The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1908-07-31
MANAGING A national
POLITICAL CONVENTION
Slight Variation in the Procedure Between
Republicans and Democrats.
Great Power Welded Vigorously by the National Committee
Preliminary to the Gathering Handful of Leaders Control
Machinery Nominations and Platform.

National conventions are very a.
pensive affairs Their cost to the party
holding them Is estimated at not less
than $150,OOO, and perhaps more. In
each great party is body Of wise men
known as the National Committee
This body is the acme Of political as
cension. A man may be a proud mem
Der Of a division committee, which 10
the first step in the ladder. But when
he reaches the dizzy heights Of ma
tio1al committeeman from his State
and appears at the convention with a
badge as big as an ancient breast
plate so that there can be no mistake
in his standing, the height OF ambi-
ton is reached. There is one national
committeeman from each State. This
| august body meets il December pre-
ceding a national convention, examines
the claims Of the different cities that
desire the gathering. and critically
| looks into the size Of the guarantees"
as it Is called. This latter form means
usually gets the convention. The guar
nntee is accepted by the committee
men. and they then proceed to spend
1t lavishly. Apartments at the most
expensive hotels are secured, host Of
employees Is retained and business be-
gins In real form. The hotel bills Of
the National Committees are some
thing enormous.
Machinery Of q Convention.
While the preliminaries are being
arranged the delegates are arriving
The delegate to the National Conven-
ton Is generally person of import,
ance at his home. The Democrats re-
quire two-thirds vote Of all the dele
gates present and voting to make a
nomination. The Republicans require
a majority Of those present and voting
At a national convention each State
has its own headquarters, where the
delegates gather. They do a lot o.
"conferring" with each other and with
delegates from other States. They hold
meetings and elect chairmen AID hon
orary vice presidents. The honorary
vice president has seat on the plat
form and an extra ticket, but little
in some cases; in some cases the posi-
ton Is sinecure. Usually the "co1
ferring" and the dickering begin day
: before the convention Is to be callet
to order.
Prior to the calling Of the conven
ton to order the National COMMITTEE
Is virtually in command Of the situa
ton. With it lies the arranging Of tn
details, the framing up' of the pro
cedure Of the first session, the selection
of the temporary chairman, and, in
great many cases, though not always
the program making Of the whole con
vention, temporary and permanent OF
ganizatio1s, nominating and platform
building.
Convention Is in Order.
Now for the convention. the grea
meeting that the country has locke
forward to for so many weeks. Tn
chairman Of the National COMMITTEE
calls the convention to order, usual
about noon upon the day set
The convention called to order, til
proceedings are opened with prayer
The chairman requests the secretar
to read the call for the conventio,
which Is done. Then the rollcall
gone through, and this takes q lot i
time. The next step Is tho announce
ment by the chairman that the commi
tee offers to the convention as It's ten
porary chairman the name of So-an
So. There are loud and prolonge
cheers, and by a viva voce vote NJ
SO-and-So is unanimously elected. Thel
is usually little trouble over the ele
ton Of temporary chairman. TT
: chairman then appoints a committee [
escort the temporary chairman to Il
4 platform; the band plays, the deleg,
ton from Mr.. So-and-So's State max,
lot Of noise. and all is merry.
1t is incumbent on the temporal
chairman to make a speech. He invar
ably takes advantage OF the opport
nifty. He sounds a keynote" 1t 10
sustained note. 1t is invariably a tri
ute to the party Of Abraham LincolI
at the Republican convention, and
gloriication Of the party of Thorn,
Jefferson" at the Democratic. It las
. a very long time.
= After the speech various resolution
\ are offered. Usually these have be,
arranged for in advance, and the ter
porary chairman works according to
printed schedule, calling on John D
and Richard Doe at the right time,
that there may be no hitch. Comm
tees are appointed; one on resolution
Y which will have the drafting of t
Fl platform; one on credentials or co
tested seats; one on permanent c
ganization. These are the importa
ones. When they are all chosen, o.
there has been a lot Of HANDICAPPED
and cheering, as well-known men a
appointed to this or that committt
l the temporary chairman announces