Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-06
GOSSIP OF THE LOBBY
By DELEGATES TO
THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION.
Many Do Not Know the Leading Cam
didates for the Presidency-A
Meeting Of Orators.

| ST. LOUIS, No., July elf political en-
| thusiasm Is generated by q struggle be-
| tween contending forces battling for su-
premacy in the naming Of candidates and
the framing of platforms, then there may be
| expected such On enthusiastic outbreak at
the close Of the present democratic national
| convention as has seldom been witnessed
| In this country.
At Chicago it was said there was
| nothing to fight for. and therefore
| the gathering was Of a placid ma
| ture. The launching of a candidate was
| SO smooth there was hardly a ripple when
| 1t was all over. Here in every hotel lobby,
| on every street corner and in every room
| where the thousands Of delegates and other
| local democrats attending the convention
meet together there is seen the earnest
debate that characterizes the popular
statesman on the hastings in the heat Of
| political battle.
The Leading Candidates.
Why most of them should get excited
over the claims of the various candidates
| is more than the dsinterested onlooker can
understand. Instances are extremely rare
in which any of the delegates know the
leading candidates for the presidential NOM
ination. Parker, in his splendid isolation,
is name and a sentiment, chiefly center.
to lend dignity, wisdom and civic virtue in
proper proportions for the great office OF
President
German is known to more men of the
convention, and yet the great body OF
those who expend eloQuence in his favor
have never seen him. Cleveland ls TO the
delegates as whole an historical charac-
ter in whom they feel they must have
pride some day If for nothing more than
to add to the traditions of the party con-
corning the strong men who have been It's
standard bearers. Hearst is a newspaper
creation, known in about the same way
the yellow kid is known.
And yet day and night these delegates
assemble shake their fingers at one an
other, emphasize their words with facial
contortion and an exercise Of lung power
that is pleasant to those who are hard OF
hearing. The southerner, with his flow OF
fiowery language is easily the master Of
them all in these lobby debates.
A Lobby Debate.
why, 1 ask you, sah." demanded a gen.
tleman from Georgia at the Jefferson to-
day, SHOULD you gentlemen waste your
energy in urging upon this convention, sab,
the name of that jurist of the cold north
a man who has not the warm sympathy
that comes from a southern hearth
The speaker looked around, IL chal-
longing the crowd for reply. Then he con-
tinued:
why take for your leader man of
you can get for your standard-bearer a son
of the sunny south-why gentlemen, ask
your
IF the gentleman has finished hope he
will permit me to reply to what he has
said spoke up a tall individual from In
diana. Il would like to have him under
stand that the democratic party does not
propose to run a moonbeam for the presi-
dency, or to chase moonshine in its platform
What we want, sir, is q man of that SPLEEN
did learning. that judicial mind, that purity
of life that places him on a high plane be-
fore the entire country to fill the great Of
flee of President. Such, sir, is Chief Justice
Parker OF New York, a man without peer
in this land, man born for honorable
service for his country. He's the man to
nominate If you want to win."
So 1t goes on constantly, one after an
other sounding the praises of the candi-
date. There are even men who talk about |
Hearst. He Is a friend of labor the rich |
young man who conceived the noble pur-
pose OF devoting his millions for the strug- |
Cling masses, and one who has been true |
at all times to the party. The men who |
sound the praises of Cleveland-and there |
are such-base their advocacy on cold bust |
ness reasoning. They claim he's the man
to carry New York.
Meeting of Orators.
John Wesley Gaines today introduced K. |
T. McConnico of his state to Mr. Bourke |
Cochran of New York. In doing SO he told |
OF wonderful oratorical efforts of Mr. Nc |
Connico recently in Tennessee "A young |
man yet, but one Of the coming orators of |
the country" declared Mr. Gaines
when an orator like McConnico meets
an orator like Bourke Cochran it is a case |
OF Greek meeting Creek" said bystander. |
Or. suggested Gaines, like Mick meet |
ing Mick
Cochran laughed, and declared to those |
present that he always liked Gaines.
DO you spell Gaines with big or a lit |
tie G?' suggested one of the groun and
everybody laughed heartily, except Cock
ran, and he just laughed
c. f K