Evening journal., 1908-02-22
What | Know About
Delaware Politics and
Other Things
FlfTY-slxTH ARTICLE.
By Washington Hastings

Resolutions Committee of that convention. of whicn he
chairman.
To say that admired Major Mckinley would scarcely
express the sentiment which his gentle and sunny
disposition his open frank and manly bearing and the
courtesy and consideration with which he treated all
with whom he in contact in the committee inspired
OF had heard him before and known gener-
ally Of his public career, that he was champion
Of the political policies which entertained and
believed in, and therefore interested in him,
was In all OF public men who walked on the same
path and lived political side OF the
did; but from that time on, that interest peculiar
and unaffected And when in a subsequent National
Convention the contest between the various prominent
rival candidates became heated and that ii
seemed as though could be chosen the tide began
to run swiftly ia his direction and delegation after dele
cation cast -heir for Mckinley, he could have
easily had the nomination by simply keeping his seat
remaining silent him rise in his place three times
irst 10 request, then 10 impore and, last
nand hat voting for him should cease, he could
honoraby allow his name TO be used and would
the nomination If rendered BIN, while deeply disappointed
and provoked at his action my admiration of the
knew bounds.
seQuenty told him and he frank enough say
that ne believed so too but that not the time;-
OF this re was confident
1t is not strange therefore that 1895 approached
was pronounced Mckinley mani" and / was neither
slow nor backward in making IL known. induced the
Morning News of this city that time principal
Republican newspaper in the State 70 out in a
strong editora in his favor early in March, and taken
sharply to task for this by at least belaed
TO Replbcanism who thought Mckinley was too much
OF silver man he had failed silver
resolution Of the Ohio State convention. in
early and Kept it up late promoting the canvass in
every way possible Early in the spring re-
ceived letter from Mr. Mckinley in which, after allud
ing 70 my frequent expressions OF 'frendlness
past he askedNme in regard to his prospect dele
gates at approaching State Convention Owing to our
fractional differences which had by this time become
more pronounced and antagonistic than ever ex
tremey diHcult to give any satisfactory information
and to hold out hope encourage any expectation
would have been misleading II faith; and was
Obliged to so inform him. which did. told him. how
q fO he State ftnpx xoatfoa T,I,
gate II could possibly get there all that a-sma
the fun thing could send six
mckinley delegates fromRDeaware to Chicago would
done.
succeeded in reaching the convention with a whole
sn out only after fierce and determined conflict and
with considerably reduced majority; but was more
fortunate than of my friends who were defeated
among whum- Senator Higgins; upon whom a re-
entleys and specific warfare wased and who was
beaten by q majority Of twenty votes In the
strong Republican district which he lived and in
Which previously his wish and word had been almost
Arrived at Dover morning Of the convention we
mustered our forces on e green about half after eleven
o'cioci-the convention meet at tweve-and
marched TO the Opera House. the place of meeting to
ma tie doors Of the hall securely locked and the
vigorous pounding did opening them From
within not sound could be heard and we retired down
what was the matter. We found out and Levi
Bird said wait minute" and. passing quietly among
at the head Of the procession said come on" and we
again assembled the stairs marched into the conven-
on hall without halt; but big doors was after
wards found lying and the other was hanging
by one hnge-There slightest disturbance"
however And we found the "Addicks people as we cali
ed Them quietly seated the front and so we
quietly took the back ones
Upon the counting of after organization we were
gratihed or else find ourselves showed UNDER v
a majority of forty This richness" In fun
measure and to certainty
II not 'worh while to recount the scenes enacted
that hot ( every way ho afternoon Those who were
interested in them then viii remember them ro S
those who not interested then would not be now
Suffice It to that after battling for our rights
W holt
which we never would have had II eSr ooonst hs ous
possessed political enough to grant us our
undoubed rights and privileges granting of which
would nave done them no possible harm and us pos
one-ha less fortyNwalSed out and msrcbed
across Dover TO the Hall Of House Of Repre-
sentatives and made convention of our
As we were crossing the green dark clouds were OBJ
served toward the west accompanied by the rumblng
distant thunder II sounded little ominous but it didn't
particularly disturb usjust then We thought il we
thought anything. that IL only solemn warning to
tly, had elected presiding officer and
FORTH there broke upon Dover and vicinity one of
the most terrific electrical storms that ever vitnessed
and as the rain fell in and the Tightening
flashed and the thunder bolts over our heads al
most continuously and the hai stones bic as chestnts
crashed through the windowpanes huge limbs of
the trees the green and fell an around
ceased to look compacenty over towards The oners
House and began to stare at ourseves It began to
look as II the Almighty opening the vals OF His
wrath not only upon the wicked Addcks men
bu. upon us too and, indeed, upon the whole town
OF Dover-Democrats even and all-punishing the sin
fu politicians their political transgressons and the
innocent inhabitants Of the town for permitting such
people TO hold their Bear-Garden shows within their
peaceful and virtuous precincts.
But the clouds rolled by and the passed away
as an storms DO and the bright sunshine appeared in
the West and we looked around much as
/ TO say who's afraid'-and we smiled more
u was now approaching hve o'clock and train time
ana some o s began look though we feared
mat we might ge LETT and have 10 stay Dover all
hlsAt-Nhicn "oud have been dangerous in many ways
for many OF But good Democratic friend Holi-
Gay O. the Delaware Railroad alayed fears by as
sune s that he would provide transportation home
AT any time We wished 70 go;why shouldn't Holiday be
aeeommoda1ns9 Weren't we playing smash with the
republican party In Delaware fast we could?
We got convention into good running order
with All the necessary equipment including the regu-
Jar CHAIRMAN oi the state Committee whom borrowed
from the other fellows he boted with us although
he was not delegate convention and not Obliged
u hla Inc nllrnA