The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-05-15
mated Political Writer Tells
1'iines-Dispateh Readers
How This Is Done.
WORK or THE CONVENTION
5slioice u Convention City and
How Delegates Are Chosen,
Conduct OF Campaigns,
40 nAJFus ROCKWELL WILSON,
"a. a. nRambIes In Colonial 5y'
Y Oays,r Washington, the Cap
ltal CITY," etc.

~ bntter mart of year is required
Slor the making Of an american l''.s'-
annt for many Of the deegatesJt 10 'i'e
,Sationn, conventions are chosen more
.hnn a twelve month before me eleetofi''
+ colleges formally record the verdict pfo-
y ,no,,nced by the people at the polls. &C
hive work, however. may be sag W 49,
,,rin when the chairman OF me Natioliai
committee Of MS party esiis .t,,,a ana
4 ,nittte to meat and choose tiine ~"
4 ,,iare Sfnr holding the National conVeH-
Ia, Both the Republican ana Demo
4 rratic committees assemble for lhis p.'i,
nose in Washington the one IN ioecemo .
n ~ January and the other lisuaily on the
iH twanty.second of February OF 4 'eeHsii
Il Dental year,
ponda the choice of convention city.
11alerations from rival cities of the flrst
4 o,ass onnear before the committee, ans
K Tic claims which they put forward az
usually supported by Inducements OF liis
4 most substantial kind. st. LOUIS secuEeu
4 HE Republican convention IN l@9o '.
n oreoinn 10 dofray all the expenses OIL
i ~ gafharinp and to supply funds for
waving the debts which the National COM
,Y7ittoe had been compelled to leave u1-
jr,tisfied at the close OF the previous
2 canpaisn while in 1900 Philadeiphia
nronllsed to the Republican National com
,nittee a donation Of 100000 to bring tie
convention to that city, and kansas 'oltS
gave $4,000 and the expenses OIL the toh-
8s s,a,,tion Ia the Democratic committee.
Though the money offer which DC II
eafd n passing, is generally guaranteed
4 Nv business men ana hotel interests re-
rardless of politics, often decides Nhe
choice of a committee, the National con
# MENTIONS In recent years have been mos
frequently entertained by Chicago, whose
IL location and railroad facilities render "
\ more easily accessible from all parts OIL
Erhe country than any other city, Bait
more III an earlier time was the favorite
/. ,convention city" this by reason of the
fact that it lay halfway between the
North and South, and SO was supposed
not to be undllly subject to Northern OF
Southern influences.
The Selection of Delegates.
Tbs date and place for holding the con-
vention having been decided upon,. the
next step in the making of a president
&c the selection of delegates by the State
md district conventions Each State is
II entitled to twice as many district dele
9rntes as it has Representatives in Con-
Il spress and to four delegates at-large, the
Z nunlber OF the latter being Increased &c
& Six when a State has a Congressman at
n large in the lower house. The district
the districts but the delegates large
are always chosen by the State conren-
ton OF the party, which at the same tiTe
IA Iatiies the selection of the district dele
cations. Ratification by State conven-
ton. be it noted renders all the dele
X gates subject to State instruction and
makes them a unit in party action, a
plan of procedure which, though consis-
tent with Democratic tendencies, has
narred the fortunes of many a promising
candidate.
Besides the delegates from the States
Arizona, New Mexico. the Indian Terri
tory and Oklahoma each send six dele
gates. while Alaska elects four and the
District OF Columbia two. I'll; territorial
delegates have no vote in the Democratic
convention. but in the Republican conven-
ton they enjoy all the rights and privileges
of their fellows from the States. Local
leaders are in most cases chosen as dis
trict delegates to the National conven-
lion, while the delegates-at-la large are
taken from men of State, and Very often
National. prominence in their party 1t
nave been choseti.' that active politicians
mainly constitute the membership of the
* convention. and are 10 name the candi-
dates of their party. Professional re-
formers and men with 'isms" seldom, in
fact, find a place In a National conven-
ton OF either of the great parties, al.
though when they do they may be de-
pended upon to make UP in noisy earn
estness what they lack in numbers.
Preliminary Arrangements.
While delegates are being elected, pre-
liminary arrangements are making for
the convention. An executive committee
of the National committee elects a SER
geant-at-arms, and on this official, who
IS really the business manager of the
convention. falls the burden Of prepara-
ton. 1T is heavy one, for the sergeant
alarms must give attention TO the build
ing in which the convention Is held, and
see 10 1t that it Is equipped, not only
with seats for the delegates and others in
attendance but also with waiting, sub
4 committee and other special rooms; witn
adequate sanitary and ventilating sys-
tens, and with proper facilities for the
correspondents and reporters These I'M
clude desks aud seats IN the hig hall,
rooms for the telegraph operators and
the Installation of wires and Instruments.
Moreover he must be absolutely impartial
IN arranging the press facilities, and see
s 10 il that no one newspaper or press
association has any undue advantage over
the others, though, Of course, greater
privileges are accorded to newspapers Of
the great cities than 10 those in smaller
towns Arrangements have also 70 bt
made by the sergeant at-arms with tho
hotels as to headquarters for the various
delegations and With the railroads con
eerning rates Of fare and the running Of
special trains, while there are hundred
other matters of detail that the conven-
tons business manager must see carried
10 specessful fnsh, Indeed, The dis
charge Of his varied and laborous duties
covers period ot many months, ant
ends only with the opening Of the con
yention
That event Is always preceded by sew
erai days Of excitement confusion and
active, earnest wire-ppling on behalf OF
the candidates whose claims are 10 re-
eeiye consideration The chairman OF
the National committed calls the conyen-
ton 70 order The proceedings arc open-
ed with prayer, and then an organization
is effected by the election Of II tempo
rary chairman This honor, as rule
Is awarded 10 some veteran leader oon-
spieuops for past services 10 the party
but It's disposal is now and then made .
test Of strength between tbs friends Of
rival candidates N the champions Of op'
posing principles. Thus ia the Demo
cratic convention Of 1856, the majoriR
Of the National committee being eplr
,,,ay, ,.c,,,,i,, a tuJ Tlovid u IAN of Nau