Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-07-02
MANAGING A national
POLITICAL CONVENTION
Slight Variation in the Procedure Between
Republicans and Democrats.
Great Power Welded Vigorously by the National Committee
Preliminary to the Gathering Handful OF Leaders Control
Machinery, Nominations and Platform.

draft the platform that he begins to
realize that he is only small 81"
compared with tie BOSSES The genial
Mr.. Doe, who has been coming to the
national conventions since 1868, is
elected chairman with a hurrah. He
assumes his position and draws from
his pocket a carefully prepared docu-
ment, which the secretary proceeds to
read. The district delegate might have
had an idea some time previously that
he would be consulted as to the plat
form. But the party leaders saved him
all the trouble and worriment. They
had skilled men at work on the plat
form weeks before, and it is built ac-
cording to their ideas. The committee
usually adopts the platform with a
rush. Sometimes there is a fight on
particular topics. But party expedi-
ency usually rules.
Real Work Now Begins.
The Credentials Committee fire.
Quently sits for three days and the
convention must wait until its labors
are finished. The Committee on Per
manent Organization Is usually a cut
and dried affair. Finally the Crede1-
tails Committee reports and the new
roll is made up. Then the Committee
on Permanent Organization makes its
report. 1t recommends that the Hon
orabie Senator or Mr.. So-and-So" be
called upon to preside Cheers greet
the name, and the gentleman is escort
ed to the platform. After he has been
elected he makes profound speech, the
other officers are chosen and, like race
horses, the meet Is on.
If the Committee on Platform is
ready to report 1t reports after the
permanent chairman has made his
speech. On the report there must be
a roll call. There is always, too, the
possibility of fight Certain "planks"
that please Maine may be abhorrent TO
Texas. When the matter of the plat
form is disposed of, either by the COM
mittee reporting or by the announce
ment that it Is not ready to report, the
permanent chairman announces another
recess; maybe until the next day, pos
sibly until later in the same day.
Nomination of n Candidate.
Frequently the time Is taken up with
speeches placing the candidates for
President In nomination. These ad-
dresses are usually good In their way.
Men noted for their eloquence, who
can portray the virtues of the asplrant
in language that will thrill their hear
ers, are selected for this work The
platform is usually accorded the speak
er and his Grafton is hailed with deaf
ening applause and cheers. Each can
didate is brought to the front and his
works painted il glowing colors. Then
comes the critical period. The district
delegate believes now is the moment
when he counts for something.
The roll call begins and proceeds
monotonously. The chairmen of the
different delegations alone do the talk
ing. That is all there is to 1t. The
first ballot in the convection is usually
devoted to complimenting favorlte sons.
After that the real work begins. The
district delegate learns that he Is not
to vote as he intended, but that he will
vote for some one else on the second
ballot.
Suddenly there is roar In the CON
ventiol. It Is q mighty shout, louder
than cannon. Somebody has been nom
mated for President. Amidst great
disorder the rollcall is pushed to con-
clusion. The chairman tries to learn
how the tellers agree in their count
But the crowd knows all about 1t. The
chairman, powerless as Mrs. Parting
ton with a broom against the waves
of the ocean, rries to do his duty. The
shouts and cheers keep up for ten or
more minutes. Excited men parade the
aisles, carrying their State banners,
cheering and singing. Finally, when
order is restored, the chairman an
noun res formally the name Of the nom
inee.
World Knows the News Quickly.
This Is greeted by more cheering and
everybody IS happy except the friends
Of the defeated They move to make
the nomination unanimous with a for
NAL grace that lacks enthusiasm. This
is done and the band plays. II the
meantime the click Of the telegraph in
strument shows that the news has been
carried to every town and hamlet In
the country. 1t has been cabled to for
eign countries. The rulers Of all ma
lions know within few minutes after
the nomination who Is the prospective
President of the United States.
No matter how long 1t has taken to
choose a nominee for the Presidency,
the whole performance has to be gone
mating a candidate for the second
place on the ticket There are not SO
many "favOrlte sons" however, and one
ballot frequently suff1ces. More noise,
more enthusiasm. The convention has
nominated the ticket
Each State delegation, at one of It's
Conferences, has chosen its candidate
for member of the National Committee.
The election Of this committee Is now
in order. 1t Is put through quickly, as
a rule, and without hitch. Then reso-
lutions Of various sorts are passed.
The ticket is named, the convention
passes into history and the battle for
power and patronage begins. The dis
trict delegate goes home. His towns
men congratulate lin on his good work.
Public Ledger
Battlefield Logic.
Among the men who served with