The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1908-08-21

day.
Pulling Wires In Committee.
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-
ton. lie may be assigned to commit
tee, but he had nothing to do with
and-so should be a member Of the Per-
mane1t Organization Committee; that
Mr. Brown, who Is political econo-
mist, should be honored by seat In
the Resolutions Committee, and that
the Boss himself or one of his most
trusted lieutenauts should be a men,
ber of the Credentials Committee. These
bodies all meet separately. All the
contests that were handled by the Ma
tional Committee the week previous go
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 "i"
compared with the bosses. The genial
Mr.. Doe, who has been coming to the
national conventions since 1868, is
elected chairman with a hurrah. He
assumes his position and draws from
his pocket a carefully prepared docu-
ment, 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 it is built ac-
cording to their IDEAS The committee
usually adopts the platform with a
rush. Sometimes there is fight on
particular topics. But party expedi-
ency usually rules.
Real Work Now Begins.
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 a 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
orable Senator or Mr.. So-andSo" be
called upon to preside. Cheers greet
the name, and the gentleman Is escort
cd 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.
If the Committee on Platform II
ready to report 1t reports after the
permanent chairman has made his
speech On the report there must be
a roll call. There Is always, too, the
possibility of fight Certain 'planks'
that please Maine may be abhorrent tc
Texas. When the matter of the plat
form is disposed of, either by the com
mlttee reporting or by the announce
ment that it Is not ready to report, ths
permanent chairman announces another
recess; maybe until the next day, pos
slbly until later In the same day.
Nomination of n Candidate.
Frequently the time Is taken up witt
speeches placing the candidates fol
President In nomination. These ad
dresses are usually good in their way
Men noted for their eloquence, who
can portray the virtues of the asplran
In language that will thrill their hear
ers, are selected for this work. Th,
platform is usually accorded the speak
er and his oration Is hailed with deaf
enmg applause and cheers. Each can
dldate is brought to the front and hli
works painted IN glowing colors Thel
comes the critical period. The distric
delegate believes now is the momen
when he coTfsA for something,
The roll call begins and proceed
monotonously. The chalrmen Of tn
different delegations alone do the talk
Ing. That Is all there is to It, Tn
first ballot In the convention is usual.
devoted to complimenting favorlte sons
After that the real work begins, Tn
district delegate learns that he ls no
to vote as he intended. but that he vii
vote for some one else on the secon,
. ballot
} Suddenly there, Is roar In the con
ventlon, 1t Is a mighty shout. loude
than cannon. Somebody has been nom
, mated for President Amidst grea
disorder the rollcall is pushed to cor
cluslon. The chairman tries to lear
| how the tellers agree In their count
! But the crowd knows all about It. Tn
! chairman. powerleSs as Mrs, Parting
; ton with a broom against the wave
OF the ocean, tries to do his duty. Tn
! shouts and cheers keep up for ten Q