The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1904-08-28
FCEiGica1 Drama
Seen by Bishop

~
Joseph p. Bishops book, our Political
Drama has the added merit Of time
illness 10 enhance its intrinsic worth.
The book. according TO the authors
ioreWord. does not pretend to either
The comprehensiveness or the full dig
nity u history. II is merely the per
sonal and dramatic side OF certain
events IN our political history" AS
such then. the volume is well calcu-
lated 20 give MS entertaining heights
upon some II the byways OF our politi-
cal record which escape the eve OF the
confessed writer Of history.
The major portion Of the book. and by
FAR the most interesting. is that dealing
with the inception Of the national con-
vention IS an element in our political
Ete and outlining some of the intensely
dramatic incidents attendant upon the
deliberations OF such bodies in the past.
For even truer to-day than was il fifty
years ago is the fact that in this insti-
tuition, which has grown up without
the authorization Of the constitution,
Yet as fully rooted in national practice
as II sanctioned by that instrument,
lies the real formative power. the ini-
uative force. in party politics. BY the
reading u Bishops book we see how
gradually this DEMONSTRATIONS
measure came TO have almost the bind
ing force OF law.
The caucus, we learn. was the parent
CT the convention. BY citation from
the diary Of John Adams, under the
date of February. 1853, the author
shows US that before the colonial yoke
was thrown off ii became customary
for the representative men Of the town
10 gather in some convenient place-a
garnet. according TO Adams word
there 10 drink Flip" smoke much to-
bacco and deliberate upon the DISPOSE
ton Of political plums. very much as
some OF our wardsters when they fore
gather in the back room Of a saloon to-
day. Nor were the methods OF the early
caucus greatly at variance with those
in vogue today. After the constitution
was enforced and IT became necessary
10 elect national and State officers, we
read that in Congressional caucuses
Presidential nominations were decided
upon. and in ike Star Chamber sessions
Of State Legislatures the destinies OF
gubernatoriaI aspirants were weighed
IN the balance Of political expediency.
AS the author need hardly state this
method OF political procedure. tolerated
IN the new and widely proclaimed land
Of democratic freedom, was somewhat
Of an anomaly.
Il was IN 1924 that the clamor for a
more representative nominating body
made the caucus holders give way, and
a New York State nominating conven-
ton, consisting Of as many delegates
as there were members IN the Assem-
bly,, met 70 nominate candidates for
Governor and Lieutenant Governor.
Then came the national Republican
party, with the national convention
idea At the first national convention
thus ordered under its dictates in Bal
tinors, December, 1881. Henry Clay re-
ceived the unanimous vote Of the dele
gates for Presidential nominee. 'Old
Hickory Jackson desiring to obtain
the nomination OF Van Buren, as his
running mate for a seccRd term, next
called a Democratic convention for the
purpose, and by his characteristic
sdroitness gaddled the same with the
famous ''two-thirds rule"-the lasting
her1taEe OF Jacksonian Democracy for
AL succeeding voters OF that sterling
political stripe
The three tragedies Of national CON
ventaons, centerinE about the heads Of
Webster, Of Clay and later Of Blaine,
oner the author opportunity to trace
the course Of political events. which IN
each instance brought to these luckless
asptrants 70 Presidential honors crush
ing disappointment In the cases Of the
two oId-school politicians. less familiar
80 ~
plsint seemed 20 have covered the
cause for the failure Of both when he
exclaimed. Il am the most unfortunate
man IN the history Of parties-always
run By my friends when sure to be de-
feated, and now betrayed for a nom
nation when I. or any one, would be
sure OF an election"
OF peculiar interest IL the authors
description Of the proceedings at the
Chicago convention Of 1850. wherein the
new Republican party first tested its
strength and Lincoln was nominated
20 run for the Presidential chair, al
ready tottering before the storm OF Sc
cession- Here II was that that peculiar
feature OF modern conventions. organ
lied uproar, first found it's power and
became a fixed adjunct to all subse-
ouent meetings OF party hosts. We are
told that while the Jubilant supporters
OF Seward were busy parading through
the streets the display OF their strength
the Lincoln ''shouters' thronged into
the convention hall and occupied so
much space that when their opponents
sought standing room even. they found
II at q premium Then followed a re-
markable demonstration, each faction
endeavoring 10 outshout the other In
the general pandemonium, until, to
quote from Murat Halstead, hundreds
Of persons stopped their ears in pain"
Truly this bizarre feature OF the pres
ent day political convention had a
rousing inception.
The second part OF Bishops book is
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