Evening journal., 1908-01-08
What | Know About
Delaware Politics and
Other Things
FoRTY-THIRD ARTICLE.
By Washington Hastings

FoRTY-THlRD ARTICLE.
While It universally known among my party
tho nomination President Arthur forthcoming
convention Chicago. did not dwell particularly upon
this fact IN contest for election a delegate to
the state Convention. Indeed ignored it much
I could consistently and requested my friends do the
same; because, If that fact had been made tissue"
In that canvass, think my election would have been
extremely doubtful; though had then thought
Of being selected delegate 70 the National Con-
vention-as indeed no one else had. The reason for
this was that at that time-and afterwards while
he lived-about three-fourhs Of the Republicans of
this state were enthusiastically in favor Of James G.
Blaine for President and any candidate for the State
convention who should have had the emerity to make
ms caIhpalsh on me Issue OF opposition TO MI Blame
or permitted that issue to form part of his
would have stood pretty good chance Of not reaching
that convention at an except perhaps as ooker-on
And so while would not have denied being Arthur
man" II the question had been raised-and it would
nave a'ne no good II had as everybody would have
known that It story thought it wise and
udicious TO keep it in the background for the time
beng-espeealy as the "other fellows did not seem
inclined TO reise IT,
was Arthur man." nevertheless. just the same.
and Joined the Arthur gang" it anectonatey
designated Icy General Arthurs opponents Immediately
upon my arrival in Chicago In that respect, however.
I was lonesome and like Dundreary's blackbird
nocked all hy myself" the other delegates
this state soidy and srenuously for Mr. Blaine.
had attended two Republican National Conventions
before this but not as deegate and, while those
occasions thought something Of what going
on around me and comprehended somewhat the
agement and manipulation Of such bodies. became
that the former experience very trivial and
insignificant compared with this one-that there is
a vast difference between being in such a body and
being of Il.
in ad't tc being a member Of the convention and
the Importance consequent theretoespecaliy to the
newspaper for interviews and opinions etc-I had
the distinction for the time being Of being a member
OF the National Committees; the regular member for
this state the late Christian Febiger not wishing TO
attend the convention having given me his proxy and
authority to sit In that august body in his place. with
al OF these bus1ing honors" falling so thick
IL would have been little wonder my head had been
turned-and perhaps it At all events, it is GER
had qrUhf ppl4r
short time before.
My initiation into what I may call high politics was
the first meeting of the National Committees which took
place the day before the convention proper Dwight
M Sabn of Minnesota the chairman but as he ap-
peared TO have good many other things hand
tor George r. loar occupied the chair most time:
enance the gentle softly moduated tones Of voice and
fsthery demeanlr of that admirable Of men
had been any indication of the temper and de-
moanor Of the members Of the committee that It's
subsequent meetings, then peaceful. harmon
lous anl brohery prelude 10 the meetings of the
convention which follow could have been
desired But sad TO say. Mr.. Eoars example and pre-
cept were no such indication quite the the
st .. leens ana ths very soon became apparent
m the oe corridors and around the for days
before the National Committee met it fore-shadowe ed
TO marked degree that the convention would practi
cally divide as 20 candidates between the friends
and advocates OF Mr. Blaine the hand and those
OF senator George Edmunds and President Arthur, in
combination against Mr.. Blaine. the others and al
most immediately the meeting organization Of
inc committee Tor business It was quite easy for
TO see that that was the position which majority
OF the ueetates would ultimately line mp In the convcn
eon- Inc ieelnS seemed TO be IN the arr" and the
hrst manifestation OF IL upon election Of The
temporary chairman of the convention--whch honor
ene poyton II had invariably heretofore been the
vince OF the National Committee bestow upon whom
soever Il would Il not however be this time
Powell Clayton OF Arkansas the candidate of the
Blaine element-much TO the surprise of all as he had
been supposed to be, and was counted, Arthur
man-ard Joln g. Lynch OF Mississippi was the candi-
date Of the Edmunds Arthur combination: with the re-
suit Of The election OF Mr. Clayton by small plurality
everybody supposed for an instant but only for in
stant, that that important function Of the National
Committeeman about the only that I could ever
see that hadwas performed and the question
But IL wasn't Instantly upon the announcement Of the
result an Edmunds mani did not know him-but I
knew IN was an Edmunds man from remarks Of Arthur
men nearby-arose, amid stiffness like a
Quaker meeting on hrstday morning and moved that
the question OF the selection Of temporary chairman
OF the convention be referred the itself for
decision; and quicker than could say Jack Robin
son. the light was onl Precedent quoted. party
harmony was appealed 10, such unheard OF procedure
roundly denounced, and eloquence flowed and oraory
numbered but all TO until when
ing from sheer exhaustion. In the interim but little
supper was had by the principal comhatants. The
clans met and caucused and consulted and planned the
Edmunds- Arthur combination from being a somewhat
hazy misty intangible proposition, became as IL ap-
peared TO me, solid compact body Of able and resoute
men allied and banded together for DELHI
crate purpose-the defeat OF the nomination of Mr..
Bainei and with this enterprise was in thorough and
hearty gympathy and accord
The committee re-assembed at 8 o'clock and con
nued n turbulent and exhaustive session during the
hottest kind OF hot Chicago night until O'Clock in
the morning, and we wonl The selection OF the tenn
porary chairman referred the convention-much
TO the srathcati)n of the Edmunds-Arthur men
and the discontinue Of the friends OF Mr. Blaine.
say I've Won because, while didn't try make any
quence IN that kind OF company STAYED with them
through Il ALL listened indusrously learned whole lot
Of things and voted right every time.
(Io be continued)