Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-06-12
TRIBUTE

50 AA1AAG Ct WwU
O'Clock tomorrow morning.
In physical appearance the big
Convention hall was very like the
others in which convention history
has been written in the past.
1t still lacked nearly a half hour
before convention time when Chair
man Butler somewhat startled a half
filled hall by pounding heavily with
his gavel and asking for order. There
was some whispered conjecture
whether the much-adver.ised message
from Coolidge to his Massachusetts,
friend. which so far as anybody
knows never has arrived. might be
here at last. But the chairman's in
terest for the moment was not on
candidates. but cigars. Making the
first speech Of The big convention
he spoke as follows:
81 desire to call your attention to
the fact that smoking in the con-
vention hall is prohibited. All of
those in the hall will please desist."
As he finished a photographers
flash lamp was set off from the very
center Of the hall. sending a cloud
fit to choke n locomotive. AL
though they had their W specially
built gallery. a 100-foot runway
hung from the ceiling high up and
across the speakers stand. the cam
eramen roved the hall like a wolf
pack as the delegates came together,
seeking celebrities. Every time they
found one. the dull and sharp glare
of a flashlight gun signalled that
he had been duly snapped"
Il vas three minutes after II
o'clock when Chairman Butler raped
for order in earnest and put the con-
v~ention really under way. The
chairman had no trouble in obtain
ing quiet. for II there eve was an
orderly convention IL is this one.
While delegates and spectators
stood. Bishop s. G. Partridge Of the
Episcopal church pronounced the
opening prayer petitioning for
peaceful and harmonious party
consultations and for an outcome
which should be to The highest good
of the people.
Amid the first hand clapping Of
the convention Madame Schumann-
Heink took her place before the mi
crophones and led the standing dele
gates and visitors in "The Star
Spangled Banner" Her celebrated
contralto voice, which for n genera.
tion has been a Joy TO two worlds
trembled with emotion and her hands
clasped and unclasped az her side as
she pronounced the notes of the an
them of her adopted land.
Seated again, the convention was
again called upon to stand and have
its picture taken. But as soon as
IL got on its feet a photographer with
a big m~egaphone asked il TO sit down
again. II did so in a roar of laugh
ter and the ring Of previously set
flash lamps about the gallery rim
went off with a great explosion and
in a blind glare of Light a hundred
cameras did their work.
Submission of the temporary roll
and formal reading of the conven-
tion call followed in quick order, in
%terrupted by a short ovation as Sec
rotary Mellon walked down the CEN
ter aisle and shyly took his place in
the Pennsylvania delegation.
The reading of the convention call.
performed by Roy o. West. of Chi
cago. secretary Of the republican ma
tional committee, did not interest
the delegates much and they kept a
loud hum Of conversation going while
Senator Tess of Ohio. the temporary
chairman, waited watchfully from a
sea with the Ohio delegation, all set
to read the keynote.
Reading of the roll finished,
Chairman Butler launched into a
purpose was to review the high spots
Of the national committee action
leading up to the convention.
"As chairman of the republican
national committee" he said, Il call
this convention formally to order.
We are met pursuant to a call issued
by the republican national commit
tee. We will be governed by the
rules Of the last national committee.
Each convention goes out Of exist
ence, but il provides for n national
committee. Thus the republican ma
tional committee becomes the con-
Meeting link between national con
ventions."
As the chairman went ahead with
this lesson in party procedure. and
doubled back into the formal details
of party history, the delegates again
became restless.
When Butler presented Senator
Simeon d. Tess, there was a burst of
applause as the convention ratified
the selection.
As the temporary chairman began
his address a lush fell owe the hall. I
broken only by the whining noise OF
a huge spotlight which was trained
on the platform so that the photo
graphers might get their pictures of
each succeeding event Of the opening
session.
Accustomed to speak extempor-
~aneously the senator repeatedly got
away from his prepared manuscript.
These were the occasions when he
worked for a forensic stimulation and
got the delegates going. He worked
hard, swaying his slender body from
side TO side and striking the table
before him to emphasize his rounded
periods. But his long tailed black
frock coat was kept tightly huttor~d
and the Precipitation rolled down his
florid face and forehead in rivulets.
He got the biggest hand thus far
when he went into the farm relief
probleni. Cheers we're mingled with
the h~andclappirg when he declared
the farm marketing industry must
stand on les own feet and operate
afarmer owned and farm controlled,
and not goxernment-oEnsd and anx-l