The state herald., 1908-05-01

outside OF cage full of monkeys can
present such an example of futile ac
uVliy. Each delegate is duly ticketed
ana loaded with his proper credentials
and iondly imagines that he really is
oi some Importance in the gathering;
mat is, he does II he is green
hahu. III he is Il seasoned campaign
er' he knows that he merely repre-
sents the people," and the chairman
ana secretary of the convention rep.
resent the delegates. and the boss
es represent the chairman and sec.
feury' by means OF this sliding scale
OF actual power it will be seen that
the bosses represent the people!
1t was my deep delight to have at.
tended number of political conyen.
tons The will of the people" stood
about deuce high" in the political
deck. The will of the bosses" was
Always the ace" and it could be and
was turned from the bottom or top
Just as the emergencies demanded.
imagine long. low. rakish hall. the
atmosphere wavy blue with tobacco
smoke, Aisles are cut through to the
platform, generally three in number.
10 admit OF committees on this. that
ana the other to go forwar.! to the
platform and hand in their cut-and.
DRIED communications. The different
wards and districts are ranged about
the nall. each with its particular spot
m II.
before the game begins Many of
these delegates are in their shirt.
sleeves, and many are talking wildly.
sesticulating powerfully and In other
ways molding the destinies OF their
country. The very few who are not
smoking are choking.
On the platform are two tables, at
which the chairman of the convention
sits. he having been chosen by the
powers that be- He is a mere puppet
In their hands. understanding what
|, they want. and at any and all times
ready to carry out their wishes. The
secretary is a mere echo; the assist.
ant secretaries mere assistant echoes
Two or three highly respectable
sioushton-bottles of various titles sit
on the stage to deceive the unintelli.
gent observer into the belief that
things are on the square" A pitcher
oi water Is on the chairman's desk.
for he will open the convention with
speech. In that speech he will glori.
~ the proud history OF his own party
and skin. salt and nail to the political
Hmokehonse the hide of the opposit.
party This In species OF buncombe
which is always indulged IN.
Sometimes n convention Is opened
with prayer. This is something which
cannot be touched on at length, for
the devil himself could not conceive n
more grotesqne blasphemy. Most con
Nentlons are opened with political
'l!minlcs, being burglarious aggrega.
tons, brought together for purposes
oi plunderins men of their political
rights. The chairman has his speech
carefully learned by heart. and he Is
invariably eloquent. pungcnt. witty.
fcholarly, tefse. dense. ilowery and
long windcd. hut he finally subsides,
and then. after the committees re.
ports and the platform are finished,
and some more political red tape Is
gotten through with. the work OF
nominating candidates is begun. But
before the convention has reached the
point Of being ready TO vote there
have been number OF battles fought
IA finish before the various commit
tr-u on credentials.
In certain wards of the cities. or
certain districts In the country. there
ma, be a dispute about some dele.
gates. these claiming the right to rep.
resent "the people" those putting In
oountorelaim for recognition. In
huch cases. contests are begun and
tho respective claims thrashcd out be-
fore the committee ON credentials,
which have the power 10 review these
disputes IN the various districts or
wards,
No one but tho contestants and the
oammlttec and IN. other delegates are
allowed In N" committee rooms In
these contests. II being u sort OF fam.
ily affair. Usually. the contests are
determined according 10 the way the
bosses wan, them 10 be decided.
but ~ Il doesn't matter about vote
of two, the bosses" allow the com.
mlttca TO do m they please. Evidence
h heard. speeches are made. and tho
committee picks the winner,
Tho "bonneH' keep accurate tab"
On the number Of votes they need.
bul az. ready 10 aohiov. results BY
any means they consider necessary.
one unseaied delegate rushed madly
m 10 a boss" on the floor OF tho con.
Yrn,ion and Hereschod out. What
dye mean by THROWN me outs There
Amt no contest on m. nj all" The
boss" locked smilingiy down at the
u los.l g -,