Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1908-08-01


At last the machinery is In motion
and the district delegate begins to
wonder what he is on hand for A
big man at home. he is lost In the
hurry burly and roar Of the conven-
tton- He may be assigned TO a commit
tee, but he had nothing to do with
that. The State boss decided that 90
and-so should be member OF the Per
mane1t Organization Committee that
Mr.. Brown, who Is a political econo-
mist, should be honored by seat In
the Resolutions Committee, and that
the Boss himself or one of his most
trusted lieutenants should be mem
Der OF the Credentials Committee These
bodies all meet separately All the
contests that were handled by the Ma
tional Committee the week previous 40
to the Committee on Credentials unless
pressure has been brought to have the
contestants withdraw their fight. The
Credentials Committee wires are pulled
the same as was the NATIONAL Commit
tee, and the result is usually nearly
the same.
Framing the Platform.
1t is when the district delegate sits
in the Committee on Resolutions to
draft the platform that he begins TO
realize that he Is only a small Il"
compared with the bosses. The genial
Mr.. Doe, who has been coming to the
national conventions since 1888, 10
elected chairman with a hurrah. He
assumes his position and draws from
his pocket a carefully prepared docu-
nent 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 1t 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 Besins.
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 cut
and dried affair. Finally the Crede1-
tials Committee reports and the new
roll is made up. Then the Committee
ON Permanent Organization makes its
report 1t recommends that the Hon
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.
II the Committee on Platform Il
ready to report 1t reports after the
permanent chairman has made his
speech On the report there must b.
a roll call. There is always, too. the
possibility of fight Certain plank
that please Maine may be abhorrent Il
Texas. When the matter Of the plat
form Is disposed Of. either by the com
mittee reporting or by the announce
Inent that 1t Is not ready to report, ths
permanent chairman announces anothei
recess; maybe until the next day, poe
sibly until later In the same day.
Nomination of = Candidate.
Frequently the time is taken up witf
speeches placing the candidates fol
| President in nomination These ed
dresses are usually good in their way
} Men noted for their eloquence, wh.
: can portray the virtues OF the asplran
> in language that will thrill their hear
, ers, are selected for this work. TIL
) platform is usually accorded the speak
er and his Grafton is hailed with deaf
3 ening applause and cheers. Each can
didAte is brought to the front and hi
works painted IN glowing colors. The
comes the critical period. The distric
delegate believes now is the momen
, when he counts for something.
The roll call begins and proceed
y monotonously. The chairmen Of tn
a different delegations alone do the talk
s ing. That is all there Is to It Th
= first ballot In the convection In usual
devoted to complimenting favorite son,
q After that the real work begins TIL
d district delegate learns that he is nc
= to vote as he intended, but that he wi
a vote for some one else on the secon
O ballot
o Suddenly there is a roar In the COZ
+ ventio1. 1t is mighty shout, loude
}, than cannon. Somebody has been non
% mated for President. Amidst grer
l. disorder the rollcall Is pushed to Col
r ciusion- The chairman tries to lear
It how the tellers agree In their coun
d But the crowd knows all about It. I'll
g chairman, powerless as Mrs. Parting
e ton with a broom against the wave
e, of the ocean, tries to do his duty. Tt
n shouts and cheers keep up for ten {