Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-07-23
POLITICAL DEMONSTRATIONS.

Of March 3. 1879.
POLITICAL DEMONSTRATIONS.
The political conventions of the fu-
ture will probably be conducted in a
more sapS, business like and common
sense manner than in the past. The
men who had a part in the conveu-
tions of the two big political parties
this year have had time since these
two meetings adjourned for a little
quiet thought, and the result has been
that mild protests are beginning to
be heard against the frenzied rios
which at national conventions are
known as demonstrations"
These demonstrations, 1t is true, do
little real harm. They are usually
planned for and introduced at a time
when they cannot hamper or delay
the serious business of the conven-
ton. But II the political gathering Of
future years should seriously take
note Of the noise records of the 1908
conventions and systematically set out
to beat these bombastic efforts the
country would be treated to the d.
version of a series of quadrennial tri-
ais for noise records with the nomina.
lions Of candidates and the adoption
Of party platforms thrown in as Incl
dentals.
1t is more reasonable to believe,
therefore, that the conventions of this
year witnessed the real climax of the
~so-called demonstrations, and that in
future years the whoops and yells Of
The political enthusiasts will not pc
permitted to pass from the spontane-
Gus to the forced stage. This will
relieve the managers of the first Of
the 1912 conventions from the neces-
sity of SURPRISING the one hour and
twenty-seven minute orgy Of noise of
the Denver meeting, and relieve the
J managers Of the second 1912 conven-
ton from outdoing the clamor of the
first.
In reading the polished effort
Of some descriptive writer as
lie draws a word picture IF
one of these demonstrations the
impression Is gained that they are
by way of being wonderful tributes
TO their subjects, out to witness the
J demonstrations and the ~cleverly ma
nipulated machinery back of them the
impression is gained that the mana
gers who planned the demonstrations
vi ldCh AOIllllS W HluSOluiIy &. IL = IL
sourcefulness.
instance, with it's forty-seven-minute
demonstration for Roosevelt the second
day. For probably five minutes of this
forty-seven the cheering represented
real enthusiasm. After that 1t was
kept going by the clever manipula-
ton of machinery, a picture of the
president unfurled here, a Teddy bear
thrown into the crowd there, a patri-
otic air by the band next. After these
incidents had had their effect the
cheering became an endurance con.
test by general consent.
Take the Democratic convention.
The big demonstration there was tim
cd to go off at the first mention Of
Rryan's name. For another five min
rites the cheers were hearty and spon-
teneous. Then there was more ma
chinery. A picture of Bryan was I'M
furled and carried to the platform, the
state standards were carried UP and
grouped around the picture, there was
a parade of the states around the hall,
snd the band helped the thing along
with its Dixie: and its "Star-Spangled
Banner (which are always greeted
with standing cheers when there is no
ether demonstration on, and the
steaoy stream of injunctions to cheat
the Roosevelt record" did the rest.
The second Bryan demonstration was
moro ~cleverly planned than the first.
There was a mammoth painting of
Bryan yer the speakers desk to be
Enfurled when Dunn finished his nom
mating speech, everybody in the hall
he'd been furnished with a flag to
wave, and there was a flock Of doves
ready to be let loose to fly about the
hall when the cheering showed signs
of subsiding.
The demonstrations were interest
ing sights but they did not make a
deep impression. The first few min
utes of cheering moved one as hearty,
spontaneous cheering will, but when
they became long distance endurance
matches the only interest remained in
keeping an Y on the watch to see
what happened to the record. 1t is very
mich like a bicycle race. The quar-
.cr-mile race is a real fight and keeps
The spectators on their toes until the
racer cross the tape. The fye-mi!e
race and the six-day grind are inter
ssting at the start and then the spec
\ ..ators wait until the finish to see who
wins and whether the record falls.
There will be cheering at future