The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1898-09-06


II want to speak to you a minute.
JONES'
Just a moment, till l get through
with Jenkins here.''
Now am ready. wha. is it9"
well, say Jones-what do you think
of it?n
Cant say yet. haven't got things
sized up. What do you Think"
II don't know. How does A
stand?"
Haven't heard vet B=told me {
A was for hial.' |
Hum. The other man told me he
had assurances of As support 1t the
proper time
s'You want to keep an eye ON c..
he has some strength in the Second
500"
"Well if you hear anything lei me
know"
"All right, old man. Just excuse me
a moment, want to talk to Johnson
Good bye, l just saw Smith over
there and l want to talk to him.
These men repeat this conversation
with Slight variations every five min
utes during the day. 1t sis very enjoy
able.
Some big men arrive. They allow
themselves to be shaken by the hand,
1t is great pleasure. They cannot re-
member names, but they are positive
they have seen you before. ''Was it in
| Washington or duriug the last cam
paign:" Delegates are highly gratified
by this recognition. 1t was during the
last campaign you met them, at Spo-
dunk, you were one of 5000 to shake
their hands on that memorable day.
The great man suddenly remembers
that Spodunk was the place where he
met you. The great man then extends
his handi to another whose face is
familiar, but whose name he cannot re-
call.
The convivialists arrive. They enjoy
themselves regardless of politics. They
have attended many conventions and
know the good fellows from every
district and they have good time.
| Work is getting hotter in the head
quarters.
You step in and are met by the i'm
PRODUCER.
i You are Smith from Rock county,
i The intrOducer is greatly pleased to
meet any one from Rock county and
knows the candidate will he.
sWill not the gentleman from Rock
county have a cigar"
The candidate in whose headquarters
Z you are is sure to win, and the intro
ducer would like Rock county to he on
the band wagon.
You are introduced to the candidate.
He has friends in Rock county he
hopes. His prospects are the best and
he counts On the support of his Rock
county friends. "Will not the gentle
man from Rock county have cigar?''
You assure the candidate of the UNI
) dying affection of Rock county. There
are some mean men on the delegation
but you can handle them when the
proper time comes. However, for GER
} tain reasons Rock county will have to
vote for the opposition candidate on
, the first ballot, but after that
The pause is satisfactory.
'sWill not the gentleman from Rock
county have a cigar. VIII he not come
> again-always glad to see him.
The night before the convention
comes. The lay figures sit i'm the lob
} by and listen to the band. The friends
} of the candidates meet behind locked
, doors and figure on the first ballot
2 strength and send emissaries out to
| brace up the boys along the line.
Meanwhile the politicians have got
4 ten themselves together and have de-
: termined which candidates have the
/. best show.
Y A great change of sentiment occurs
on the next morning. Men who went
to bed firm followers of one candidate
' learn before breakfast that they are
! supporting another man. The other
g candidates know that they are beaten
3 but continue to keep stiff upper Liz
g and hope for miracles. Nothing mir
, aculous occurs.
The district caucuses meet in the
morning. They are principally to be
stow petty honors.
The morning session OF the conven
ton is attended Gy those who have
nothing better to do. The hall is usu
: ally poor one and the speeches of The
temporary chairmen are always too
long. These speeches are meant tol
the newspapers not for the convention
The delegates understand this and few
try to listen.