Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1928-06-21

ly gathered in by representatives OF
the contending factions, and each
was decorated with badges, and rib
bons, and buttons, all Of which were
graciously accepted and worn, and all
OF which will constitute treasured
souvenirs of their visit to a national
political convention. They played no
favorites, and wore the decorations OF
Hoover, of Lowden, of Golf, Of Curtis,
Of Norris, and even sought those OF
Representative Tilson, and ax-Gov.
Chase Osborn of Michigan, announced
candidates for the vice-presidential
nomination.
The early hours Of Tuesday morn
ing brought a settlement of the Ques-
ton as to who would be the nominee,
and a collapse of the draft-Coolldge
movement. When Chairman Butler
advised the Massachusetts delegation
to stop thinking and talking of the
President and vote for Mr.. Hoover,
and when Senator-Elec- Ware of Penn
sylvania announced that he was for
Hoover, most people realized 1t was
all over except the formalities, though
the ti-Hooverites were not yet will
ing to admit defeat. Mr.. Mellon had
still not made any announcement or
where he stood, but 1t was generally
conceded by the prophets that the
secretary of commerce could be NOM
mated even without the support of
the secretary Of the treasury.
Before the first session Of the con-
vention opened on Tuesday morning
the Pennsylvania delegation had met
to decide on what action it would
take on the nomination-or rather
on what Secretary Mellon was going
t, say to the delegates from that
state. They were assembled at the
Baltimore hotel waiting on his at
tendance. When he came it was to
utter a comparatively few words, but
they were words that would make
history. He told the delegates that
in a conversation hc had had with the
President before leaving Washington
he was impressed with the idea that
the President could under no condi-
ton be considered as the nominee OF
the party, and that Secretary Hoover
was theNbest man for the job.
All Over but the Shouting.
That simple statement practically
settled the nomination. The Pennsyl-
vania delegation voted to cast its en-
tire vote for Hoover on the first bal
lot, and other doubtful states fell into
line Immediately.
At eleven o'clock Tuesday morning
the convention was called to order.
After a prayer, the singing Of "The
Star-Spangled Banner" by Madame
Schumann-Heink, the reading Of the
call for the convention, National
Chairman Butler called Senator Fess
Of Ohio to the platform to deliver the
keynote speech. For an hour and a
half the gifted Ohioan told of the vir-
tues, but none of the faults-if any
of the Republican party.
Hooverites in Front Rows.
It was of interest to note the seat
ing Of the various delegations. In the
front row, directly in front Of the
speakers stand, was the Pennsylvania
delegation, with Secretary Mellon sit
ting at its right. He was in a position
to know all that was going on, and to
pull the strings in line with any in
structions he may, but probably did
not, have. Other states favored with
frOnt-row seats included Maine, Cali
fornia and Oregon. It was very large
ly Hoover row. Just back of Penn
sylvania was the Massachusetts dele
CATION, which Chairman Butler had
turned into Hoover unit when the
draft Coolidge movement was stopped.
Tuesday evening the militant farm
element made their first demonstra-
ton, but it did not go far. A second
demonstration was made on Wednes-
day morning when some 500 men and
women headed by a band, marched
through the streets to the convention
hall, where they attempted to storm
the doors, but were stopped by the po-
lice. Typical Of the banners carried
were: "We want a real Republican"
'Ai Smith says Hoover is easy to
beat Justice here or we go to Hous-
ton"
steam-RoIIer Not Used.
The minority fight was really made
in the committee on resolutions. To
be sure the Hoover element in the
committee might have closed the argu-
ment at any time, and passed such
resolutions as it wished, but there was
nothing Of the steam-roller tactics dis
played, every one was given an oppor-
tunity to present his views and all the
argument in favor Of such views. Sec
rotary Hoover could not well accept a
nomination on a platform declaring
for the McNary-Haugen bill, or for
any legislation involving the equaliza-
ton fee, and that is what the farm
bloc in the committee wanted. When
the platform was presented to the con-
vention on Thursday morning Earl G.
Smith, president of the Illinois Agri-
cultural association, presented mi
nority report embodying farm plank
indOrSing the equalization fee in prin-