The Harrison times., 1911-03-04
of the machinery OF a convention is
not dominating force.
Much Talk OF [ loulsviIle

OF the machinery or convention ID
not u dominating force
Much Talk Of Louisville.
Louisville? Well. there is talk of
that happy home of Democracy and
the mint julep. Geographically 1t is
central. Politically it Is Democratic.
But climaically 1t is hot in the con.
vention months, and as for hotel ac-
commodations it is deplorably def.
cient Yet curiously enough there is
more talk here about Louisville than
of any other convention city That
is probably due to the fact that the
present Democratic delegation in con-
gress is largely southern, and then
there's Champ Clark, aG0Ted by Ken
lucky. The next congress will show
a largely increased Democratic repre-
sentation from northern states and
will no doubt express a decidedly diff
ferent opinion.
And Baltimore? Flushed with the
success it won by handling the most
impressive and enthusiastic political
bthiuNb NhV DCLlAONlhIlN party uds
known, in my time at least, the city Of
terrapin and canvasbacks Is now max.
ing an early bid for the Democratic
national convention. But like Louis
Vile it is sorely handicapped by lack
Of hotel facilities, and the hotels it
has are so widely separated that the
floating from lobby to lobby which
forms so large part of convention
activities would be impossible. More
over the Baltimore hotels-or one at
least-hardly invite the economical.
At the recent Democratic banquet
three gentlemen-two Of them repre-
sentatives in congress-were charged
nine dollars for a suite Of two rooms
long enough to change from street to
evening clothes.
New York Much In Favor.
There Is a growing sentiment
among Democratic members Of con-
gress that 1t Is about time that the
party should hold its national conven-
ton in New York. / have talked with
score Of representatives, men like
Rucker of Colorado, Clark of Florida,
Bartlett of Nevada, Sulzer of New
York, Sharp Of Ohio-I am purposely
picking men Of widely-separated sec
tions--and the composite picture OF
their views, the combined interview
SO to speak, runs about like this:
THE Democratic party has not held
a convention in New York since the
Civil war. 1t has not held a conven-
tion in any city which might be
classed as an eastern city since the
convention Of 1880 at Cincinnati when
Hancock was nominated. Since then
we have been to Chicago twice, to
Kansas City, to st. Louis and to Den
YER In each of these cities we have
been treated admirably, given large
guarantee fund, an admirable audi
torium hotel accommodation that
could hardly be equalled elsewhere.
Must Capture East to Win.
But many Democrats believe that
the time has come to turn to the East
for support. Some years ago Mr..
Bryan made the tactical error Of re.
ferring to the East as the enemy's
country. Today II the Democratic
party is to win 1t must appeal to the
East. How can that appeal be made
more promptly than by putting the
next national convention In the great
metropolis Of the East. ! am pretty
well convinced that the next candi-
date Of the Democratic party will
| come from some point east Of the
| Mississippi river, and If this shall be
the fact why should we not go down
into the East to find place in which
to hold our conventions? Everybody
believes that to elect a Democratic
president we must have New York
and the adjacent states Of Connect.
cut, New Jersey and Delaware. What
could we do better to accomplish this
end than to hold in New York City so
great and enthusiastic a convention
as to impress upon these common
wealths, which in presidential cleo
tions at least, have been in late years
| against us, the fact that the Demo
cratic party is growing and Is com
ing back to It's own?'
Dhis seems to be the general point
Of view of the Democratic politicians
in Washington. 1t is fair, however, to
quote the opinion of those who are In
the minority and who are anxious to
have the convention held at some
point west Of the Hudson river. Their
expressions run about like this:
Other Cities Discussed.
1T is quite true that the Sullivan
influence would be hurtful In Chi
cago, but what about the Murphy In.
nuence in New York? If the one Is