Evening journal., 1902-09-17
Impressions Of Convention
By Bill Parsons

had captured from the Spaniards, all was
peace. Ehen it threw its last beams
across that little patch Of green it beheld
crowd Of politicians more or less satisfied
with strenuous days work.
Another chapter in the local Democracy
had been written, another ticket placed
in the field TO run the gauntlet Of the cleo
tion, and behind smiling faces were un-
shed tears of regret and deep, IL not Bit
ter, disappointments.
Early in the morning the hotels began
to disgorge their tenants, and when the
early trains arrived there was a process
sion down Loockerman street such as Do
yer only knows on such occasions or when
circus comes to town. The delegate
who has opinions and Is not afraid to ex-
press them, but who finally acts just as
he is told was in evidence. Now and then
he would succeed in capturing a listener,
much to his delight and get a bit Of an
audience but all knew that the destinies
OF the party lay in the hands Of a half
dozen men.
II was a significant spectacle when arm
in arm r. r. Kenney and Willard Sauls-
bury took a stroll around the green They
were in earnest confab. and the lesser
lights would have given a pretty penny to
have known the subjects under discussion.
Look there they go" exclaimed a dele
gate and all eyes We're turned towards the
great men who were to lead them to pas
lures green or to leave them on the bar
rem rocks Of defeat where the pasturage is
scant
The black slouch hat, the emblem Of
Southern Democracy, was in evidence and
when Griggs of Georgia, and Clayton Of
Alabama, appeared there was feeling
that the real article was at hand.
There were twelve candidates for Con-
gress, and there was as much uncertainty
about who would capture the prize as
there is when those same delegates guess
on the weight Of prize porker. The
knowing ones said: Handy or Hous-
ton" but all cannot be knowing ones, 50
each of the twelve had his champions.
Handy. big and burly, with his hat
drawn down over his eyes was alert to the
possibilities of the hour. A twist or q
turn would give him the nomination, and
he was embracing every opportunity and
/ playing every card. But old Sussex haq
| to be reclSoned with; she claimed the
nomination and had good grounds for do
| ing So There was nothing definite in the
situation until the caucusses were over
/ New Castle had reached no conclusion, al
though 1t had developed that three out OF
/ every four OF her delegates were foi
Handy But there were at least nineteen
votes for Houston to plague the Handy
people.
Kent met and decided nothing. The
votes were divided Handy taking the
lead. What would Sussex do? With hei
! numerous candidates it looked as though
/ it would be impossible for her to cct'a a
unit. But there is where Sussex fooled
them. She is never modest when her owl
| interests are involved, and when u was
[ learned that the caucus had finally united
on Houston. the Handy people knew IN
/ their hearts that the jig was up.
One might have thought that there We're
no other candidates to be nominated
When the question was raised occasional
< lv. someone would say: "Oh, / guess wei
| take Burris and Norman ana the Ausu
would go round.
There is a natural affinity between poll
i ties and intoxicants. and Of course earnest
| discussions were frequently interrupted tc
! assuage the thirst of the delegates, but to
the credit of the gathering be II said tha'
but few intoxicated persons were seen
| Possibly the politician Of the democratic
persuasion is hard to put out of business
There was one figure much in evidence
/ that reminded one Of the former days ol
i strenuous Democracy. John +. Saulsbury
the old war horse, dressed in his best
suit OF clothes" that same slouch ma
drawn across the eyes, lean, angular ano
leonine, was endeavoring to persuade
delegates that his canvass was an earnest
one, and not a joke.
Between times the band plays, for whai
! is Democracy without band, and the en-
thusiasm must not be allowed to wane.
Finally the convention rs called to pr
der by Willard Salisbury, anu facing I'm
| IS a crowd that fills every seat and leaves
the aisles crowded with those standing
Looking down into their faces one is i'm
pressed that 1t represents pretty fairy
Delaware's average citizenship. They ars
orderly and good -natured but very mucf
in earnest Willard cuts it short and calls
for prayer from the Rev. Joseph Browf
| Turner a most respected Dover pastor
who In polished and earnest language IN
vokes the Divine blessing. There is q
start Of surprise not unmixed with aston
/ ishment when he says: "Bless thy ser
want we expect him to continue-"th
President OF the United States" But it is
nothing of the sort: 1t is "Bless thy ser
want William Jennings Bryan" and th'
delegates can scarcely withhold their ap-
plause.
Presently the two distinguished South
ern Congressman arise and withdraw, ant
the announcement is made that they are
/ coming back as they have only left "t'
get a.-to get a." somebody whispers. "a
drink" but it isn't; it is only lunch, anS
/ there is a sigh Of relief that argues mucl
for the local option sentiments Of the con
vention.
The committees are out, and things be
] Gin TO lag The reporters amuse them
selves with placing bets on the winners
as much as eighteen cents thus changed
hands What is the matter? Why doesn
the committee on the platform report?'
Queer rumors begin to circulate; tina
Kansas City platform, it is whispered, il
doing the business. The surmise prove
/ correct But after a time they arrive, and
Mr.. Rodney reads the document that vii
be straightway forgotten, save by th'
newspapers. He sits down and mctioI
is made for its adoption. But walt min
ute; a young man Of pleasing address, bu
with flushed cheek and fire In his eye
jumps to the platform lie has a minor
/ itv renort Here is the hombsheil in th'
form of that Kansas City effusion. He i.
John p. Holland. Of Milford; he moves it:
adoption and it Is seconded. Here Is
pretty kettle OF FISH. The convention 4.
to be put on record. Objection is made
that a resolution has already beer
adopted referring all such matters TO th'
committee. The chair rules that the poini
is well taken, and the air becomes sur.
(Continued on Third Page.