The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-09-23
SPEAKING OF THE CONVENTION.

1t is not possible to hold the Republican
convention without the aid of Sam Lowen-
Stem. There is somewhere in the archives
OF the republican party a proposition to the
erect That convention is not legal in Ram
afE county unless Wade, of the governors
oInce is there. However that may be it is
certain that they would not attempt to call
a convention to order unless Sammy I,owen-
stem was on the floor. Sam adds a touch
OF the picturesque to what might be a bald
proceeding. He was there yesterday sit
tlng IN the front row of the Third ward dele
gatlon: His striking resemblance to Weyler-
ue Floheer Press, in the early days of the
war, ran cut Of Sam and labeled it View
ier-lnVlted comment from the press table
put Sam was all unconscious of it. He was
engaged IN preparing a speech. He made
ms speech along in the afternoon. He ranged
n NJ up IN front Of the platform and spoke.
he must have been speaking, for he waved
MS arms and his head wagged. But not a.
soul In the house heard q word he said A
man less than four feet from him heard NOT
a word When he had said enough he sat
down and accepted the congratulations of his
fellow delegates with that becoming modesty
that marks the orator and statesman. Sam
my Is framing up an array of strength to
the end that he may set aside the order of
the president of the senate prohibiting him
from cooking ham and eggs with garlic in the
corridor Of the capitol while the senate is in
session.
Every man on the platform, who could look
GOWN into the body of the house and saw
Kissed. was sorry for the county attorney
Most of them were present last spring when
the same thing occurred at the mention of
the name of Frank Doran. 1t seems to be a
part of the Republican scheme 10 add insult
to injury when 1t has further for a.
man. Anderson was and is much better
man and officer than most of those who were
against him. yet, when his friends put him
In nomination, he was hiSSed-hissed sharply
and positively. 1t makes you feel queer, al
most indignant when that sort of thing hap
pens in public, even when the object of public
scorn is only a cheap actor. But here was
man whom the Republicans delighted to
honor two years ago. Anderson was standing
in the of the delegates floor when the
Kissing started He moved over toward the
other side Of the hall and the watchers could
see him go pale. Then he disappeared. With
out waiting to see the outcome of the ballot
he pushed himself into the crowd. 1t was
an awkward disappearance from public life
and the disinterested men on the platform
were actually sorry for Sam, and really start
ed attempt at a cheer-whiCh was not
echoed on the floor, however, and was fat
failure.
They decorated Billy Johnson with flowers
and he narrowly escaped being m de the obi CT
of demonstrative and osculatory affection on
the part of George Gerlich. Mr.. Gerlich left
his brooms and spittoons and things long
enough to look after the nomination of Billy,
and when the little man won out the obese
person overcome with joy. Billy took
the flowers and other demonstrations with the
same sang froid that he has been in the habit
they offered him only kicks.
The chairman was a wonder. No one quite
knows how he became chairman. No one else
wanted the job, and that might account for
his selection When he was selected he
Jumped into the middle of a fiery harangue
but forgot his lines at once and subsidized. It
was very funny. From that time on the con-
vention had an awful time controlling him.
He would Insist going off half-cocked and
took much Of his own time in apologizing for
plumbers. He might we'll have kept his
apologies to himself, for no one paid the least
attention to him. 1t was worth while watch
ing him when he would call for the ballot 1t
was customary for the First to take plenty of
time to ballot. Sundberg was busy interpret
ing for the members from some parts of his
ward. He paid no attention to the demands
of the chairman for the vote, but when he got
ready stood up and announced It. 1t some
times happened that he made the announce
ment while the chairman was in the midst of
a speech. Sundberg broke up two or three
good things in this way.
The hostility Of the convention to nominat-
ing speeches was O severe blow to many
budding young orators, and some others full
blown. The adroitness of speakers making
nominations after the convention had
manifested its disposition was anus
ing. but futile. After a speaker had
strung along for half dozen sentences he
was vociferously requested to name his caudl-
date, and let it go at that Several speakers