Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-04-23
How Candidates For the
Presidency Are Nominated
By Henry Chamberlain in the Chicago Tribune

1892, candidates for president and
vice president have been nominated
in national conventions. The methods
followed in organizing and in con-
Quoting their business is practically
the same in both democratic and re-
publican conventions, except that in
the republican the nomination is made
| by majority vote and the voting Is
done by districts. In the democratic
convention 1t requires vote Of two.
thirds to nominate and the unit rule,
by which the vote of the majority of
the delegates from each state is re-
corded as the vote of the state, is fol-
lowed.
Each convention selects national
committee consisting of one member
from each state and territory. This
committee has charge of the cam
patgn, and Is in authority until super
seeded by the action of the next con-
vention. 1t issues the call for the con-
vention, determines when and where
/ it shall be held, makes, through sub
committees, all arrangements as to
the hall and other necessary details,
and prepares list of minor Off Gals.
The call for the convention is us.
ually issued about six months before
the meeting, which takes place some
time In the summer preceding the
election in November The committee
meets and hears the arguments adj
vanced by representatives of the diff
ferent cities which covet the honor
of entertaining the convention. The
city selected provides the hall and
pays the general expenses Of the
convention. At times 1t has given
bonus of money to induce the com
mittee to decide in it's favor. Denver
won the democratic convention for
the coming summer by pledging itself
to pay 100000 toward the campaign
fund
The number of delegates to each
convention is double the number of
senators and representatives in con-
gress. Each state elects four delegates
at large, twice the number of it's SEN
ators. Each congressional district is
entitled to two delegates. Delegates
are also admitted from the territories
and from the District of Columbia,
but with no right to vote unless this
be granted by the convention
Shortly before the convention
meets, the national committee pre-
pares the temporary roll of the con-
vention by passing on the credentials
of the delegates. It also prepares a
list of the contests. The roll of dele
gates prepared by the committee is
the official roster of the convention
and those whose names are listed are
entitled to take part in the proceed
ings of the convention until the con-
n vention, in passing on contested cleo
Il tiOn cases decidas otheruisa
The national committee selects the
temporary chairman and other tenn
porary officers. This action is.vsubject
to the will of the convention, which
usually approves the appointment of
the committee, though not always. In
1884 Powell Clayton Of Arkansas, the
temporary chairman selected by the
national committee, was rejected by
the vote of the anti-Blaine men, who
gave the position to John R. Lynch
of Mississippi, a colored man.
Admission to the proceedings of
the convention is by ticket. Each dele
gate is given two or three for his
friends. Alternates, who in case of
the absence of the delegates, would
take their places, and members of the
press are, Of course, supplied with
twenty-five. The rest of the tickets
are given to the local committee for
the citizens of the town paying the
general expenses of the convention.
The republican convention of 1860
was the first to admit large number
of spectators. A special building, the
convention city. 1t had seating ca.
| no nf five
full at every session.
The chairman of the national com
mittee calls the delegates to order on
the first day Of the conventions meet.
ing. After prayer, the call for the ecu.
vent:on is read and the chairnan
names the temporary chairman, who
gives an address.
So IS
The li7t of minor officials, incluG Ems
the seigeont at arms and The mar.
sh,lp who are to keep the lag, a..
5 semblage in order, is read and ap.
proved. The committee on creden.
| tials, rules and order of procedure
permanent organization and platform
are appointed Each state names a
member for each committee. Each
, state delegation has its allotted place
, The committee on credentials is
given the official roll as reported by
the national committee and the list
| of contested seats. This committee on
, credentials is most important as 1t fl
nally decides which delegates are to
, participate in the work OF the con
vention. In 1896 there were 1853 con
tests before the republican conven
ton The southern states promise to
bring as many more to the republican
convention of 1908
|
Thte nominating convention Is an
American invention evolved in answer
to the demand OF the people for a di
rect voice in the selection of thei,
candidates for office. In the first two
elections, the people were so united In
: their desire that George Washington
should preside over them that there
was no necessity for nominating any
other candidate than he When he re