The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1908-05-01

Z
The ordinary political convention q.
acollecuon q Mid animals whose Al
tics are extremely amusing. but ALSO
lufely without form aui void NOthiug
outside Of a cage fun 81 monkeys car
present such an example 81 futile &C
uyi'y Zach delegate Is duly ucketed
Ent loaded with his proper credentials
and tcrlly imagires that he really Is
a. some importance In the gathering
thar is ne does II be IS green
had II he IS a seasoned campaign
e. De knows thar he merely repre-
sents the people and TIE chairman
and secretary % the convention rep
resent the delegates and tha boss
e represent the chaivman ard sec
Tefar. By means of this sliding scale
az actual power il will be seen thai
the bosses" represent the people,
Il Vas my deep delight 10 have az
tended a number OF political conve1-
ticns- The viii OF the people stool
about deuce high in the political
deck The viii OF the bosses vas
always the ace and IL could be and
vas turned from the bottom OF top
Just as the emergencies demanded.
Imagine a long low. rakish hall the
atmosphere 4 vavy blue with z blcco
smoke Alsies are cut through 10 the
Platform. generally three in number.
10 admit OF committees on thss. thar
AMI The Other 10 20 forward 10 thu
Platform and hand il their cut.anf-
died communications The different
wards and districts are ranged aho-l-
The hall each with is particular sn0-
70 stay in. Ike checkers OF a bead
before the game begins Many OF
these delegates are in their shirt
Sleeves. and many are talking uila,v
ges-iculati-g powerfully aat II other
was holding the des-luias q their
country The ve-y feE who are not
smoking are choki-E
On lie platform are Two tables. al
Which the chairman % The convantion
sits h having been chosen bv th-
poEers that BE- lie is a mere purne-
n their hands understanding Eha-
t1ey want and az auy ard All tines
ready 20 carry out their wishes The
secretary is a mere echo. the assist
an secretaries mere assistant echoes
Two % three highly respectable
s-olgh-on bottles of various titles 81
On TIE stage 70 deceive the uriufaTls-
gent observer into the u-.ef that
ihilEs are % the sq-ar- = uifcha-
a. water - on rhe % irmans desZ
To- h. all open the tJ1veur.oa xirh
sfeech- In thar speech ~ wsll e.o-f-
~ The Froui histo-s % his ozn ra-rv
and ska. salt ard nail 20 the political
smoke house the hide % the opposite
party This Is spe> - o. buncom5e
which Is always intulge1 il
Sometimes a ccnve1--cn Is opened
with PRAYER. This Is something which
cannot b. touched OF al length for
tie devil himself could nor conceive q
more grotesque blasphemy. Most con
Teniions are opened with political
Ammies. being burgiariols arEresa-
tons brought together for PURPOSES
Of rlulce-ils men o. their political
rights The chairman has his speech
carefully learned by heart. and he l.
Invariably eloquent pu1gsnr. wirrr.
scholarly tsrse. dense. foze-y AM
long Wi-ded Bur he finally subs.se-.
and then. after the committees. -
ports and the PLATFORM are fnishe1.
and some more political red tape Il
gotten through With the work os
Dominating candidates IS begun Ru,
before the convention has reached tho
poin- % being ready % vote fhe-a
have been number OF battles fouel-
u nnish before the various commit
lees On Credentials.
II ce-rain wards CT the cities or
certain districts in the countrr. there
ma Be a dis1ufe about some dele.
gates. these claiming the right rs ra-,-
resent The people those putting In
a cornter-claim Tor recognition. In
such cases. contests are begun ard
the respective claims thrashed out la
fore the committee on Credentials
which have the power 70 review n $50
disputes IL the various districts or
wards
No one but the contestants and TIE
committee and the other del -ates a-a
allowed in the committee rooms IN
thee contests. II being a sort OF fam
iiy affair Usually. the contests are
determined according 70 the way the
bosses want them 20 b. decided
but i O. doesn't matter about vote
Or tEo. the bosses ALLOW the com
miftee 70 90 as they please. Evidence
j. heard. speeches ara made. and n,
committee picks the winner.
The bosses keep accurate -tab-
On The number of votes thev need
bur are ready % achie-e results ~
arr means they consider necessary
One unseafed delegate rushed uzdir
W % a boss On the floor % the con
reniicn and screechcd ont. VIVA;
de mean ty thrown me oute Thee
ant np contest on ne Ar alI~ tn.
boss looked smliirgiy down at the
4