The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-10-11

tlOndi questions. Ana pelOre ] speak
of candidates and platforms I think
TWO conventions-the n at Chicago
land the other at Baltimore. I am
not going to discuss the convention
that nominated Mr.. Roosevelt. for two
reasons. In the first place I wasn't
there and in the second place I don't
regard it as a convention. but rather
as a monologue. But I did go to Chi
cago, and I was at Baltimore. I went
to Chicago partly because I had be-
come accustomed to want an exciting
political convention every four years
would be tame, and rather than risk
the loss of my quadrenniel stimulant
I went to Chicago out of an abund-
ance Of caution. When I decided to
go the question was in what capacity
I should go? A great deal depends
upon the capacity in which a man
acts. I had this Impressed upon my
mind some twenty years ago. A news-
paper ma called me out at Washing
ton and asked me some questions and
when I hesitated about answering he
said: "Oh. YOU needn't be afraid to
answer; I am not talking to you now
in my capacity as a newspaper man
but in my capacity as a gentleman"
I never had the distinction so m
|phasized before. I might have gone
as a delegate, but I wasn't willing to
be instructed for either candidate. I
raight have obtained a seat on the
platform, but how would I have look
ed on a republican Platform? I might
have gone into the gallery. out they
We're always threatening to clear the
to be put out of a republican conven-
ton. I decided to go as a newspaper
man and so ! wrote to the chairman
Of the republican national committee
aud told him If he would give me a
ticket to the press gallery I would
agree not to say anything worse
against Mr.. Taft and Mr.. Roosevelt
than they had said against each other.
I thought it would give me all the lat
itude hat I needed for my writing.
And I pride myself that I was in a
ton fully and accurately. than any
republican there. because the repub-
licans were biased-sonae in favor OF
Mr.. Roosevelt and some In favor Of
Mr.. Taft. And you know bias will
unconsciously color everything that
one does, Fortunately I wasn't biased
in favor of either of these men And
II knew them better than the delegates
did. I knew them 81 we'll that I
knew mat what luey SdlO ABOUT edCu
other was true. and ! wanted to give
1t the widest publicity.
Saw Two Extremes.
"1t was a very interesting conven-
ton. 1t began like a tragedy and
ended like a comedy. At first I was
afraid they would kill each other
they were so mad at each other. And
toward the last l was afraid they
wouldn't. In the beginning they were
two groups. and they glared at each
other and said unk;nd thinks about
each other. But when that piece Of
improved machinery. called the steam
roller, operated by skilled labor, got
down to work. it srnoothed things
out so artistically that those who were
run over were almost as happy as
those who ran owe them. It worked
SO mechanically toward the last that
you could go out Of the hall and stay
for any length Of time without miss
ing anything. You could tell just
what was going on. 1t was about like
this. A man would come out from
the committee on credentials and re-
port in favor Of seating two or four
Taft delegates, and then another man
would suddenly appear and mov to
substitute two or four of Roosevelt
delegates, and then a third man would
automatically bob up and 10y to lay
the substitute on the table. and the
chairman would say those in favor
say aye" 1t looked like everybody