Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 82, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 June 1908 — BURTON NOMINATES THE WAR SECRETARY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

BURTON NOMINATES THE WAR SECRETARY

Congressman’s Speech at Republican National Convention* Greeted by Wild Cheering.

Chicago.—Wild chee.s from, thousands of throats greeted the placing in nomination of Hon. William Howard Taft of Ohio for the presidency by Representative Theodore E. Burton at the Republican national convention at the Coliseum. More than 700 of the 980 delegates to the convention rose In their seats and yelled themselves hoarse when Mr. Burton had concluded his speech introducing the name of Roosevelt’s right hand man to the body of delegates gathered to pick a party representative as a standard bearer in the flight at the polls this fall. \ • Outbursts of cheers at times during Mr. I Tton’s speech Interrupted him, but after a few moments’ pause he continued. It was at the end of his address that the real pandemonium broke loose. Hundreds in the remote parts of the Coliseum had not heard a word of the speech because of the monstrous proportions of the building, but Mr. Burton’s resuming his seat on the speakers’ platform was signal enough to convey the idea that Taft’s name had been placed in nomination, and then the demonstration broke loose.

Burton Starts on Lincoln. Mr. Burton said: “This convention enters upon the grave responsibility of selecting a presidential candidate with the serene assurance that the Republican party will continue to rule this people. It Is especially appropriate that this gathering should be held in this marvelous city of Chicago. Here it was that the righteous uprising against slavery and Bourbonism, sprung from the nation’s conscience, raised Its first triumphant voice when Abraham Lincoln was nominated. And here, again, with notes of thunderous acclaim, enraptured throngs greeted the naming of Garfield, of Blaine, of Harrison, and of Roosevelt, “Again Ohio presents a candidate to the national Republican convention. In seven stubbornly contested presidential campaigns, sons of her sacred soil have led the embattled Republican hosts to victory. The Buckeye state has assuredly contributed her share of statesmen and generals for the upbuilding of the nation. But that of which we are prouder still is her stalwart citizenship— the mightiest bulwark of th'e republic in every commonwealth —made up of America,’* free

yeomen, ever ready to respond to the tocsin of alarm in days of peril, or to crush corruption whenever it raises its menacing head. From this citizenship Ohio, in the supreme emergency of the civil war, sent forth more than 200,000 soldiers for our country’s defense, a formidable array easily surpassing in numbers the world-conquer-ing legions of imperial Caesar, Welcomes Friendly Rivalry. "We welcome the friendly rivalry of candidates from ether states —from the great Empire state, the Keystone state, Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin, forming with Ohio a broad expanse extending In unbroken sweep from old ocean to the uppermost bound of the greatest of inland seas. Each of these nreaents a leader among leaders whose

achievements ana renown are not confined to the narrow limits of a single commonwealth. To-day with fervid earnestness we wage a contest for the prize. To-morrow, united for the fray and quickened by a common fiery zeal, the champions of ail the candidates will go forth with mounting enthusiasm to vanquish the foe. “The most perplexing questions of to-day arise from the bountiful development of our material wealth.

Such a development can not occur without the creation of Inequalities and dangers to the social fabric. I most strenuously deny that the American business man or the American citizen cherishes lower standards than the citizens of any other country. Pays Tribute to Roosevelt. “Against all these abuses and In the work for restoring old ideals of honesty and equality, as well as for higher standards of civic duty, one man

nas stooa pre-emment, and tna: man Is Theodore Roosevelt. Against corruption .in every form he has sqt his face with grim determination, prompt and fearless in action and with that intelligent leadership which has assured the establishment of a better era in which the strong and the weak alike must submit themselves to the Impartial execution of the law. The story o i his achievements will make up one of the brightest pages in • the history of this or any age and will prove that to*day, as in any critical hour qf social unrest or of danger, the man will appear who can grapple with the emergency. "Who so fit to take up the tasks which this wondrous generation demands should be wisely and impartially performed as his great war secretary? Since the day when, in Benjamin Harrison’s administration, these two first met —the one as solicitor general, the other as a member of the, civil service commission—they have been bound together by like ideals and aims, by close ties of friends - ., ip. and

by the exchange of mutual counsel, each with his own Individuality and characteristics keeping constantly In ▼lew the ennobling vision of a better and a greater America. Since the day when, less than 30 years of age, Mr. Taft denounced, with burning words, a member of his profession who bad lieen guilty of flagrantly ▼icious practices. Dealt with Dependencies. “More than any other of our public

men he has bad to ao wun our outlyiug dependencies and colonial relations. It was he who took in charge the prosecution of that colossal enterprise on the isthmus, the canal uniting the lesser and the greater ocans, and under his directing hand the completion of this most stupendous of public works is no longer a vague and distant hope, but an imminent reality. With his ever-ready skill as a pacificator, he restored tranquillity in the fertile island of Cuba, so often distracted by civil strife. In the far-off Philippines, under a blazing tropical sky, he found a people of many races and tribes, degraded by centuries of misrule and oppression; and there too he not only established the rule of law and local control in place of confusion and bloody strife, but showed the way to self-government, and a new recognition of the rights of man. Knows Conditions of Orient “Secretary Taft has exceptional familiarity with conditions in the distant orient —in Japan, in China. We may rest assured that our traditional friendship with Japan will continue. Moreover, the future promises that the slumbering millions of China will awake from the lethargy of ages, and she then will realize that the morning dawn of fresher life and wider outlook comes to her across the broad Pacific from free America, her truest friend and helper. We covet no portion of her territory. We desire from her, as from all nations, increased good will and that mutual respect which knows neither bluster nor cringing on either side. Thus In this new era of larger relations, Secretary Taft, with his comprehension of national and international subjects, would furnish a certainty of peace and sustained prestige,- Under him, at home and everywhere, this mighty people would have an assured confidence in the secure development and progress of the country and would rest safe in the reliance that a chief executive was at the helm who, in peace or In war, would guide the destinies of tbs nation with a strong hand and with a gentle, patriotic heart. “And so to-day in the presence of more than ten thousand, and with the inspiring thought of the well-nigh ten Thousand times ten thousand who dwell within our borders, I nominate for the presidency that perfect type of American manhood, that peerless representative of the noblest ideals In our national life, William H. Taft, of Ohio.”

ROOBEVELT DEMONSTRATION.

Delegates and Spectators Wildly Cheer President for 45 Minutes. The second day of the Republican national convention brought the longexpected Roosevelt yell, a whirlwind of enthusiasm which raged within the vast' amphitheater of the Coliseum for Wednesday, and TOFT time presented to the timid the specter of a Roosevelt stampede. This demonstration was decidedly the feature of a day otherwise notable for a stirring speecn from the permanent chairman of the convention. Senator Henry Cabot Lodge of Massachusetts, for much practical procedure in placing the convention on a smooth running basis, and for the final defeat of the plan to reduce the representation of southern states at future national conventions. Taft Men AM Beated. the most important act of the day, and the one having greatest significance, was the adoption of the reoort of the committee on credentials

sealing itie 'l'alt delegations practically In toto. If there had been any lingering doubt of the Taft strength It disappeared before this decisive action, Which In effect placed upwards of 760 delegates in the Taft column.-" — Temporary Chairman Burrows called the convention to order promptly at 12:20, but the delay of committoes in reporting gave an hour for diversion before the serious work of the day was begun. This time was given over to the visiting clubs, with bands and vocal choruses, bearing banners and strange devices of G. O. P. elephants. In front of the delegates paraded this motley throng, eliciting laughter and applause. Great Roosevelt Demonstration. L Mr. Lodge early in his address

launched h!s sentence which electrified the assemblage Into its first real demonstration of wild enthusiasm. “The president,” exclaimed Mr. Lodge, ‘”is the best abused and most popular man In the United States today.” ! This Was the long awaited signal. Instantly a shout broke from the galleries and was echoed back from the floor, at first only a tempest of detached yells, and cat-calls, and shouts es “Teddy,” but gradually gathering force and Volume until it swelled to a whlrftvind of sound and motion, as delegates and spectators rose en masse, mounting chairs, waving banners. hats, handkerchiefs, flags, newspapers, anything which could be seized upon to add turbulence to the scene. For three-quarters of an hour the tnmult continued, and then Chairman Lodge finished his speech and the business of the convention was relumed.

PROCEEDINGS OF CONVENTION.

Nsw Issues Call to Order—Burrows Is Made Temporary Chairman. Promptly at noon Tuesday Chalrxnan Harry New of the Republican national committee rapped smartly with bis 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 occupied and the hundreds of flags and beautiful costumes of many women . served to give brilliant color to the 1 scene. For an hour the brass bands

*t cither end of the building had been alternating in playing patriotic airs, while the delegates and spectators were gathering. When Mr. New arose the roar of conversation and the cheering <pf noted persons as they entered ceased. Mr. New spoke briefly and then introduced Bishop P. J. Muldoon of Chicago, who delivered the invocation. Chairman Burrows Presented. Again Mr. New arose, and this time called 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 of the Republican party, discussed the growth and development of the country under ite rule, and praised la turn the work done by each of the nine executive deparg^t^the W and navy sad the

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.f > Permanent Officers Picked. Sermanent officers of the, convenwere installed as follows during j the second day's proceedings: Chairman Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, Massachusetts. General Seereiary—John ft- MaHoy, Columbus, O. Sergeant-at-Arms—William F. Stone, Baltimore. Parliamentarian —Asher C. Hinds, Washington, D. C. Chaplains—Bishop P., J. Muldoon, Chicago; Rev. William 0. Waters, Chicago; Rev. Tobias Schanfarber. Chicago; Rev. John Wesley Hill, New York; Rev. Lorenzo D. Case. Chicago. The convention then proceeded to the se]ection of the various committees. The gavel used to open the convention is of more than passing historic interest, being made from a log preserved from old Fort Dearborn. The inside of the cover of the box containing the gavel is left in its rough-hewn condition, showing the deep broad-ax cuts. The mallet is about a foot long and around the head is a silver band, bearing an American flag in colored enamel.

Judge Alum of one of Havana’s correctional courts fined the management of the Albisu theater S3O a few days ago for violating the ordinance against the playing of the Marcha de Cadiz (Cadiz March). There is a peculiar but reasonable prejudice in Cuba against this Spanish march. It was to that tune, in the days when Spain ruled the island, that the Cuban patriots marched to their execution. So, when the independent government was established six years ago, a ban was placed on the march and it has seldom been heard since then. Senor Valdes, manager of the Albisu theater, explained that the large Spanish element in the house demanded the playing of the Cadiz March, and he complied to avoid trouble.

HON. WILLIAM H. TAFT

Senator Burrows.

Harry 8. New.