man and every wo-
man stood up and cheered. There were
three minutes perhaps of genuine APP
plause. Then when il began to subside
the Harrison claquers would renew the
cheering. These tactics were continued
for five minutes. Ingersoll attempted
to resume his speech. Immediately his
voice was drowned by the noise. which
proceeded mainly from the floor Of the
convention hall. Each time the colo.
mel tried to speak the uproar was re.
ncwcd. At last. Gftcr ut least half
dozen fruitless attempts to proceed. he
retired in disgust.
A motion to adjourn until 4 o'clock IT,
the afternoon was declared carried b.
the chairman. When the conventicn
reconvened cablegrnm from Blaine
declining the nomination was read, and
Harrison was named.