The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1916-06-08
CHEER ROOSEVELT
~q4E HOUR AND
IS : ...''iNUTES
All Records for Enthusiasm Broken
in Moose Convention
UPROAR STOPS PROCEEDINGS
Doubt of Ability of Leaders to Prevent
Former Presidents Nomination on
First Ballot.

Chicago. June 9.-The progressive
national convention opened in the
Auditorium yesterday with a record.
breaking demonstration for Col. Roose
velt For one hour and 80 minutes the
delegates and spectators roared, shout
ed, cheered and applauded They sang
the progressive battle hymns, paraded
the aisles and over the stage, and
howled down all attempts to check
them. The demonstration exceeded
the previous record for such affairs Of
one hour and 90 minutes established in
the democratic convention in Denver
in 1908 in behalf of William Jennings
Bryan, which had exceeded by four
minutes the record made that same
year in the republican convention in
Chicago when Col. Roosevelt's support
ers sought his nomination over William
Howard Taft, and exceeded by eight
minutes the celebrated demonstration
for William Jennings Bryan in Denver
in 1896.
Raymond Robins. temporary chair
man of the convention, had spoken
| just three sentences of his keynote
speech when he mentioned Col Roose-
velt's name. A wave of enthusiasm
that amounted to nothing less than a
paroxysm resulted. "The foremost
citizen of the world" was the charac-
terization Robins used in connection
with his mention of the colonel's name.
The response was instantaneous. I'VE
want Teddy" roared the delegates and
the demonstration was on. With um.
brellas raised they began marching
about the hall They flowed upon the
| stage and wrung Victor Murdock' S
hand as they filed by until the stalwart
Kansan's collar was wilted Hamilton
| Fish, Jr., and another man seized a
| delegate bearing an American flag and
| carried him around the hall on their
shoulders. Banners were torn from
| their places and stanchions were lifted
from the floor as the shouting host
tramped around.
Chairman Robins made several at
tempts to quell the demonstration, but
after a few raps Of the gayel gave II
up. The band chimed in with the
progressive battle hymns and soon the
surging crowd was trampng the aisles
to the strains of onward Christian
Soldiers Despite the handicap o.
the steps leading up into the balcony
the demonstration spread there anC
soon the spectators in the balconie!
joined in. Banners were snatcheC
from their hanginss and waved, bear
ing these inscriptions:
Teddy and safety first"
'lf Teddy was president wher,
would Villa be?'
why. take chances. We know wha
Roosevelt can do
Then the band switched to March
ing Through Georgia and a medic
OF popular airs, and the aisles becam
so blocked that no one moved for sey
era minutes. While the marcher
} stood still in the jam they kept up IN
din, and after it had been going on on
| hour George w. Perkins left the stag
, | and decided to go to his hotel an
wait for it to subside. The Michiga
: delegation tramped in from the raj
outside and their leaders demanded a
. outdoor demonstration.
Finally at 2.37 o'clock Mr., Robin
Q resumed his speech, after telling tn
; | leaders that he would not risk mel
4 | tioning the colonel's name again. Dul
r ing the remainder Of his address
there were outbursts and demonstri
tions, but they were short When Nj
Robins declared the American peopl
Q we're waiting for the progressive co,
e vention to name leader, the delegate
chorused: Wen name him.
d The announcement of temporar
committees followed and the first day
session of the convention was owe
The prediction that the leaders woul
not be able to hold their delegate
p from the nomination Of Col. Rooseye
Il at the mention of his name had N,
materialized. How long they will |
y able to control them, however is co
~ ceded by the progressive leaders thei
m selves to be doubtful.