Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-19
CHAPTER XIV.
The PEOPLES Choice.

l spent a happy month with Uncle
Paul and Aunt Jane, a month of play,
and then the call of the clans came
again. / was duly elected d delegate
to the state democratic convention, and
early in June / went to Lexington to
attend 1T and to help make the next
governor. An entire state ticket was
% be nominated. but the interest CEN
| tered on the goVernorship, because of its
uncertainty. Grey had continued his
campaign with great yigor-that is, with
the use of money. which he thought so
effective-and Harrison was still acting
as his lieutenant. There were five or
six other candidates, all obscure medi-
ocre men. though respectable.
When / reached the city l saw that
the Grey delegation and supporters were
arriving in great force, with all the
whoop and noise that impress the unob-
servant so much. The city was per-
vadcd by the Grey forces they were
talking Grey everywhere, and in the
iobbies of the hotels they were claiming
that he was as good nominated. 1t
was easy enough 20 see through 1t all
1t is a common device at conventions to
attempt stampede to candidate who
seems far in the lead, and sometimes
1t succeeds. Harrison, if not Grey. was
shrewf enough to see the opportunity
and he was making the most Of it,
L met Harrison at the entrance to the
convention hall, and he seemed i'm high
spirits.
II think I've got you this time. Mr.
Clarke he said; you beat me on that
apportionment bill. and / didn't like it.
m frank to say, but I'm going to put
Grey through and make him the next
governor
] made an ambiguous reply. and. turn
ing away. entered the convention hall
more resolved than ever that we should
beat Grey. but further than ever from
knowledge how to do it,
/ recognized a new note as soon as
the convention met Much of the old
suavfty and courtesy was gone; ii was
no longer my learned friend or my
distinguished friend when political foe
addressed political foe on tho floor. but
II was the personal attack full of acri-
mouy and hostility: men sought to over
ride each other. to attain the end by any
means they could: I'm short we led to
the fun what was then popularity called
''the strenuous life" and 7 am frank to
confess that / did not like it,
Inc first day was Il series of unbrokcn
trlumphS for Grey. Harrison controlled
the convention and carried everything
us he wished 1t to go. Never was there
that in union there is strength. The
Grey forces. united, were invincible: we,
divided. were beaten whenever we mad,
fight. AS Jimmy Warfield whispered
to me: THE only thing We can do is to
run. and we don't seem to be such good
runners. either
Grey was suffused with triumph. and
he would have made Il great display of
it had Harrison let him, but his skillful
manag ger kept him. for the time being,
in 4 state of suppression.
We held meeting that evening in
Judge Wharton'S room and I brought
up the subject of his candidacy. but he
would not hear to it. declining with an
emphasis that was little short of being
abrupt Then we talked about three
hours. and. as before all the talk came
to nothing. I felt sick and Disguised.
and. as all my suggestions had been
snubbed. | decided to leave the meet
ing. go to my own room and sleep if
could.
rose and announced that ! would
withdraw. and we seemed. to me. to he
wasting time. and. to my surprise. no
one made any objection. L was hurt
much hurt at this proof of Indifference
from old friends. personal as we'll as
political, and with a brief. goodnight i
left the room.
We met again the next morning with a
great attendance of both delegates and
spectators. and before the convention
was half an hour old noticed new feel
ing in the opposition. 1t was not thing
that one could sec with the eye or hear
with the ear. but ii was perceived rather
by the underlined and unknown sixth
sense. 1t was a note of union, of hope
and of confidence. but when ! sought to
trace it to its ultimate source l found
that l was on the outside.
The morning passed on and the time
for the nomination came. Harrison put
he name of Grey before the delegates
and he did it extremely well. He sat
down amid thunders of applause. which
died. rose and died again and again.
When they died for the last time. IA dead
silence of minute or two followed. and
then the oldest delegate in th- convention.
a man with snowwhite hair. who had
served in more than d dozen legislatures
rose and spoke in a voice wonderfully
full and clear for one so old.
He had a nominee. he said. and as |
glanced at Wartield and the others. I
felt convinced that they had settled upon
a man. They were calling for a business
the aged speaker contin
ued. Well, his nominee would give them
one. They were calling for method order
and economy: his nominee would give
them as much of those things as they
could stand they wanted a man who
would lead the strenuous life; his can
didate already led it, and did not know
how to lead any other: they wanted a
young man; his candidate had youth to !
spare.
The venerable orator paused here. and I
sat up in wonder. There was a deep
ense breathing Of amazement on Harri- |
sons face: clearly he was as puzzled as |
about the unknown paragon who was |
about to be put in nomination. but his |
COX of surprise was reinforced by a look !
Of alarm.
Il name for you said the old orator |
"a man who has already done the state
great service: | name for you a man who |
will command your unqualified admiration
md support: l name for you a man who
will lead you to victory as certainly as
he sun shines on old Kentucky; I name
'or you the Hon. Henry Clarke of Sump-
err county,
He turned his gaze full upon me as he
my flame and / was dunn
ounded. I had never aspired to such an
lonor: I had never dreamed of IT, Now
understood why lney had been willing
or me to leave the room the nigh. be-
ore. why they had kent me out If the
ecret. I locked at Jimmy Warfield and
lis face bore a broad smile of confidence |
conrad aship and congratulaticn. Then /
danced at Harrison and ] met a furious
age so full of rage and accusation that
was startled. He seemed to say, You
re traitor: you have sprung this game
rom the dark. and at the last moment
o he meek man and nv blood leaped
h'nk that otherwise should have de-
lined the nomination. but l could not let
myself be browbeaten by Harrison-he
lad no claim upon me; just the con-
rary-and settling back in my seat.