Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-06-29
Ovation for Wilson
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thing that stirred the blood and tug
ged at the emotions. Delegates leaped
on their chairs. waving and shouting.
They stampeded into the aisles. jost-
ling and cheering into q packed mass
before the platform.
Delegates March
Over in the Virginia section q dele
gate ripped the standard from the pole
and charged toward the I speaker
stand waving it high In the air. other
states followed. Some were slower
to get in motion, but as The shouting
continued, standard after standard
came up and the march around the
floor began. In the New York section
Asst. Secy. Of the Navy Roosevelt
seized the standard and rushed into
the crowded aisles battling with 9TH
ers who sought with eager hands to
uphold the sign. But there
were some among the New York
delegation who struggled with
Roosevelt to prevent him carrying the
state standard in the demonstration
for the President. There was lively
scrimmage akin to a center rush in a
football game. in which fists were
flying and there seemed danger Of
bloody noses. A policeman who in
terfered got pummeling, one man
had his coat dragged off and several
men lost their nose glasses. No one
was hurt, the protesting delegates
changed their minds and Roosevelt
triumphantly marched of with the
New York standard to join the Wilson
demonstration. A shout of added
intensity marked the delegates rec
ognition of the incident and cheer
for Mr.. Roosevelt was all but lost in
the general tumuit.
1t was long before order could he
restored. Even when Vice Chairman
Kremer had launched upon his speech,
echoes of the storm lurked in the air.
He was repeatedly interrupted by the
clamor of approval that greeted every
thrust at the Republican party or at
any reference to President Wilson.
Cummings Sounds Keynote
When Chairman Homer S. Cum
mings of the national committee had
been elected temporary chairman and
escorted to the platform, they 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 1t and
they were not disappointed.
Mr.. Cummings began in a low voice.
A few shouts of louder" came from
far back in the hall, but he had not
proceeded far before the great throns
was so still that every syllable was
carried to the highest galleries. 1t
was long speech. Mr.. Cummings
suggested that to his hearers but cries
of GO on, take your time" met him.
He drove his points home hard and his
audience was alert to cap them with
shouted approval. At one point he
chided the Chicago, platform Of the
Republicans because it contained, he
said, no word of hope for Ireland, no
mercy for Armenia, and because it
concealed a sword" for Mexico.
Back among the alternates, a
woman leaped to her feet at the
mention Of Ireland, shouting hyster-
ically something about British
tyranny in Ireland"
AHdl Tie answer, we are not
members Of the league" Chairman
Cummings called back at her, but
even as he spoke the sergeant at
arms were moving down to prevent
further interruption and delegates,
intent on their chairman's arraign-
ment of Republican policies, shout
ed sit down"
Knocks Chicago Platform
Mr.. Cummings characterized the
Chicago platform as masterpiece
Of evasion" A shout greeted the at
tack and a moment later, when ne
declared that the "old guard" had
sealed the honor Of the nation at
Chicago to name a "reactionaty
candidate" it grew into a roar pune
tuated with cries Of go to it," Hit
'em again." That's the stuff"
The chairman went through the
history of the league from the first
mention Of it in diplomatic CORE
spondence before the United States
entered the war to the second re-
fusal of the Senate to ratify the
treaty that contains it, He quoted