The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-06-19
Tho Man with tho GaveL


A familiar and somewhat tedious feature
Of every National Convention Is the Man
with the Gavel. He has come ia ba re-
garded as a necessary evil. and therefore
little hope is entertained that he will ab-
stain from appearing in Chicago. In the
Democratic National Convention Of 1884.
the proceedings were unnecessarily and alb
ruptly interrupted by the appearance
OF two rival gavel presenters. one
from Boston and the other from Chicago.
Both claimed q hearing: both wanted
the floor. Both had gavels. The Bos.
ton applicant. with true Yankee foresight,
had dedicated in advance. so to speak. the
Boston gavel to the Democratic nominee In
a letter written ten days before the nom-
nation was made. THAT you may go
forth. he hoped with the trust and fidelity
of WASHINGTON and LINCOLN. q Puritanio
devotion to our cause. and come again with
Veni. uidi. vtci on your standard" The
Boston gavel was made partly Of Oonnecti-
cut oak from Hartford. tho handle being
South Carolina palmetto wood. and the
small panels inlaid. It was alleged. az fol-
lows:
~. pieos Of Gen IsRAKL fu1ixs birch torch. said
.
boy. aG-da
-. A p,sc. Of marble obtained in Rome from the
palace OF julius GksAR
-. A piece u P ,eAdsnt LKcoLrs log cabin
a Apiece OF petrilsd weud from the tomb d osoHaa
wAsHINoTos.
"5. piece Of wood from the old olm on the
Boston common"
Inc at named panel II was currently reported st
the time. had been secured after nishtfa whom the
Boston tsrmsn were attend. nx dog fight
The acceptance Of this gavel was bitterly
opposed 10y the Chicago claimant. who
bad a rival gavel made. as he averred.
from the woods OF every State and
Territory In the Union. including Alas
ka. all OF which surround and support,
in the centre a piece Of wood from the Dis
trict OF Columbia. the handle Of which Is
made from the Charter Oak of Hartford.
Conn.," "This Ravel." he declared, will
be perfect emblem Of the States, repre-
ssnted by the inscription upon the bands,
Il Finribus Ununs."
Tho Copvention paused without aeknowl-
edxing q preference for either Boston or
Chicago. and In the interest OF harmony 40
cepted both gavels.
In the Democratic National CONVENTION
of 1883 there was more gavel business. Tho
spokesman Oh that occasion was q repre-
sentative OF the Democracy OF Colorado.
Tho business Of the Convention was about
to get under way. and Governor GREEN of
New Jersey had secured the floor when the
voice OF Colorado WAS heard. There was
an animated dispute over 1t. but the Man
with the Gavel prevailed. He said:
In ssnaf Of colorads's m,oraoy. crave tho In.
gencs Of this Convention prsssn for uss ny its
Chairman . s"id silver saveL TIA the modes, offer
Ing of the youngest member Of tbs Federal Union to
the party which restored silver 10 the pane from
which u mad hssn DEGRADED through Ius Repu bicap
conspiracy Of is,3 May the announcement Ls made
to vissd WORLD III ourh It's siivsry tvnss Of tue
SECOND nnSn.lnous nomination OF sue peoples choice
for Prssidsnt ssovsa CLnvxL.Spm
Our Republican friends have not been az.
empt from the gavsl nuisance. At their
recent Convention the gavel for uss
was prepared tor the Convention by the
pupils OF the South Side High school OF Min
neapolis. 1t was not SYSTEMATICALLY pre-
sented. but was ready for the Chairman
when he called the Convention to order.
The prayer had just been completed. and
the reg uiar order OF business was about To be
started. when friend Of the Man with the
Gavel. this time from Nebraska. arose and
spoke with great tmpressiveness:
"Er. Chairman, l wInt to call the attention Of the
Convention 10 tho fact That that tn IS che plat.
,osn gsutsmAu who dss'rs. 10 present gsysL"
The Man with the Gavel from Nebraska.
the cynosure OF all eyes. now advanced aud
thus delivered himself:
Among tue many masterpieces Of Republcan lssis
Assn As numerous AZ the stars In err tag the Home
Nesd act Of 1904. which after Ton years agitation WAS
Ana, lxy In Ak hv tl,,,.
Enabling act Of 1887 Ars psicuary cherished by the
people or our state"
"A Voice In the Gallery Louder
-Ensblin; Us to a.. the act admitting Nebraska
y togsn---"
"a Voice Come OF
-Aao,her Voice Pat It on ths ace
we desire 10 D<sssat this ssvsl It b sizapis boa