The Portland daily press., 1892-05-28

Louis. In the last four conventions of
the Republican party there have been
no fewer than ffty-five ballots, Hayes
being nominated on the seventh, Gar
field on the thirty-sixth, Blaine on the
fourth and Harrison on the eighth.
Without exception, the candidate who
entered the Democratic conventions with
the largest number Of votes has won the
prize. Only one Of the leading candi-
dates in the Republican conventions of
the last sixteen years has achieved sue
cess-Blaine. in 1884.
A ballot IN national convention!
What memories the phrase calls up,
what scenes of excitement, tension, ex-
pectancy, hearts beating faster, hearts
almost ceasing to beat at all! ssThe sec
rotary will call the roll of states" com
mands the presiding officer. A hush
follows. There is something strange in
the air The states are assembled be-
low. each marked by its banner. Never
before has the sisterhood of states APP
peared SO impressive; never before have
you watched with such eager eyes, lis
tened with such straining ears as now.
A president is to be made.
There is nothing else in a national con-
vention to compare with this roll call of
the states. 1t is quiet, orderly, unac-
companied as a rule by applause or
other demonstrations; but majestic, aw-
full in its tension, its potentiality. Next
to the balloting in interest is the ap-
plause. When wave of applause-of
human feeling manifesting itself in
cries. in waving of hands, hats, handker-
chiefs, flags, banners-roIls through one
of these vast audiences, the most impas-
sive spectator is lifted from his feet, is
made to suffer with the sensation Of
physical and mental expansion, of mex
plicable imitation, as If all the particles
of his being were endeavoring to sepa-
rate themselves one from another and
mingle with the electric currents in the
air.
These waves of applause are well rec
ognized weapons in national conven-
tions. The nomination of Lincoln in
the Wigwam, with all the mighty con-
sequences that followed in its wake,
was won with a persistent, planned and
irresistible whirlwind of demonstration.
The great politicians of the east, the
trained leaders, were for Seward, and
never dreamed of defeat. But they were
quickly surprised, then dumfounded,
and finally overthrown by an artfully
contrived western cyclone. From that
day to this the coup d'noise has been a
well recognized factor in national con-
ventions.
In the Chicago convention of 1884 the
Blaine whirlwind was directed-it was
not necessary to organize it-by Carson
Lake, now the brilliant political writer
of the New York Press. He stood on
the secretary's platform and deftly di-
rected the storm with his handkerchief
for baton, taking care that it should
break forth at the right time and stop
short Of WEAKNESS and absurdity.
A memorable scene was that in the
Democratic convention of 1884. Cleve-
land was strongly in the lead and the
convention had adjourned for the night.
Shrewd, alert, masterful Dan Manning
received word that something unusual
was going on in Ben Buffers room.
Evidently plot was being Matched.
What was it? Who could ascertain?
Leave it to me-" said young delegate
from Illinois, William A. Day. Outside
Buffers room was an iron balcony.
Here Day took up his station-looked
listened. All is fair in war and politics.
Before midnight he reported to Manning:
Butler, Kelly and their crowd will to-
morrow attempt to stampede the con-
vention to Hendricks. They will pack
the galleries and set loose cyclone
In an hour all the Cleveland leaders
were put on their guard. s'No matter
what happens in the convention tomor-
row, keep your heads; stand firm; keep
COOL" The word was passed along.
When the storm broke a magnifi-
cent, inspiring, electrical storm it was
the Cleveland delegates sat unmoved.
When the wind ceased, the thunder was
silent and the sun came out they pro-
ceeded quietly and easily to the noanina-
ton of Cleveland. But for the iron ball
cony and the bright, quick Mr.. Day,
Cleveland might never have been presi-
dent. WALTER WELLMAN.