A. Bookwalter, Mayor of Indianapolis Stewart L. Woodford, Former Congressman and Judge of New York Theodore E. Burton, Congressman of Ohio George A. Knight, Attorney and Businessman C.B. M'Coy, Ohio Factory Owner W.O. Emory, Young Black Delegate from Macon, Georgia Robert S. Murphy, Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania James Scarlet, Prominent Attorney from Danville, Pennsylvania Henry F. Cochems, Wisconsin Football Star Charles A.A. McGee, Author of "The Truth About Money" from Wisconsin June 19 Prayer by Rabbi Tobias Schanfarber Timothy L. Woodruff, Businessman and Former Politician Joseph Gurney Cannon, Speaker of the House Augustus E. Willson, Governor of Kentucky Henry Cabot Lodge (again) Chase Osborn of Michigan James Brownlow Yellowley, Mississippi State Legislator Thomas N. McCarter, Former Attorney General of New Jersey and public servant William Warner, Senator from Missouri Julius C. Burrows of Michigan Presidential nomination Presidential candidates Prior to the convention, Vice President Charles Fairbanks and New York Governor Charles Evans Hughes both seemed like plausible nominees, but Roosevelt was determined to pick his own successor. Though Roosevelt preferred Secretary of State Elihu Root, Root's age and background in corporate law made him an unpalatable nominee, so Roosevelt instead supported Secretary of War William Howard Taft. Entering the convention, Taft, buoyed by the support of the popular Roosevelt, was virtually assured of the nomination. Taft won the presidential nomination on the first ballot, overcoming Fairbanks and the other candidates. Withdrew Before Convention Declined to Seek Nomination Presidential Balloting / 3rd Day of Convention (June 18, 1908) Vice Presidential nomination Vice Presidential candidates Taft preferred a progressive running mate such as Indiana Senator Albert Beveridge or Iowa Senator Jonathan Dolliver, but Representative James S. Sherman of New York had the support of Speaker Joseph Gurney Cannon and the New York delegation. Sherman was a fairly conservative Republican who was nonetheless acceptable to the more progressive wing of the party. Sherman won the vice presidential nomination on the first ballot, taking 816 of the 979 votes cast. Former New Jersey Governor Franklin Murphy received 77 votes while Massachusetts Governor Curtis Guild, Jr. received 75 votes, with the remaining votes going to Governor George L. Sheldon of Nebraska and Vice President Charles Fairbanks. Declined to Seek Nomination Vice Presidential Balloting / 4th Day of Convention (June 19, 1908) See also History of the United States Republican Party List of Republican National Conventions United States presidential nominating convention 1908 United States presidential election