Middletown transcript., 1920-07-03
ling and cheering in a packed mass
before the platform.

Over in the Virginia section q. dele
gate ripped the standard from the loop
and charged toward the speakers
stand, waving it high in the air. Other
States followed. Some of them were
slower to get in motion, but. as the
shouting and tumuH continued stand.
ard after standard came UP and the
march around the hall began. In the
New York section Assistant Secretary
of the Navy Roosevelt seized the
standard and rushed into the crowded
aisle, battling with others who sought
with eager hands to uphold the sign.
When Chairman Homer S. Cum
mings, OF the national convention, had
been elected temporary chairman, the
delegates finally hushed and prepared
to listen with close attention to his
keynote address. Delegates expected
something to cheer at. They were in
the mood for it and they were not dis.
appointed.
Mr.. Cummings began in a quiet
voice. A few shouts OF louder came
from far back in the hall, but he had
not proceeded far before the great
throng was so still that every syllable
was carried to the highest gallery. It
was long speech. Mr. Cummings sug-
gested that to his hearers, but cries
of ''Go on" Take your time" met him.
He dr. ove his points home hard and
his audience was alert to cap them
with shouted approval. At one point
he chided the Republican platform be-
cause it contained, he said, no word
of hope for Ireland, no mercy for Ar.
menia and because DIT concealed a
sword" for Mexico.
Back among the alternakes woman
leapeG to her feet at the mention of
Ireland, shouting Historically some
thing about British tyranny in Ire.
land"
That's the answer; we're not mem.
bers of the League" Chairman Cum
innings called back at her, but even as
he spoke the sergeamts alarms were
moving down to prevent furuner inter
ruptions, and delegates, intent on their
chai1man's arraignment Of Republican
policies, shouted sit down"
When Mr.. Cummings characterized
the Chicago platform as master
piece of evasion" a shout greeted the
attack, and a moment later when he
declared that the Old Guard had sold
the honor of the nation at Chicago to
name a reactionary candidate it grew
into roar, punctuated with cries of
"Go to it," Hit 'em again" That's
the stuff"
The chairman went through the his
tory of the League from the first men.
tion Of it in diplomatic correspondence
before the United States entered the
war, to the second refusal of the Sen
ate to ratify the treaty that contains
1t. He quoted utterances of Senator
Lodge and the late President Roose-
velt as saying that some concert of
powers must be formed. He said the
last of the IA points enunciated by
President Wilson had contained prac-
tically the language of Article 10 of
the covenant and that no word had
been raised then against it.
"The real trouble with the treaty"
Mr.. Cummings said, "is that it was ne.
gotiated by Democrat. Uproarious
applause welcome the jibe.
When the chairman called the roll
of nations already in the League and
asked the delegates If they wanted to
hear also of neutral States that had or
were about to join, shouts Of tell us, !"
answered him. Nation by nation he
named them and then asked If the
delegates wished to know what nations
had not joined the League. Cries of
Eyes, yes, tell u.s." came from all parts
Of the floor.
Revolutionary Mexico, Bolshevist
Russia, unspeakable Turkey, and-the
United States Of America" he an
swered. A roar swept the hall that
took minutes to quiet.
When Mr.. Cummings concluded
there remained but routine business to
be done and it was rushed through
without incident and adjournment
taken until tomorrow afternoon.