Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-07-01

was work with stirring melodies and
and the organist threw hts great in
strun,ent into full. roaring acconpa.ni-
ment of any air the rooters raised
When the first nominating orators
hal been heard and the names Of SEN
ator Owen. Former Ambassador Gerard
and Senator Hitchcock had been placed
on the ballot amid liberal applause
Florida yielded to Pennsylvania and
the name Of A. Mitchell Palmer was
presented to set the convention on it's
wild ecstacy of sinking ana cneer.ng.
The Palmer men were ready. No noise
making device had been overlooked, no
device of rooters to stimulate the
clamor left untried.
HALF HOUR DEMONSTRATION
Up i'm front Of the platform. long, slim.
red headed yell leader waved frantic
arms from rickety perch on a chair whic
California woman in white drove the
dem onstration forward with almost equal
vigor. The shouting of the Palmer adfer-
ents grew and swelled until a Georgia del
egate rooted the State standard from it's
place and started the march of states.
to be followed by Pennsylvania and half
dozen other delegates.
The tumuA lasted more than half an
hour
Around and around the aisles the pro-
cession went. the standards bobbing awk-
v-ardy high over the heads of the march
ers. lusty rooter danced along with
slim little woman perched on his shoulder.
On the platform score of Palmer wom-
en- crowded to the speakers stand and
with waving flags urged the delegates on
while the hand joined heartily in the songs
which were caught up all over the hall.
cox SUPPORTERS GET BUSY
10
the turn of the Cox supporters and they
came to the task with will. Again more
than half an hour was given over to the
uproar and singing, to the parading OF
state standards led by Ohio and Kentucky.
Yels given with the barking note Of foot
ball rooters came down from the Ohio sec
tin in the gallery. The Ohio band never
paused. Again and again It drew new
cheers from the southern delegates with
the strains of Dixie or sought and
found men with Irish descent with The
! Wearing of the Green"
| While the riot of movement, color and
noise was at its height, rooters and band
trooped down from the gallery to the
floor They tramped around the aisles
singing "Ohio, Ohio and the convention,
with impartial temper. joined in.
| 1t took much effort by Governor Cox's
! managers to still the uproar and let the
! business of nomination proceed. Chair
man Robinson pounded increasingly with
| his gavel when more than half an hour
had passed, and finally the rooters fought
their way back to the gallery and the
delegates back to the seats to await the
next act of the big show.
! Senator Harrison of Mississippi among
! those seconding Governor Cox's nonaina.
ton struck a note that proved the conven-
| tion had been keyed up. He hft hard at
| the newspapers of San Francisco which
published the story of the Governors
divorce of ten years ago and burst of
cheers answered his thrust.
COCHRAN NOMINATES SMITH
Then Chairman Robinson recognized
W. Bourke Cochran of New York to nom
mate Governor Smith. As he came to
the platform the delegates greeted him
as an old friend They cheered and
called him. knowing of his old power a.
an orator.
Again they were not disappointed. The
New Yorker struck note from the first
that found a quick answer. Cochran
expressed unstinted admiration for Pres
dent Wilson, pointing dramatically to
the great illuminated portrait of te,e
President overlooking the convention.
Nearly every word and gesture brought
cheers and shouts from the floor and
Cockran's tribute to Governor Smith set
the New York delegation going with
American flags and much cheering. 1t
did not seem that any unusual event was
at hand. The demonstration started
slowly Cochran made his way through
admirers the platform. On the moor.
back with his own delegation, he was
accorded reception that threatened to
cripple his right hand with the vigor OF
handshakng. New Jersey folks came
over to Join in.
SIDEWALKS OF NEW YORK"
Then the band master, far up in his
gallery, had an inspiration. Previously
he had been playing 'Tammany' over
and over again in recognition of the New
York delegation. but now the strains Of
J The Sidewalks of New York" came down
: from the loft. The big organ took up the
homely old tune of 35 years ago. 1t was
too much for the crowd. Throughout tho
hall gray-hared men and women began
to sing ured by strains that harked them
back to their days of youth. A Jerseyite
seized his State standard and marched
across the New York section. Up came
the New York standard and again the
march was on.
over and over the old tune was played
and sung. Standard after standard join
ed the march The thing was contagious.
. Other old favorites came rumbling down
in quick succession. "Rosey O'Grady,~
, THE Bowery," after the Ball" and .
, dozen other old timers. The tide of hu-
: manity iamming the aisles was swayinx
: and stepping in rhythm to the music.
T Everyone was singing. Long forgotten
a, (Continued ON page four.l r.