The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1908-05-01

d cOlitctlOn Dl WIZ animals, whose All
tics are extremely amusing, but abso-
lutely without form and void. Nothing
outside of a cage full of monkeys can
present such an example of futile ac-
tivi'y. Each delegate is duly ticketed
and loaded with his proper credentials
and fondly imasines that he really is
of some Importance in the gathering;
that is. he does if he is green
hand" If he is seasoned campaign
cr. he knows that he merely repre-
sents the people," and the chairman
and secretary of the convention rep
resent the delegates. and the boss
Il represent the chairman and sec
Htary. BY means of this sliding scale
of actual power it will be seen that
the bosses represent the people,
It was my deep delight to have at
tended a number of political conven-
tions, The will of the people" stood
about deuce high in the political
deck. The will of the bosses was
always the ace and it could be and
was turned from the bottom or top
just as the emergencies demanded.
Imagine a long, low. rakish hall, the
atmosphere wavy blue with tobacco
smoke Aisles are cut through to the
platform. generally three in number,
To admit of committees on this, that
and the other to so forward to the
platform and hand in their cut-and-
dried communications. The different
wards and districts are ranged about
the hall, each with its particular spot
TO stay in. like checkers on a board
before the game begins. Many of
these delegates are in their shirt
sleeves. and many are talking wildly,
gesticulating powerfully and in othr,
ways molding the destinies of theil.
country. The very few who are not
smoking are choking
On the platform are two tables. at
which the chairman of the convention
sits, he having been chosen by the
powers that be. He is a mere puppct
in their hands, understanding what
they want, and at any and all times
ready to carry out their wishes. The
secretary is mere echo the assist
ant secretaries mere assistant echoes.
Two or three highly respectable
stoughton-bottles of various titles sit
- the stage to deceive the unintell-
Shnt observer into the belief that
things are 'on the square" A pitcher
of water is on the chairman's desk,
for he will open the convention with
a speech In that speech he will glori-
fy the proud history of his own party
and skin, salt and nail to the political
smoke-house the hide of the opposite
party. This is a species of buncombe
which is always INDUCED ip
sometimes convention is opened
with prayer. This is something which
cannot be touched on at length, for
the devil himself could not conceive a
more Srotesque blasphemy. Most con.
VontionS are opened with political
"jimmies," being burglarious aggrega-
tions, brought together for purposes
of plundering men of their political
rights. The chairman has his speech
carefully learned by heart, and he is
invariably eloquent, pungent. witty.
long 'winded. But he finally subsidies.
and then, after the committees re-
ports and the platform are finished,
and some more political red tape is
gotten through with the work Of
nominating candidates is begun. But
before the convention has reached the
point of being ready to vote there
hppn of hn
to finish before the various commit
tees on credentials.
In certain wards of the cities, or
certain districts in the country, there
lay be dispute about some dele
gates, these claiming the right to rep
sent the people those putting in
a counter-claim for recognition. In
such cases, contests are begun and
the respective claims thrashed out be-
fore the committee on credentials,
which have the power to review these
disputes in the various districts or
wards
No one but the contestants and the
committee and the other delegates are
allowed in the committee rooms in
''''S Sohleoto, II DtlllS IL SpIl Ol ldHl-
lily affair. Usually, the contests are
determined according to the way the
bosses want them to be decided,
but If it doesn't matter about a vote
or two, the bosses" allow the com
mittee to do as they please. Evidence
Is heard. speeches are made, and the
committee picks the winner
The bosses keep accurate tab"
en- the number of votes they need |
but are ready to achieve results by
any means they consider necessary. |
One unseated delegate rushed madly |
up to a boss" on the floor of the con
Vention and screeched out: What |
dye mean by THROWN me out? There |
amt no contest on me at all" The |
boss" looked smilingly down at the |
r. = I;6Wa 49, =
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