The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-05-27
TIMING THE OVATION
A Custom Born In the Political
Conventions of 1892.
THE OUTBURST FOR BLAINE.
1t Lasted For Nearly Twenty five Min
utes and Almost Swept the Conven-
ton of Its Feet-The Cleveland


Timing the ovations at political con-
ventions for favorite candidates was
born in the national convention of
1892. Notwithstanding the fact that 1t
was pretty generally understood who
would head the tickets in that year.
there were interesting and even excit-
ing incidents in both conventions.
At Minneapolis the Blaine men fought
nobly, but to no purpose. The gal
leries were with him. but a majority
of the delegates, cOntemptuously re-
ferred to by Senator Edward WOlcott
Of Colorado as the bread and butter
brigade" were for Harrison. and they
could not be swayed by oratory, emo
ton or cash.
For brief half hour. however. the
Harrison men were plainly troubled.
Chauncey NJ. Depew was on the plat
form seconding the nomination of Har-
rison. He had spoken about ten min
utes when he mentioned the name Of
Blaine. The effect was similar TO that
produced by touching a lighted match
to a powder magazine. The conven-
ton blew up" Then and there be-
gan what was destined in the future
to become a regular convention feature
the timed ovation. The Blaine men,
aided Justify by the galleries. took up
the rhythmic cry Of Blaine. Blaine.
James G.. Blaine"' The chairman OF
the convention was absolutely power
less to check the wildly enthusiastic
crowd. Mr.. Depew's face was a
study. He stood Disconnected and
helpless, smiling nevertheless. The
first outbreak was of perhaps ten min
uteS' duration. At the end Of that
time the crowd was nearly exhausted
The chairman raped vigorously for
order, and the convention was about
to give it's attention to Mr.. Depew
when some leather lunged delegate
again started the Blaine, Blaine,
James G.. Blaine" slogan. At the
same moment Mrs. Carson Lake. the
wife of a well known newspaper man,
who was seated on the platform. jump
ed to her feet and began to lead the
cheering. keeping the crowd In perfect
unison by using a white parasol as
baton.
No similar scene has ever been wit
messed in a national convention. The
first Blaine outburst was more than in
spring. This one was simply over
whelming. Even many Of the Harrison
men were caught in the wave Of en-
thusiasm, and the next fifteen minutes
were anxious ones for his political
managers. Mrs Lake did her part
| well. Assuredy hers was the greatest
parasol Irritation ever carried on in
the United States. She dominated the
| 1900 men who stood before her for
quarter of an hour. In the opinion of
| many persons she came very close to
upsetting the convention programme.
Had a less adroit speaker than Mr..
| Depew been before the assem- blage she
might have done So
! However, the Blaine cheering lasted
between twenty-five and twenty
minutes. Then the convention nomi-
| mated Harrison and Reid.
Ten days later the Democrats assem-
bed in Chicago, The late William c
! Whitney was in charge OF the Cleve
| land forces Notwithstanding the well
understood fact that be had the situa
| ton under perfect control several al
herents OF David B. Hill. notably Ed
ward Murphy. Jr.. Of Troy, insisted
upon having MIR. HIS name presented
to the convention.
The day of the nomination was IN
| pleasant enough outside Of the conven-
ton hall. Inside il was almost unbear-
| able. Hardly had the delegates seated
! themselves when a heavy thunder and
lightning storm broke out. Parts Of the
roof were leaky. and some Of the dele
| gates raised umbrellas. While the
storm was raging one OF the arc lights
became loosed from its position and
came swinging down over the heads of
the New York delegation. barely miss
| ing Roswell P. Flower. Some time was
required to restore order. but the storm
| abated. and the convention proceeded
TO business in the most humid spot on
| the North American continent. The
| morning session was unimportaDt
When the convention reassen bled IN
the afternoon it was generally under
stood that 1t would not adjourn until a
nomination had been made
Mr.. Clevelands name was presented
and was seconded nearly all the way
| down the alphabetical list Of states
| until New York was reached During
the early partofsthe session there were
great" deal OF cheering and enthrsi-