Los Angeles herald., 1907-08-04

excitement to pitch never before and
seldom since experienced. BY this time
the party organizations were perfected.
There were commit, s and sub-commit-
tees. There were campaign committees
who knew how to use money and liquor,
and there were political experts in Shell
| ing the woods" From that day to this
the mode of operation of the political
party machinery has changed but slight
ly and then only to adjust itself to the
growing country and the changed condi-
tions brought about by increased facility
of transportation, communication and
published intelligence.
national convention of one of the
great parties is an inspiring spectacle
1t is the largest constituent assembly
known in the country. 1t always meets
in a great hall capable of seating from
10000 to 10000 spectators. These outsiders
have a great deal to do with the con-
vention sometimes, Nor, as a rule, it is
the galleries and not the delegates who
furnish the enthusiasm. Claques delib-
erately organized to create excitement are
common to all conventions nowadays
The first organized outside influence to
be brought to bear on a convention had
much to do with the future history of
the country. 1t was at Chicago. For the
first time house had been built ex-
pressly for convention purposes and the
second natnonal convention of the Re-
publican party met in it.
Little things mean much in national
political conventions, and men have
been made presidents, or have been
designated to lead party hosts to defeat
at the polls on the turn of things
which seem smaller, even, than ap-
plause from the galleries. In 1876 the
90 tr1 n
natl 1t was then that Colonel Robert
G. Ingersoll made his famous speech
nominating James G.. Blaine for presi-
dent, in which he dubbed his favorlte
the "Plumed Knight" Blaine could
not get the nomination.. Finally IL
went to Rutherford B. Hayes, whom
nobody wanted nominated. 1t is SAID
that Benjamin H. Bristow prevented
the nomination of Blaine. There had
been GOODNESS between Mr.. Blaine and
Mr.. Bristow, who was then in the cabi-
net but IL had not reached the point OF
a personal quarrel. On the Sunday pc
fore the convention met Mr.. Blaine fell
in a swoon on the steps OF church IN
Washington. A friend went to Mr'
Bristow and told him of 1t. Bristow
and his informant walked to the Blaine
residence to make inquiries. Something
occurred there which infuriated Bris-
tow. and he went away an implacable
enemy of Blaine. If he had not made
that Sunday call he would not have
known that Blaine hated him. and at
one time in the convention would nave
thrown the vote of Kentucky to- the
Maine leader, thus allowing the
"Plumed Knight" to enter the presi-
dental lists against Tilden, eight years
before his unfortunate joust with
Cleveland.
Coming closer to the present day,
Senator Allison of Iowa missed being
president by margin so narrow that
in the light of later events the story
is hard to credit. 1t was at the con.
yention of 1888. On the first ballot
John Sherman led, followed by Walter
@. Gresham Chauncey M. Depew, Rus
sell A. Alger, Benjamin Harrison and
others A conference of leaders was
held after several ballots had been
taken with no choice. The New York
delegation had agreed to vote as tne
four delegates-atl large might thlnk
best. Platt and Depew headed the
delegation. Platt and two others OF
the "big four" were in the conference
and it was agreed to vote for Allison.
Platt said he was sure Depew would
agree With New Yorks vote Allison
would have had the nomination. When
Depew was seen, however, he wouldn't
agree He declared that he had been
compelled to withdraw from the race
himself because of the agrarian senti,
ment of the socialistic northwest, and
he would not let his influence nominate
Allison, an Iowa man. That Allison
should have been punished for agrar-
ianism by Depew sounds queer In these
days and times. The late Senator Hoar
is responsible for the authoritative ac-
count of Depews blocking Allison.s
race, although there are men who will
declare that Platt nominated Harrison
the treasury, the ruling ambition OF his
life.
The speech of Ingersoll nominating
Blaine, mentioned above, is one of the
great speeches made in nominating
conventions which will live. Another
was that in which Roscoe Conkling
placed before the Republican conven-
ton of 1880 the name of General Grant.
''And when you ask what state he halls from,
Our sole reply shall be.
He comes from Appomattox
And its famous spple tree"
So it began, according to the testi-
mony of the chairman of the conven-
tion and the contemporary reports, al
though some persons of late have de-
MED that Conkling would employ dog
gerel in great speech. However that
may be, it was a great speech. Grant
had led the armies of the Union to
victory in the west and in Virginia.
He had received the surrender of Lee.
He had been twice president, and had
just returned from his triumphal tour
around the world. 1t was a great sub
ject, and Conkling knew how to handle.
it. When he had done, the crowd
cheerad him for twenty-five minutes;
and it was almost impossible to restore
order.
The opposition to the third term was
strong. Grant had made many politi-
cal enemies while he was president. and
he had erred in relying too implicitly
on friends who did not deserve the con-
fidence he placed in them. 1t was not
on the cards that Grant should be nomi-
nated but 3O6 delegates stayed with