Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 June 1908 — REPUBLICAN ARMY IS IN SESSION [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

REPUBLICAN ARMY IS IN SESSION

BRILLIANT BCENE WHEN THE BIG CONVENTION OPENS. BURROWS IS IN THE CHAIR Michigan Senator as Temporary Chair* man Delivers Carefully Prepared Address—Other Officers Are Presented. Chicago, June 16.—Promptly at noon Tuesday Chairman Harry New of the Republican national committee rapped smartly with his gavel on the presiding officer’s desk in the Coliseum, and the Republican national convention of 1908 came to order. The great building presented a magnificent sight. Every seat was oc. cupied and the hundreds of flags and beautiful costumes of many women served to give brijjpant color to the scene. For an bout the brass bands at either end of the building had been alternating In playing patriotic airs, while the delegates and spectator* were gathering. When Mr. New arose the roar of conversation and the cheering of noted persons as they entered ceased. Mr. New spoke briefly and then introduced Bishop P. J. Muldoon pf Chicago, who delivered the invocation. Next Secretary Elmer Dover of the national committee read the call for the convention. Chairman Burrows Presented. Again Mr. New arose, and this time ealled forth Senator J. C. Burrows of Michigan, whom he presented as temporary chairman. Chairman Burrows delivered a carefully prepared speech in which he reviewed at length the history and achievements es the Republican party, discussed the growth and development of the country under its rule, and praised in turn the work done by each of the nine executive departments, the army and navy and the pension bureau. Speaking of the promised revision of the tariff. Senator Burrows said that

whatever changes are made, American industries and American labor will still be fully protected. Long and loud applause was given the speaker as he concluded. Other Temporary Officers. Next in order was the presentation of the other temporary officers of the convention. They were as follows: General Secretary—John R. Malloy, Columbus, O. Sergeant-at-Arms—William F. Stone, Baltimore. Parliamentarian —Asher C. Hinds, Washington, D. C. Chaplains—Bishop P. J. Muldoon, Chicago; Rev. William O. Waters, Chicago; Rev. Tobias Schanfarber, Chicago; Rev. John Wesley Hill, New York; Rev. Lorenzo D. Case, Chicago. Assistant Secretaries Charles Brooks Smith, Parkersburg, W. Va.; Ernest Walker Smith, Hartford, Conn.; Philip M. Heofele, St. Louis; H. J. Tobin, Vinton, la.; Charles H. Harger, Abilene, Kan.; Allen Hollis, Concord, N. H. The convention then proceeded to the selection of the various committees. Night of Noise and Music. The opening of the convention found Chicago on the tip-toe of anticipation, with final preparations well matured for candidates and platform, except the ever doubtful vice-presidency, and with the whole city astir with those tumultuous scenes which usher in a national convention. Monday night the streets were ablaze with lights; flag day brought forth a wealth of color on the tali buildings; bands vied with glee clubs in the packed headquarters of candidates and In the open air; marching clubs in fantastic regalia paraded the main thoroughfares singing “Taft, Taft," or “Knox, Knox.” and there was that universal pandemonium which befits the night before a national convention.

The business or Monday was mainly the canvassing of states for selection of officers and representatives on the various committees. The caucuses left little room to doubt that the Taft forces would be in substantial control of the organisation when the full committees are assembled. Dodging Second Place. Among the more Important state conferences of the day were those of Ohio, New York, Indiana and lowa, as each had some bearing on the perplexing question of the vice-presidency. Each of these gatherings brought forth the odd negative conclusion of declaring not to be in favor of any candidate for the vice-presidency—Ohio because the Taft leaders do not wish to be in the attitude of dictating; New York because advocacy of Sherman or Low or any other New Yorker might Impugn the loyalty of Gov. Hughes; lowa because the state wants Dolliver to remain where he is in the senate and thus avoid a tumult in state politics; Indiana because long distance persuasion had not induced Mr. Fairbanks to change his attitude towards the first and second places on the ticket. Other state caucuses were equally fruitless in solving the vice-presiden-tial mystery, which deepens as the ballot approaches, until it really seems that the prize may be thrown in the arena of the convention for a nerveracking struggle. Cannon Shaping Planks. Speaker Cannon remained In Chicago all day and, although keeping away from the noisy centers of convention enthusiasm, he took a most active part in the conferences on the platform. His unexpected advent here Sunday night for the express purpose of having a voice in the document which may shape future legislation led to renewed consideration of some of the details of planks, notably those on injunction and on trusts. The speaker was closeted with Senator Hopkins, prospective chairman of the platform committee, for over an hour, and then Mr. Hopkins was closeted with Wade Ellis, custodian of the platfovm, and Senator Long of Kansas and Frank B. Kellogg of Minnesota, the only ones to whom copies had been intrusted. Mr. Cannon’s friends believe the injunction and trust planks will be modified if not eliminated, but the custodian of the draft has given no evidence of making any notable changes. The name of exGov. Herrick of Ohio was the latest one to be brought forth for chairman of the national [committee to manage the coming campaign. It was received with much favor, owing to Gov. Herrick’s close relations with Secretary Taft. However, it 1b understood that the aational committee will defer the selection of a chairman until there is opportunity to confer in person with the nominee.

Senator Burrows.