Part 6 (2/2)
Think of that too! Colonel Claud Birkhead of San Antonio, Texas, leader of the Texas delegation ”thirded” the nomination. He told Colonel Lindsley's record. The Colonel had been Mayor of his home city, and during the war had served his country so well in France that he had been awarded the Distinguished Service Medal. He and Major Willard Straight, now dead, had started the War Risk Insurance Bureau abroad and, at the time of the caucus, Colonel Lindsley was the head of the Bureau under the Treasury Department in Was.h.i.+ngton.
Minutes of a meeting usually are dry but here I am going to quote directly from them because they tell the story in the most vivid way.
Fancy between the lines, please, dozens of cheers, a couple of rebel yells, a great deal of talking and shouting for ”T.R.!” ”T.R.!” and a Babelous babble that ebbed or flowed according to the strength Colonel Roosevelt used in wielding his gavel.
COLONEL JONES (of Was.h.i.+ngton, D.C.): ”Mr. Chairman, I personally feel, and I think I voice the unanimous sentiment of this organization, that your withdrawal is a mistake. We are not only sincere, but we are telling you what is in the bottom of our hearts. We are weighing also the sincerity which you have expressed, and in deference to your wishes, which I know have not arisen spontaneously but which you have talked about for some time, regarding the chairmans.h.i.+p of this committee, I think we should not embarra.s.s you further. I have one in mind who I feel is going to be a man who will do credit to this organization--”
MR. ABBOTT (of Ohio): ”Gentlemen of the caucus, I think we are wasting time around here. I can't see why we can't have for the permanent chairman of this convention the man who will be elected in November.”
THE CHAIRMAN: ”Gentlemen, can't you see how it is? I can't possibly change my convictions. I can't go back on what I have told you without everybody, who doesn't understand the situation here, feeling that I have just come out here to make a grandstand play. I am right. I am absolutely sincere and right.”
A motion was made that Colonel Theodore Roosevelt temporarily yield the chair to Colonel Bennett Clark.
COLONEL BENNETT CLARK: ”It is very evident what the desire of this convention is. I know that Colonel Lindsley of Texas was only put in nomination in response to the express wishes and repeated determination of Colonel Roosevelt. I think that that explanation should be made in justice to Colonel Lindsley. I think that Colonel Roosevelt should take this chairmans.h.i.+p or if he doesn't want to take it he should be made to take it. (Applause.) The chair will recognize a motion to that effect.”
CAPTAIN BOYCE (of New York shouting to a yelling audience): ”What is the use of our acting like a lot of kids? Just one minute; only one man can talk at a time and get anywhere. Colonel Roosevelt will not take it.”
COLONEL BENNETT CLARK: ”The chair will recognize n.o.body until the convention is in order. It has been moved and seconded that Colonel Roosevelt be elected chairman of this convention by acclamation.”
Cries of approval from the audience and a request for the question.
COLONEL BENNETT CLARK: ”On that the chair will take the responsibility of ordering a roll call. (Applause.) The Secretary will call the roll.”
SECRETARY WOOD: ”The motion is that Colonel Roosevelt be nominated by acclamation. The chairman has directed me to call the roll by States.
Alabama--”
A call for a point of order.
DELEGATE: ”After nominations have been made and closed a roll call cannot be taken.”
COLONEL CLARK: ”The chair was fully aware that he was proceeding outside of parliamentary law because it was the unanimous wish of the convention.”
MR. SULLIVAN: ”I move that a roll call be made on the original nominations.”
COLONEL CLARK: ”Colonel Roosevelt has expressed to me his absolute desire that that not be done. He refuses to enter into a contest with Colonel Lindsley in any way.”
COLONEL JONES (Was.h.i.+ngton, D.C.): ”Mr. Chairman, the nominations were reopened.”
COLONEL CLARK: ”The chair is informed that while he was on the way up here a motion was carried to reopen nominations after the resignation of Colonel Roosevelt. Now nominations are again in order.”
MAJOR SAMUEL D. ROYCE (Indiana): ”On behalf of the State of Indiana, I nominate Colonel Theodore Roosevelt.”
The motion was seconded.
COLONEL CLARK: ”The gentleman from the District of Columbia has the floor. Others please be quiet.”
Here I must inject my story into the minutes again. Colonel Roosevelt saw the convention was ”getting away to a Roosevelt finish” again, to use a racing term, and he sent a hurry call to the Arizona delegation for Colonel Jack Greenway.
Jack Greenway followed the elder Roosevelt up San Juan hill. He wears underneath his civilian coat to-day, but right over his heart, a Distinguished Service Cross won at Cantigny.
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