At Cleveland

Two came from the southern and the eastern hemisphere; two came from the middle of the Pacific; two came from the land that borders on the Arctic Ocean; two came from a rectangular island in the Caribbean; two came from the Nation's Capital. But it wasn't all a two-by-two affair. From the state of New York came 91, from Pennsylvania 79, from Ohio 51. There were 1,109 in all.

Indeed it was not unlike the episode of the Ark, when the delegates came to Cleveland. They came to escape from the flood of ballots that is sure to drown somebody in November. They came to board the craft which they hoped would carry them safely upon the surface of the flood. They were a motley crew-- a princess from Oceania, a learned historian-statesman from Massachusetts, a much investigated ex-Cabinet officer from Ohio and many less marked personages. They trooped into Public Hall, which may be called the Ark, to place themselves in the care of the astute pilot, William M. Butler, who may be called Noah. Only Calvin Coolidge must be left out of the simile to avoid blasphemy.

First Day.

Fifteen thousand people trouped into the Ark. It was a bigger, better Ark than they had ever witnessed before. With the great amplifiers everybody heard and everybody saw--a seething mass of people with animalcules performing on the far horizon.

National Chairman John T. Adams, promptly at the appointed hour, called the Convention to order. John Philip Sousa stepped to his side. The lights went out, amber and purple auroras spread from the ceiling. Sousa rapped with his baton. His band struck up The Star Spangled Banner, followed by The Stars and Stripes Forever.

Bishop Anderson then delivered an invocation: "Lord, Thou has been our dwelling place in all generations. . . ."

After George B. Lockwood, Secretary of the National Committee, had read the call of the Convention, Mr. Adams came forward and announced for the benefit of all: "This is the 18th Republican National Convention." He then launched into a brief address:

"It is only 60 years since Lincoln was President. In that brief period our country has enjoyed the greatest moral and material welfare in all history. This has been brought about largely under Republican rule . . ."

When he had done he proposed on behalf of the National Committee, Representative Theodore E. Burton of Ohio for Temporary Chairman. A Committee escorted Mr. Burton to the chair. The Convention by vote then confirmed him in office.

Thereupon Mr. Burton opened his mouth and from it issued the keynote:

"It is appropriate that a Republican National Convention should assemble in Ohio . . . Not far away are the resting places of Garfield, McKinley, Hayes and Harding. . ." He then proceeded for some three-quarters of an hour to review the history of the Republican Administration, and he added:

"It is time to call a halt upon indiscriminate scandalmongering, which is largely designed to insult the intelligence and undermine the patriotism of the American people. But let us not be misunderstood. This is no reflection upon any investigator who in good faith is seeking to expose crime or any other defection among public servants. The guilty individual, whether he be high or low, Democrat or Republican, must suffer the severest punishment. Upon this proposition the Republican Party stands firm as a rock. Yet let it be known that guilt knows no party. . .

"I would that I could say as much for the courage of all public men as for their honesty. There is no lack of wisdom, of patriotism, or of desire to serve the people; but courage to stand up against hasty conclusions and currents of superficial public opinion is often absent. The public fancy is sometimes caught by those who are most vociferous and at the same time most radically wrong. There are too many who listen to these voices and try the impossible contortion of keeping both ears to the ground and listening to notes to which their ears should be deaf. What is most needed in legislative halls and elsewhere is courage to withstand the sudden spasms which are created by groundless rumor or injudicious agitation. Candidates for office often fail to realize how much the people respect courage and common honesty."

At this the Convention burst into hearty applause. Even Henry Cabot Lodge pounded his umbrella upon the floor, although it was an attack upon his group and he knew it.

Second Day.

Representative Burton called the Convention to order at 11:00 a.m., just 30 minutes late. The Star Spangled Banner was played; a prayer said.

Senator McKinley of Illinois came forward with the report of the Committee on Credentials. It gave final decisions in the cases of contested delegations.

Next to come forward was Mrs. Elizabeth P. Martin, the first woman ever to be Chairman of one of the major committees of a Republican National Convention. She presented the report of the Committee on Permanent Organization, naming Frank W. Mondell of Wyoming as Permanent Chairman. With a roar for her and a roar for Mondell the Convention agreed.

Chairman Burton presented Mr. Mondell and Chairman Mondell then ad-'dressed himself to his organization:

"Every serious fault of recent legislation and every failure to complete and round out a satisfactory legislative program could and would have been avoided had there been dependable Republican majorities in the Congress. The one certain and assured remedy for such a condition is the election of a Congress, Republican by a goodly majority both in name and in principle.

"A tree is known by its fruits; not by the showy flowers of promise or the occasional defect in bud or branch, but by the normal harvest through the running of the years--and the harvest of the Republican party and leadership is faithfully reflected in the matchless growth and fadeless glory of the Republic.

"Mr. Mondell called for the report of the Committee on Rules. Paul Howland, counsel of Harry M. Daugherty, stepped forward. His report had two interesting features. One was the provision giving women equal representation with men on the National Committee. At this the women delegates went wild. The men expressed approval. The other was a provision giving the National Committee power to oust any committeeman who refused to support the Convention's nominees--a threat for the Wisconsin group if they should turn from Coolidge to La Follette. The roar of approval which this provision produced was as great as that which had followed the clause for equal female representation. Wisconsin sat stolidly in its seats. There was no opposition to the adoption of the report.

The convention went into recess until that evening.

At 8:00 p.m. the Hall was crowded-- too crowded to be in order. The organ and a band played loudly. Twenty minutes later Mr. Mondell secured order.

Then Charles B. Warren, Ambassador to Mexico, presented the report of the Committee on Resolutions. Said he:

"The platform to be presented by the Committee has been agreed upon by the members from every state and territory except one.

"Throw out Wisconsin!" shouted the Convention.

He began to read. At his first mention of Calvin Coolidge there was a 20-minute demonstration. The entire Convention stood and cheered--all except 28 men from Wisconsin, who sat tight. The surging delegates tried to tear the Wisconsin placard from its moorings, but the Wisconsin man held it tight. Cries of "Kick them out!" "Throw them out!" The band began to play The Star Spangled Banner.

The lights were turned out and searchlights played in the darkness.

Mr. Mondell rapped for order. The organ began to play and the galleries began to sing "Hail, hail the gang's all here--all except Wisconsin, all except Wisconsin!"

Mr. Warren, earnest but uninspiring, continued to read the platform (see Page 4). After each plank was read, the audience nailed it down with applause, sufficient but not overpowering.

When Mr. Warren had done, grey-bearded Representative Cooper of Wisconsin got the floor to present a minority--the Wisconsin--report. He was given ten minutes to speak in addition to his time for reading his platform. He spoke well, and although the audience was against him, it demanded more time for him. He quit when his speaking time was up and began to read. Some of the minority planks were loudly hissed and booed. A few received mild applause. When he finished, he moved his platform be adopted. Mr. Warren moved the majority report be adopted.

Mr. Mondell put the questions. For 28 men, the Wisconsin delegation shouted well in voting for their platform, but the opposition was overpowering. Mr. Mondell announced that the majority platform was adopted "overwhelmingly."

Then adjournment was taken until 10:00 the next morning.

Third Day.

The proceedings opened, as usual, with a prayer, followed by the singing of The Star Spangled Banner. Then Senator Wadsworth of New York, tall, bald, businesslike, rose out of the crowd and was recognized. On behalf of the New York delegation he presented a resolution to send the good wishes of the Convention to Chauncey M. Depew, now turned 90. Mr. Depew was absent for the first time since 1888. Illness had prevented his coming, although he was a delegate this year as always. The hall roared its approval.

Mr. Mondell announced that National Committeemen and Committee-women would be elected. The chairman of each state's delegation rose and announced his state's choices.

A parade of Civil War veterans then entered. Mr. Mondell introduced them as "defenders of the Union." The audience stood and the aged veterans paraded down the centre aisle. Patriotic airs of Civil War time were played--including Marching Through Georgia.

A motion was passed limiting speeches seconding nominations to five minutes. Then the long awaited moment was at hand. The Chair announced that nominations for the Presidential candidate were in order and ordered a roll call of the states. It began:

"Alabama!"

The leader of the Alabama delegation rose and announced: "Alabama yields to Massachusetts!"

Governor Channing H. Cox, of the latter state, moved that the privileges of the Convention be accorded to Dr. Marion LeRoy Burton of Michigan to nominate the candidate of Massachusetts. Mr. Mondell put the motion: "The privileges of the Convention to Dr. Burton to nominate President Coolidge." There was a gust of laughter at this slip, covered up by a perfunctory chorus of "Ayes."

Slowly the President of the University of Michigan came forward. Like the man he came to nominate, he had reddish hair. Like him, he was slender. Unlike him, he stood well over six feet in height. He began:

"Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen, fellow Republicans and fellow citizens of America, the greatest country the world has ever known:

"This hour is fraught with solemn obligation. . . In nominating this man to succeed himself you are virtually choosing the next President. .

"I shall speak as one who for years has known the President. . . the better you know him the more you will trust him. . .

"First, the man:

"In keeping with his real qualities I shall make no effort to exalt him, for he does not need it. . . About this man there is something elemental. . . . He has moral fibre. . . . With him there is no compromise. . . Frugality is a part of his being. . . To him, life is work. . . In the largest sense of the word he is a patient man. . . No one can throw him into a panic, for he sees life steadily and sees it whole. . . Has he a sense of humor? Emphatically, yes. . . .

"Second--the American:

"He has been thinking America, believing America, living America. . . He reverences our past. . . He knows that progress will require unrelenting toil. . . His fervent love of America has made him an out-and-out Nationalist. . . He stands for America first because America can then serve all mankind. . . Heart and soul he is an American.

"Third--the human being:

"The brotherhood of man is a great spiritual reality. . . He has unlimited confidence in the people. . . As a human being he believes without reservations in the people and their capacity for self government. . . To him the home is our most sacred institution. . . No one can fail to be gripped by his depth of human understanding. . .

"To the National Convention of the greatest party in American history, I have the distinction to present as candidate to succeed himself as President of the United States of America . . . the virile man--the stanch American--the real human being--Calvin Coolidge."

The speech was not of the "spellbinding" type of oratory but bound the audience firmly in a spell for 51 minutes. Then several Massachusetts delegates got up from their seats and began waving banners. Senator Frank B. Willis in the Ohio delegation began to shout. In about five minutes they had got the Convention on its feet and marching around. The band struck up a sickly Onward Christian Soldiers. In 13 minutes the demonstration, such as it was, was over.

Then the seconders got to work:

1) Mrs. Florence C. Porter of California, "motherly," "middle-aged"-- eight minutes.

2) Representative Martin B. Madden of Illinois, white-haired and active--twelve minutes, closing amid shouts of protest at his length.

3) Former Governor W. W. Stickney of Vermont, personal friend of the Coolidges--four minutes.

4) Judge George H. Erie of Oregon, who waited sternly for quiet while the hall shouted for a vote-- three minutes.

5) Mrs. Minnie J. Grinstead of Kansas, with a voice like a trumpet and a flame colored gown--one minute.

6) Dr. George E. Cannon (Negro) of New Jersey--eight minutes and howled off.

7) Isaac M. Meekins of North Ca-olina--five minutes (last minute inaudible).

8) Nathaniel A. Elsberg of New York who began "If you won't be cruel to me, I won't be cruel to you" --three minutes.

Then the roll call began: "Alabama," "16 for Coolidge"--"Arizona" "nine for Coolidge." So on continuously. When Nevada had recorded her vote Coolidge had the majority necessary for nomination, but the call went on. North Dakota was the first to break the solid phalanx. She cast six of her 13 votes for La Follette. A little later South Dakota gave 10 of her 13 to Hiram Johnson. Wissonsin gave 28 of her 29 to La Follette. And the roll call ended, Coolidge 1,065; La Follette 34; Johnson 10.

There were hisses and booes at the Wisconsin delegation when it cast its vote. The chief of the South Dakota delegation moved that Coolidge be unanimously nominated. The lone Wisconsin delegate, who had voted for Coolidge, Thomas Scott a large chubby man from Kenosha, began a speech but was shouted down by his colleagues. The motion was put: A great chorus of "Ayes"--a handful of lusty "Noes" from Wisconsin. The nomination was made unanimous "with the exception of a very few voices"--28 to be exact.

A recess was taken until 3:30 p. m.

Then nominations for the Vice Presidential Candidate. Alabama yielded to Iowa who nominated Judge Kenyon, Arizona came forward unexpectedly to nominate Lowden. A parade around the hall followed, lasting four minutes. A man from Illinois announced that Lowden would not be a candidate. Then Indiana nominated Watson. Illinois yielded to Nebraska who nominated Dawes. Kansas nominated Senator Curtis. Maryland nominated William P. Jackson, National Committeeman from that State. Missouri nominated Governor Hyde. Utah nominated General Frank T. Hines.

After the nominating roll call a few brief seconding speeches followed. Then the real roll call began. In half an hour the result was announced. The leaders (in a field of 20-odd) were:

Lowden 222

Kenyon 172

Dawes 149

Theo. E. Burton , 139

On the second ballot the tide turned for Lowden. Then suddenly States began to change their votes to jump on the Lowden band wagon. They changed so fast that apparently no accurate count was made. Lowden had secured well over a majority and the nomination was made unanimous.

Confusion followed on the stage. William M. Butler seemed perturbed. Mr. Mondell pounded for order and finally had the aisles cleared by the Sergeants-at-Arms. Then he had a letter read:

"While fully appreciating the high honor that has just been tendered me, I hereby decline the nomination for Vice President.

"Very respectfully,

"FRANK O. LOWBEN."

The letter had been prepared in advance for just such an emergency. A moment later an Associated Press dispatch from Elgin, Ill, brought the same news from Mr. Lowden, at Elgin, Ill.

A motion was made to proceed to a third roll call. Charles B. Warren interrupted by moving instead that the Convention recess until 9 p. m., so that meanwhile Mr. Lowden might be consulted by telegraph. It carried and the delegates went out for dinner, feeling hungry and hurt.

During the recess Mr. Mondell telegraphed Mr. Lowden and the latter repeated what he had "said a thousand times" that he would not accept the nomination.

Not at 9:00 but at 10:00 p. m. the Convention resumed work. First, the Secretary read a schedule of departing trains. Then the correspondence with Mr. Lowden was read. Then voting began.

William M. Butler made a strenuous .effort to have Herbert Hoover nominated. The Old Guard, thoroughly squelched up to that point, refused to be dictated to.

Again the roll call began. The Dawes total piled up rapidly. When Texas cast her 23 votes for him he had the necessary majority and a cheer went up from, the delegates who had been keeping tallies. Governor Cox of Massachusetts moved to make it unanimous. Senator Watson of Indiana, who had watched his own prospects wane, jumped up and seconded the motion, saying: "I've been for Charlie Dawes all the time." The motion carried.

A few formal motions were passed. John T. Adams, retiring Chairman, announced that the new National Committee would meet the next day and moved that the Convention adjourn sine die. It did.