The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1894-08-29
Convention of the Office Seekers.

The Office seekers were out in force last
Saturday. 1t is needless to say they were
Republicans, for of such is the Kingdom of
spells.
The more anxious of the pap hunters ar
rived on the scene of the "fraternal contest"
early in the forenoon, their presence being
easily distinguishable by the look of painful
certainty and narrowing distrust that kept
them in a nervous gallop from the moment
of setting foot on County Seat soil.
oh, yes! they were all protectionists, and
believed in subsidizing "infant industries" :"
and in straddling" the silver question, and
We'd with each other in pounding the ortho-
dox drum of their party gods, in order to
"work" the multitude, but how they watch
ed each other! And why should they not?
1t was of paramount importance to the party
that none but the best men be nominated,
and lol multitude Of the "best men,"
championsd by the elite of the party, came
forward to save its credit and good name,
and perpetuate its salaries.
Was it not a problem for Euclid? Nothing
but patriotism of the loftiest and most disin-
terested kind would ever have dictated to
the several aspirants the procedure that
marked their course in the convention, or
have suggested the numerical check" +" that
was called into play at various stages of the
game to prevent the defeat of the "best man
for the Office"
In order to give added tone and dignity to
the convocation Gf it were possible to do SOY
the doors of the Opera House were thrown
open for the reception of the Glover of the
party" who could hardly be expected to
compromise the sacred character of its cause
or endanger its frail existence, by holding
its convention in plebian town hall which,
however, would have amply accommodated
the delegates.
At IL O'Clock nearly every delegate was in
his seat or on the floor, but the hum Of vo-
Called scheming continued for some time
afterward, until asuccession ofvigorous raps
from the stage precipitated great calm over
the multitude, many of whom were brought
into communion thereby with the "unseen
intelligence" that had haunted their mental
visions for SO many weary weeks, and which
now thumped out to them beautiful mes
sage, which they interpreted as "Get there /;
honestly, if you can; but-get there r. This
grand sentiment became from that moment
the inspiration of the convention, lndvidu-
ally and collectively, and how thoroughly it
held sway over its deliberations and actions,
will be gratifyingly manifest, especially to
the friends of those who "got there"
Hon. E. s. Woodwork, of Windham, was
elected Chairman, and C. G. Bentley, of Ra-
VIENNA, and DIR. C. W. Haines, of Kent, Sec
retaries.
The Chairman made short and graceful
speech on taking his seat, in which he said
that the Republican party had only to con-
tinue the policy of protection in order to
perpetuate its ascendancy, and admonished
the brethren that they must prepare for the
return of their party to power. This last
part of the speech was the only one that con-
cerned his hearers who were about to engage
in practical politics, and who therefore had
no time to waste over the "vagaries of abb
stract niceties," except that " the best man
for the Office" must be selected. They there
fore cheered him at this point, and straight
way addressed themselves to the work OF
" preparation"
r. s, Webb, of Garrettsville, Captain ST.
mon Perkins, of Randolph, and s. T. Han
selman, of Ravenna, were appointed COM
mittee on credentials, and soon made their
report that there were no contests, and that
eyerv township in the county was represent
resented excepting Atwater, which had not
vet been heard from.
The Chairman asked, preceding thisreport
If the convention would have committee
ON resolutions, to which DR.. F. c. Applegate,
the old war horse" of Windham, respond
ed. eve don't need any" This Of course
was but another way Of saying "We don't
want any," and the convention shouted a
great shout of approval at the response. 1t
WAS a "business convention called for the
purpose of nominating the best man for the
office" and the interests of all these "best
men" candidates must not be sacrificed by
wasting time over resolutions.
True to the party instinct. the delegates
sacrificed the expression of principle, or SO
called principle, to the work OF the office
seeker, and the plotting and counter-p plotting
was thus allowed full sway, free from such
nonsensical interruption. A platform was
however really adopted in unwritten text,
and received the unanimous assent and sup
port of the convention. 1t read as follows:
RESOLVED, That we favor the election
of the Republican ticket, no matter what it
a.REsoLyEp, That the "best man" is the
man who "gets there," even though he do