Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1916-06-08

TVS NCyUOte oPCeCn "nen ne NJ n.
toned Colonel Roosevelt's Name; a
Wave Of Enthusiasm That Amount.
ed to Nothing Less Than a Pa
roxysm Resulted--Deiegates and
Spectators Parade the Aisies.
CHICAGO, June 1.-THE progressive
national convention opened in the
Auditorium today with cord-break.
ing demonstration for Colonel Roose.
welt.
For one hour and thirty-three min
utes the delegates and spectators
roared, shouted, cheered and applaud
ed. They sang the progressive battle
hymns, paraded the ais:es and over the
stage and howled down all attempts
10 check them. The demonstration
exceeded the previous record for such
affairs of one hour and twenty-nine
minutes, established in the democratic
convention in Denver in 1908, in be
half Of William j. Bryan, which had
exceeded by four minutes the record
made that same year Ill the republican
convention in Chicago. when Colonel
Roosevelt s supporters sought his nom.
aJion o1er William II. Taft.
Raymond Robins, temporary chair
man of the convention, had spoken
just three sentences OF his keynote
speech when he mentioned Colonel
Roosevelts name. A wave of enthu-
siasm that amounted to nothing less
than paroxysm resulted. "The fore
most citizen of the world" was the
Characterization used in connection
with his mention OF the colonel's
name. The response was instantane.
Gus. I'VE want Teddy" roared the
delegates and the demonstration was
on. With umbrellas raised they be.
gan marching about the hall They
flowed upon the stage and wrung Vic
tor Murdock's hand as they filed by
until the stalwart kansan's collar was
wilted. Hamilton Fish ir. and another
man seized a delegate bearing an
American flag and carried him around
the hall on their shoulders. Banners
we're torn from their places and the
stanchions were lifted from the floor
as the shouting host tramped around.
Chairman Robins made several at
tempts to queil the demonstration. but
after few raps OF the gavel gave
it up. The band chimed in with the
progressive battle hymns and soon the
surgtng crowd was tramping the aisles
to the strains of "Onward, Christian
Soldiers" Despite the handicap OF the
steps leading up into the balcony, the
demonstration spread there and soon
the spectators in the balconies joined
IN. Tanners were Snatched from their
Eangings and waved, bearing the in.
cription:
Teddy and safety first"
"lf Teddy Was President, Where
Would Villa Be?'
THE People Want T. r., a Regular
American"
Why Take Chances? We Know
What Roosevelt Can Do"
We Want Teddy" and other pro.
gressive slogans.
Then the band switched to March.
ing Through Georgia." and a medley
OF popular airs and the aisles became
SO blocked that no one moved for sew.
e"al minutes. While the marchers stood
still in the jam they kept up the din.
and after 1t had been going on one
hour, George w. Perkins left the stage
and decided to go to his hotel and wait
for it to subside The Michigan dele.
cation tramped in from the rain ont.
SIDE and their leaders demanded an
outdoor demonstration.
Ieddy is not afraid of the rain"
they shouted. Get out and march"
And In body they filed from the hall
INTO the deluge outside, chanting Ted.
oy. you're Bear" Some of the dele.
gates returned in their soggy garments
with banners and flags bedrapgled and
dripping but their enthusiasm was not
dampened. for they joined the march.
ing. roaring throng again.
The leaders. impressed by what
they realized might have been the dif.
hculty of holding the convention from
proceeding Immediately to nomina.
tions, then discussed means to quiet
the uproar. Let them YELL" coun.
SEIZED one of the leaders. Now that
they have shouted it will be easier to
delay action on a nomination"
A proposal to use the uniformed DO
lice to quell the demonstration was
discussed among the leaders, hut it
was decided that the experiment was
too dangerous. BY this time some Of
the enthusiasts who had been waving
handanas. became dissatisfied with
their efforts, so they took off their
coats and waved them about their
heads. One delegate put a black
siouch hat with bandana around the
rim on tall pole and paraded around.
"WhOop-ee!" he roared. "Shes in the
ring" The delegates from the state
of Washington wrapped an American
flag about one of their women men,
bers and carried her up and down the
aiSles.
Other western women took The cue
and for the next few minutes there
was continuous flag demonstration
Meanwhile scouts came in with the
report that the republican convention
at the Coliseum had adjourned and