Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1908-07-01

National conventions are very ex-
penslve affairs. Their cost to the party
holding them is estimated at not less
than $4,000, and perhaps more. In
each great party Is a body OF wise men
known as the National Committee"
This body is the acme Of political as
cension. A man may be proud menu
Der Of division committee, which is
the first step in the ladder. But when
he reaches the dizzy heights Of ma
tiooal committeeman from his State
and appears at the convention with a
badge as big as an ancient breast,
plate, 80 that there can be no mistake
IN his standing, the height OF ambi-
ton is reached. There is one national
committeeman from each State. This
august body meets N December pre-
ceding national convention, examines
the claims Of the different cities that
desire the gathering. and critically
looks into the size Of the guarantee"
as 1t Is called. This latter form means
that the city paying the most money
usually gets the convention. The guar
antee is accepted by the committee
men, and they then proceed to spend
TT layishly. Apartments at the most
expensive hotels are secured, a host OF
employees Is retained and business be-
gins In real form. The hotel bills Of
the National Committees are some
thing enormous.
Machinery of Convention.
While the preliminaries are being
arranged the delegates are arriving.
The delegate to the National Conyen-
ton is generally a person OF import
ance at his home The Democrats re-
quire twosthirds vote of all the dele
gates present and voting to make a
|, nl,omfaation. The Republicans require
q majority Of those present and voting
AT a national convention each State
has Its own headquarters, where the
delegates gather. They do lot Of
comforting with each other; and with
delegates from other States They hold
meetings and elect chalrmen and hon
orary vice presidents. The honorary
vice president has seat on the plat
form and an extra ticket, but little
else. The chairman does the dickering
In some cases; In some cases the posi-
ton Is sinecure. Usually the .'coa-
ferring" and the dickering begin days
before the convention is to be called
to order.
Prior to the calling Of the conven-
ton to order the National Committee
is virtually in command Of the. situa-
ton. With it lies the arranging Of the
details, the framing up of the pro-
cedure OF the first session, the selection
Of the temporary chairman, and, in a
great many cases, though not always,
the program making of the whole con-
vention, temporary and permanent or
ganizatio1s, nominating and platform
building.
Convention Il In Order.
Now for the convention. the great
meeting that the country has looked
forward to for SO many weeks. The
chairman Of the National Committee
calls the convention to order, usually
about noon upon the day set.
The convention called to order, the
proceedings are opened with prayer.
The chairman requests the secretary
to read the call for the convention,
which is done. Then the rollcall is
gone through, and this takes lot Of
time. The next step Is the announce
ment by the chairman that the commit
tee Offers to the convention as Its tenn
porary chairman the name Of. So-and-
So. There are loud and prolonged
cheers, and by a viva voce vote Mr.
so-and-so is unanimously elected. There
ID usually little trouble over the cleo
ton Of a temporary chairman. The
chairman then appoints committee to
escort the temporary chairman to the
platform; the band plays, the delega-
ton from Mr.. So-and-So's State makes
lot Of noise. and all is merry.
1t Is incumbent, on the Temporary
chairman to make a speech He invari-
ably takes advantage OF the opportu-
nifty. He sounds keynote" It is a
sustained note. 1t is invariably trib-
ute to the party Of Abraham Lincoln"
at the Republican convention, and a
slorifcation Of the party of Thomas
Jefferson" at the Democratic. 1t lasts
q very long time.
After the speech various resolutions
are offered. Usually these have been
arranged for in advance, and the tenn
pOrary chairman works according to a
printed schedule, calling on John Doe
and Richard Doe at the right time, 80
that there may be no hitch. Commit
tees are appointed; one on resolutions,
which Will have the drafting Of the
platform; one on credentials or con-
tested seats; one on permanent or
ganization. These are the important
ones When they are all chosen, and
there has been a lot Of hand-clappIng
and cheering, as well-known men are
appointed to this or that committee,
the temporary. chairman announces an
adjournment, usually until the next
day.
Pullins Wires In Committee. 4
At last the machinery Is in motion
aad the district delegate begins to
wonder what he is on hand for. A
big man at home. he ls lost in the
hurly burly and roar Of the conven-
ton. He may be assigned to commit
tee. but he had nothing to do with
that The State boss decided that So
and-so should be member Of the Per-
maneat Organization Committee; that
Mr.. Brown, who is political econo-
mist, should be honored by seat In