The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1908-07-23
MANAGING A NATIONAL
POLITICAL CONVENT ton
Slight Variation in the Procedure Between
Republicans and Democrats.
Great Power Welded Vigorously by the National Committee
Preliminary the Gathering Handful OF Leaders Control
Machinery Nominations and Platform

National conventions are very ex-
pensive affairs. Their cost to the party
holding them is estimated at not less
than $4,000, and perhaps more. In
each great party is body Of wise men
known as the National Committee. !"
This body is the acme Of political as
cension. A man may be proud mem
Der Of a 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, so 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 il December pre-
ceding a national convention, examines
the claims Of the different cities that
desire the gathering. and critically
looks into the size Of the guarantee"
as it 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
1t lavishly. Apartments at the most
expensive hotels are secured, 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 Conven-
ton is generally a person of import
ance at his home. The Democrats re-
Quire a two-thirds vote of all the dele
gates present and voting to make a
nomination. The Republicans require
a majority Of those present and voting.
At a national convention each State
has its own headquarters, where the
delegates gather. They do a lot of
"conferring' with each other and with
delegates from other States. They hold
meetings and elect chairmen and hon.
orary vice presidents. The honorary
vice president has a seat on the plat
form and an extra ticket, but little
else. The chairman does the dlckering
in some cases in some cases the posi-
ton is a 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 Is 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 re 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 a lot Of
time. The next step is the announce
ment by the chairman that the commit
tee offers to the convention as it's tenn
porary chairman the name Of SO-and
So. There are loud and prolonged
cheers, and by viva voce vote Mr.
So-and-So is unanimously elected. There
is usually little trouble over the eiec
ton Of a temporary chairman. The
chairman then appoints committee tt
escort the temporary chairman to ths
platform the band plays, the delega
tion from Mr.. So-and-So's State make:
a lot of noise. and all is merry.
1t is incumbent on the temporary
chairman to make speech. He invari
ably takes advantage of the opportu
nifty. He sounds a keynote" It is
sustained note. 1t is invariably a trib
ute to the party of Abraham Lincoln
at the Republican convention, and {
glorification of the party Of Thoma
Jefferson" at the Democratic. 1t last
very long time.
After the speech various resolution
are offered. Usually these have beer
arranged for in advance, and the TEN
porary chairman works according to /;
printed schedule, calling on John Do
and Richard Doe at the right time, 81
that there may be no hitch. Commit
tees are appointed; one on resolutions
which will have the drafting of tn
platform; one on credentials or con
tested seats; one on permanent or
ganiZation. These are the impOrtan
ones. When they are all chosen, ant
there has been a lot of hand-clappin
and cheering, as well-knOwn men ar
appointed to this or that committee
the temporary chairman announces a.