AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A PENNSYLVANIAN
floor with his heavy gavel. If the speaker failed to make himself heard distinctly, a buzz started in the audience, and thereafter he was utterly lost, a mere figure with twisting features and moving arms. There were very few who could stand the test. A man from California whose name I do not know, with a voice like the roaring of a bull, made the crowd laugh and listen. Elihu Root nominated Roosevelt. It was a good speech, but he could not be heard even by our delegation, whose location was very near to the stand, and, therefore, at the time was ineffective. I was called on the second day from my place on the platform where I sat apart from the delegation as one of the vice presidents of the convention.
It is to be hoped that my readers, if I ever have any, will look with lenity upon the introduction into these memoirs of some of my short speeches. If their eyes be wide open they will see that I am endeavoring to impress them, as I ever did my listeners, with the facts that show the great importance in American life of our own state. It is only the simple truth that I have been the first who, upon every possible occasion, in the face of those who have been taught and would rather think otherwise, has boldly asserted these facts and rigidly insisted upon their acceptance. All of my writing predecessors have been more or less explanatory and exculpatory and to that extent weak. It is a satisfaction to know that a result has been accomplished. William U. Hensel, Martin G. Brumbaugh and others have since adopted the same tone and it is to be hoped the time is near when our people will be inspired with a proper appreciation of and pride in their own wonderful influence upon broad affairs. On this occasion and to this vast audience I said:
