The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-07-07

| DelnOCrdtlc Nationdl conventions are
the hobby Of Mrs. ]. Fred C. Talbot
wife Of the veteran Representative from
Baltimore County, Maryland.
| Politicians come and politicians 60. bu,
Mrs. Talbot, like the little brook. goes
right ahead attending conventions, and
sitting in at the birth and burial Of many
| Presidential bees. She has probably
seen more White House possibilities loom
up. burn brightly, flicker and die away
than any other woman in the country.
Last week she attended her ninth Demo
cratic National Convention. and was
present at the obsequies Of several po-
| litical hopes"
From the time Of Hancock and English
| In 1850. Mrs. Talbot has been a continu-
| al spectator at the quadrennial battles of
the Democratic party. She owns what
probably constitutes a woman's record
for attendance at these hair pullings.
Hers is unique record. So much i'm
pressed has she been by the tragedies
of politics that she has no desire to be
suffragette and pose in the llmelight
as an equal rights advocate or woman
politician. She is content to spend her
time between conventions on her coun-
try place at Lutherville. Md, and sell
dom comes to Washington with her hus-
band
As consequence OF her close attend
ance upon the political battles of the
Democratic party. Mrs. Talbot is we'll
qualified to compare the recent conven-
ton and nomination Of woodrow wilson
to the other famous meetings in the par
tvs history.
Looking for Next.
Il might almost say that I live from
one Democratic convention to another"
she laughingly exclaimed to a group Of
friends on the floor Of the convention at
Baltimore the other day. No sooner is
one convention ended than I begin hop
ing to see the next and over and above
and always I am hoping and praying to
see another Democratic President
Mrs. Talbot be 1t understood. is q
quiet. retiring. home-loving body. one
Of the grand old school kind In which
Maryland abounds and for which the
nation is the stronger and the better.
She hates the limelight. and does not
like 70 have her name in the news
papers. She does not like to talk for
publication because she protests 1t looks
too much like seeking notoriety.
When asked. however. what moved her,
of all women. a typical. home-loving.
quet-seeking woman. to journey quad
rennially to the bedlam-like scenes of
political strife with all the attendant
personal discomforts. she admitted that
1t was because she was a veritable
bacchant of Democratic doctrine. the
only doctrine for the peoples salvation:
that she believed in the greatness and
the wisdom. the foresight and the
patriotism OF the statesmen of Democ-
racy, and, lastly. she went to conven-
lions as an example and encouragement
TO other women to attend.
For thirty-two years Mr.. Talbot.
knowing my intense interest in the
Democratic party. has taken me to the
conventions" said Mrs. Talbot. and in
that time I have observed a steady in
crease in the number of women present
at each successive gathering. Now no
normal person can dispute that the pres
ence Of the women Of our land upon
such great and momentous ccasions
when mems brains run riot has a
wholesome. salutary. beneficial effect. 1
have yet TO hear of a man with any
thing approaching common sense dispute
this"
Her First Contribution.
first convention, Mrs. Talbott?" was
asked
Mr.. Talbot was a delegate to the
ncinnati convention which nominated
Tilden in 1885," she replied. land when |
he returned he described it in such glow |
ing terms that / made him promise
should go along four years later, which |
| did. Never shall I forget the impress |
sion that wonderful sight made upon me |
as I sat there surrounded by the great |
men of the nation fighting for the Presi- |
iency of the greatest people on earth. |
It was practically no different in any
generally speaking, from the con- |
rentions of to-day. yet to this time 1t |
lives in my memory as the most wonder
Jul. amazing, and inspiring sight it has
ever been my good fortune to gaze upon. |
AT that convention l was placed in
possession of some inside information
which ] believed l could rely upon. 1t |
was that the big leaders had decided that
Hancock was to get the nomination. Ny
youthful spirit prompted me to desire 10
get ahead of the other ladies in my party,
and I had the temerity to put on Q
Hancock badge. We had good seats on
he right Of the platform. where there
we're many women. 1 was teased and
witted about my Hancock emblem. be-
ng the only one Of the women haunting
hose colors. But / knew I was on the
,and wagon. Sure enough. I was right.
was nominated. and then had
ny turn at those who had been teasing
4
ne
'Oh, but 1t was exciting. Daniel
)ougherty, of Philadelphia, put Han
ock in nomination in as eloquent a
peech as 1 have ever heard. 1t affected
he women as it did the men. and We
heered almost as Justify as they, the
invention going perfectly wild, dele
ates pulling up flags and standards and
around like men gone daft.
John Kelly Was There.
Il remember that John r. Fellows, the ,
.ilden leader, was on the platform, and i
amous John Kelly. boss Of Tammany
Hall. was on the floor with his delesa- 4
ion. There had been much bitterness
etween them, but when the voting COM ,
nenced Kelly left his seat In Tammany, 4
,ade his way deliberately to the plat a
orm. and grabbed Col Fellows by the a
houlders and embraced him. The rec ,
ncilistion affected every one and tu-
1ult followed, a tumult Of Joy. The :
and and the organ. as II by inspiration. .