The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-05-17
HANDLING VAST CROWDS AND GREAT CONVENTIONS ): ::

to happen out there that VIII influence
your judgment. AS the governor of this
State I believe I have done some good;
whether or not If elected President of
the United States I should succeed is a
question that OILY time could determine.
Even If nominated, 1 might not be elect
ed-that of course is problematical,
but as far as the nomination is concern
ed I shall receive that. You can de-
pend on what I say"
A Great Reporting Feat.
A few days later we were endeavor-
ing to report one of the most tumuI-
tuous conventions that was ever held
Mr.. Grady, of New York. made n speech
against Nj. Cleveland that threw the
convention into an uproar and there
were cries and shouts everyGh eps, and
the name Of Hendricks was the watch
word. Pandemonium reigned for TWEEN
" minutes and the reporters wire idle
and anxious. 1t was Impossible for any
one to make his neighbor hear a word,
and one of the United Press men. catchS
ing my eye, telegraphed with hfs own
eyes by closing and opening his eye
lids: Shall we bulletin that Hendricks
VIII be nominated by reclamation? That
is what some OF the fellows are sending
Off" Not being able to telegraph with
my eyes. raped out in reply by strik-
ing one hand on the other. mo; we will
stick to Cleveland" AS all operators
know. the telegraphtc characters can be
easily read by sight, although the usual
way of reading them is by sound
had been through a trying experience at
the Republican National Convention a
little earlier, and I was So upset by
what was occurring that I left the hall
and went out for breath of fresh air.
and then over to the Palmer House. 1
of Mr.. Cleveland kept ringing in nv
cars. The colored man who threw open
the half-doors at the side entrance of
the Palmer House greeted me with the
words: Governor CIeveland's nominal
ed" His face was wreathed in smiles
and I fairly laughed for JOY. 1t is a
great relief when one is making predic-
tions to have them come right. The rep
u:a:Ion a newspaper writer has worked
years to secure may be swept away in
ten seconds If he makes one big mis-
take.
Colonel Ingersoll's Important Cigar.
The other trying experience was in
connection with the nomination of Mr.
Blaine. P. V. DeGraw was practically
in charge of the work of reporting that
convention. and I may say right here
that in my judgment he is the most ca
pable press association manager that
has ever lived. The Louisiana Purchase
Fair has my sincere congratulations on
having secured his services in connec-
ton with their press work during the
coming year. Although Mr.. DeGraw was
omnipresent, and l was but an onlooker
in Venice. as his superior officer 1 had
the right to get into mischief II I de-
sired. l overheard a telegram from
Senator Cullom going to General Logan.
at Washington, saying it seemed impos-
sible to nominate either him or Blaine
and asked if General Logan would ac-
cept second place on the ticket with
Blaine. The answer quickly came back
and happened to be where could hear
that also. So I kept Senator Cullom in
sight and when he was handed the tele-
gram he withdrew from the convention
hall and was quickly joined by few of
his associates. AS l approached the
~roup and spoke to Colonel Ingersoll.