The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-06-19
SeXtet of Leaders Will
Dominate the Great
Gathering.
Program Fixed, But the
Proceedings Will Be
Interesting.
Orators Whose Flo
quence viii Stir En-
thuSiaSm.
I oTwITHsTANp1NG the "a.

n UNDERSTANDING the fact
that the Republican National
Convention. which meets in
Chicago on Tuesday of this week, viii
be what has been popularity termed a
''cut and dried" affair. it viii never
thcless be a most interesting gathering.
SO far IS the work and the Immediate
results of the convention are concerned.
everyone who follows the trend of po-
ltical events knows just about as well
today what will be done as one viii af-
ter the adjournment The candidate
was long ago determined. the platform
has already been written. has been
sanctioned by the nominee, and agreed
TO by the leaders; very little doubt
exists as to the candidate for Vice
President. and even II there were doubt.
the position Is not of such Importance
or so much coveted by statesmen and
politicians as to arouse any unusual en-
thusiasm. 1t is in the convention it
SELF. and the personnel thereof. that the
greatest interest of the public viii cen
ter
There will be gathered together un-
Ger the wide spreading roof OF the spa
cious Coliseum. the scene OF many a
historic convention. approximately 1000
delegates representing every section and
corner Of the Republic. from far off
Hawaii. from the newly acquired island
o: Porto Rico. from every State and
erritory and every Congressional dis
trIct in each OF the forty-five States
which form the Union. for the purpose
OF selecting a man to be the standard
bearer of their party in the forthcom-
Ing national campaign for the Presi-
dency. and to lay down a set of prin-
ciples which will be party doctrine for
the next four years. Whether the
party shall win or lose in the Novem-
Der election the declaration which It
pre- mulgates viii be Republican gospel
until another national convention shall
De held. In no other country on the
face Of the earth is such a gathering
POSSIBLE. Republican in name, it will be
Republican in principle.
Nearly One Thousand Delegates.
Generally speaking. the 900 delegates
70 this great Republican gathering may
be divided into three classes. those who
are in politics and hold elective Offices,
those who are in politics and hold APP
pointive offices. and public-spirited citi-
zens not holding Office. who take an in
terest in politics and the welfare Of the
party TO which they give allegiance. 1t
is this latter class which. although it's
voice is often weak. does much TO make
the gathering a representative one. II
would not be far from accurate TO say,
perhaps. that each class will represent
about one-third Of the convention. AL
and avocatiou will be represented. for
great national cnvention is not neces-
sarily composed entirely Of statesmen
conventions are the means whereby
statesmen are made.
OF the total number OF delegates
which. 10 be entirely accurate. IS s94,
approximately sixty will be colored men,
all save two or three Of them coming
from States South OF Mason and Dixon's
line, and one Of them has been chosen
20 deliver n speech seconding the nomi-
nation OF the candidate for President.
in so large a gathering it is no more
than natural that there should be GER
tain leaders who will shape the action
20 be taken. Half dozen men could
be named whose influence viii sway