The Washington times., 1912-06-29

BALTIMORE, June 2s.-Recollect the
good, old-fashioned Congressional con-
vention out in a prairie State, where
Congressional district is as big as Bull
garia and includes. says, a dozen coun-
ties, with a candidate in every county
but two or three? Well this convention
was a dead ringer for that fine old style
political hippodrome when 1t adjourned
shortly before daylight this morning.
This analogy Is worth considering, for
: It shows how very, very much all poll
| tics Is alike. Here are the ingredients
for such a situation, whether It arise In
the Tenth Iowa district or in the Demo-
cratic national convention.
Fine large bunch of candidates, each
full Of prunes and helpfulness: none In
sight Of enough votes to nominate.
Determined purpose to do or die. with
strong preference for doing, animating
the entire outfit.
Much conversation about dying in the
last ditch and going down with colors
flying. Conversation Of this heroic mold,
interspersed literally with high balls
and bad salivary Workmanship ap-
parently.
Boss lawyer for the leading railroad of
the district, occupying best suite on par
lor floor of leading hotel. Entertains
lavishly; awfully good fellow. you know;
does not pretend to pass out anything
less than a two-fot-a-quarter smoke
and urges the boys to take pocketful.
No Ak To Grind.
Has not any political ak to grind, OF
course (boss lawyer, 1 mean); just ex'
plains that he never misses conven.
ton, because it would be sin to over
look the chance to sharpen up his wits
by mixing with so many clever chaps
now and then.
Three or four very wise ginks, always
on deck, concerning whom the super
stition Is widely entertained that they
are masters of a sort of political black
art.
Wise ginks control" a county here
and each Of their counties has a candi
date of its own. It's noticeable that w
G's occasionally happen into headquar
ters of Boss Lawyer Hereinafter re
ferred to as B. L., simultaneously anc
gravitate to back room for private con
fab with B. l..
Great mass of delegates know aoou
as much about what's doing and VIII!
they are there as a switchman at a jerk
water railroad station knows about tn
transportation scheme by which omni
potence keeps the celestial spheres re
volving in the right orbits.
Convention finally meets and start
balloting.
Necessary to nominate. SO: eight can
didates have from II to "a votes each o
first ballot.
Ditto second.
Ditto third
Ditto fourth. fifth, sixth, and sixtietf
r. T.. grows more jovial and amiabl
as situation hardens. After two futil
sessions Of balloting delegates tai
wisely about the deadlock" ard wan
der II the oostofticos would quit receiV
ing mail II they never made Cor
gresham.
Talk of Break.
AS third session approaches, there
talk that a "breAk' Is coming. Every
body knows, the w. G.'s are gettin
ready &c pull something: knows that
what they're there for. ard that It
their privilege, even duty.
On the 10th ballot one w. g. switchs
his county TO the candidate who ma
been having the lowest number :
votes Great enthusiasm( anythili
about this that "eCalls q vision
Charles +. Murphy?
Or for that matter is there anythin
about the genial B. l.. that reminds yo
of Thomas F. Ryan?
Well, the tail-end candidate suddeni
becomes the leader. His friends hust
around among the delegations and plea
for some support They make this so
of agreements with as many counties
possible.
II you'll give us your county's vo
for four ballots, and we can't put
across, then we'll return the compl