Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-06-15

mot dare spring the colonels message on
the convention until the work of the final
day was done and it was ready to adj
tourn. Then, as it was read. it came as
a stunning blow to the men who had
burned all their political bridges behind
them four years ago to join the colonel in
his exodus and who by this time have
had more than enough of their sojourn in
the wilderness.
The colones suggestion of Senator
Lodge as compromise candidate was
listened to in silence and was greeted after
the message had been read with loud
cries OF mo. no. Chairman Robins rap
ped for order. and Mr.. Perkins resumed
his statement, asking the convention, now
that they had the republicans recommen-
dation of Justice Hughes and the colonel's
telegram, what was their pleasure.
Let both suggestions be laid on the
table" shouted the crowd.
Mr.. Perkins made that suggestion in
the form of a motion. 1t was railroaded
through in moment by reclamation.
The nomination of Roosevelt for which
the convention had been impatiently wait
ing several days went through with great
speed and accompanied with much noise.
AIltT me CbIOlcI ; letler OF REFUSAL nAd
been read. James r. Garfield of Ohio
said
Il move that the letter from Colonel
Roosevelt be received in the spirit it was
sent and that it be referred to the ma
tional committee with power to act
thereon"
Earlier in the session the convention
without protest had adopted "A resolution
empowering the progressive national COM
mittee to fill vacancies on the ticket
The motion was put and declared car
ried by Chairman Robins in jlffy Then
some one from the floor hurriedy made
motion to adjourn sine die This also
was carried, the final gavel fell and
the Progressive party's national conven-
ton passed into history amid gloom
Until the message from Colonel Roose-
welt was received the convention was ali
aflame with sentiment for him His
name Whenever mentioned was the sig
nal for fervent cheering. He was extoled
by speaker after speaker as the greatest
man in America and one who was
destined to lead the progressives to vic
tory
SILENT, CHERRIES PROCESSION.
tlon there had been in evidence the
first Pickering away of the old Bull
Moose spirit which was so conspicuous
In the earlier stages of the convention.
The delegates and spectators who had
sat through it all did not have time to
realize what it all meant before the
final gavel fell and the band broke into
the solemn strains of America" The
progressives are much given to fervent
singing, but even the cherished strains
of that old melody held no lure for
them. The colonel's message of re-
fusal had taken all song out of them.
and cherries procession. Some were
complaining bitterly that after all
their sacrifices. the colonel was pre-
pairing TO run out on them"
Many of the delegates went straight
from the Auditorium to the nearest
telegraph offices. For DAYS to come.
Colonel Roosevelt will be bombarded
with messages. urging it upon him as
| n duty to run, in language probably
more direct than any to which he ha S
been accustomed, from members OF his
Bull Moose flock. Everybody seemed
to realize that the colonels conditions
I al refusal" Ringing on the attitude Of
Justice Hughes with regard to Ameri-
canism and preparedness, might inst
as Well have been made absolute. es-
pecially in the light of the published
statement from Justice Hughes ac-
cepting the nomination and outlining
his position on the issues