The Washington herald., 1908-03-08


The Republican national convention Of
1908, TO nominate candidate for Presi-
dent and a candidate for Vice President
or the United States. is 10 assemble in
the city of Chicago on June IS and will
be in session at least three days. The
Democratic national convention is to meet
in the city Of Denver. Colo. on July l.
and VIII be in session for four days
Under the provisions OF the call Of the
national committees OF the two parties
there viii be 992 delegates IN the Repub-
lican national convention and 1.oO4 in the
Democratic convention, but these figures
are subject 10 change By the committees
on credentials. II is ali a matter Of the
allotment Of delegates to the Territories.
the District OF Columbia, which has no
electoral votes, and to the insular posses
sions OF the United States. like the Phil
ippines, Hawaii. and Porto Rico. The
Democratic party has in recent years
been more liberal than the Republican in
the allotment of delegates to geograph-
ical divisions Of the country that have no
electoral votes.
The Democratic party. since its first
national convention. which was held in
Baltimore in 1S32. has nominated candi-
dates by what is known as the twO-thirds
ruIe--that IS. each candidate must receive
the votes Of two-thirds Of all the dele
gates legally seated in convention The
! Republicans follow majority rule.
Democrats Need More.
II these rules. OF rather precedepts, are
] fr11 a = -
delegates proposed by the national CON-
mittees is not changed it will require 4sI
votes to nominate the Republican candi-
date for President and ss9 votes TO nomi-
nate the Democratic candidate.
In the opinion Of many experienced Re
publican politicians .he convention of
that party that is 70 meet in Chicago on
June IS viii be the most important and
most interesting TO the world at large
that has been held in this country since
1870 or 1854 The convention that nomi-
mated Abraham Lincoln for President was
held in Chicago in 1850 The Republican
convention OF 1854 faced the question OF
whether or not the war for the preserva-
ton Of the Union should go on TO 4 final
conclusion. The convention OF IS9O -aCed
the issue Of a final establishment OF a
currency system for the country.
The politicians say that the convention
OF lSS VIII face new. but equally COM
plicated, questions and issues: questions
that may be almost as far-reaching in
Importance 10 the business and financial
interests Of the country
Last Republican Convention.
A politician who was present az the
Republican national convention -four
: years ago said recently:
The, last Republican national conven-
ton assembled in Chicago On June u
1905. with ss4 voting delegates present
r Every detail OF the management Of that
convention received the personal attention
OF President Roosevelt. He selected tht
presiding officers and the orators whg
were to place him in nomination Tn,
platform was written by him. or from
suggestions made by him. and was com.
plete in every detail before the delegates
assembled. Senator Charles ". Fair
banks. Of Indiana. was nominated f0I
Vice President because il was known that
he was satisfactory 10 the President. thai
he want5i the nomination. and that nj
other man wanted il enough 20 make z
contest for H. Every essential result OF
the convention was known to the country
weeks in advance Of the meeting in Chi
/, CagO. and not one OF the 994 delegates
seriously attempted 10 change a singl.
detail Of the pTeaTranEed plan. and no
one LETT behind him the slightest impress
sion Of independent individuality. IL wa.
g large and expensive gathering Of states
men. orators. and politicians 10 carry ou
the wishes and the orders Of one man"
Roosevelt Policies the Issue.
Every Republican politician who talk.
openly Of the next convention OF his par.
" says that President Roosevelt and hi.
policies OvershadOw everything else thai
can arise in the gathering Of representa-
tives Of the party from every state and
Territory Of the Union.
Ask politician why national conven-
tions are held. and he would probably
answer, in a maze Of platitudes and
generalities. that they meet for the pur-
pose Of enabling the chosen representa-
tives Of parties to consult together. agree
upon party issues. and nominate the best
men available as candidates for President
and Vice President Of the United States
The truth Of the matter is that in a na-
tiOnal convention the chosen represen-
, tatives OF a party are elected by less thar
One-tenth Of the voters OF that party, and
that not more than one delegate in fifty
has any voice or influence whatever ii
deciding party issues or selecting candi-
dates.
Every experienced and practical Re-
publican politician in the United States
has known for months that all the power
Of the Federal administration has beer
exerted TO control the election OF dele
gates 10 the national convention. The
Hon. William Fl. Taft. Of Ohio. Secre-
tary or War in President Roosevelt:
/ Cabinet has for several months beer
regarded as the candidate OF the admin
= istration for President. He viii have q
solid delegation from his own state.
Many Instructed for Taft.
A majority Of the delegates elected 81
Far from others States have been in.
structed for the Secretary OF War. bu;
in many cases. especially in the southern
and Western states, there viii be con,
testing delegations.
The other prominent candidates for In,
nomination are Vice President FAIRBANKS
who Will have a solid deleSation from
his own State-Indiana; Speaker Josepf
: c. Cannon, who will have the Ilinoi.
delegation; Senator p. c. Knox. Of Penn
s-lvania- who viii have the delegates
; from his State, and Gov. Hughes. Of New
York Whether OF not Gov. Hughes vii
have solid delegation from his Owr
state is a Question that viii not be settled
until the State convention meets in April
10 elect the delegates at large
But above all the reports. rumors. and
counter rumors Of these booms looms
large the persistent report. which comes
from all over the country. that the con.
| ,.arrfnr is u b. 81 rr,r,..l...l -. -. -.