The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-06-16
IMPOSSIBLE TO
FORECAST RESULT
OF CONVENTION
No Man Can Tell Who Will
be Nominated by Republi-
cans at Chicago
CONGRE SSMEN ONCE
NAMED PRESIDENT
| Present Plan Is Eve ttion and
Is Not Provision Of / Those
Who Framed the Con
stitution

CHICHAG0. June Though no
man within those United States, or
upon the terrestrial globe.-for- that
matter, can forecast the choice of the
Republican national convention in
the matter Of Republican presi-
Dental nominee. the manner with
which that choice will be made can
be foretold with certainty, and w!ll
prove an interesting commentary on
tho evolution Of American politics
The rules that govern o national
convention, as they will be practiced
here on Tuesday, are neither the wise
provision OF those fathers Of the ma
ton who framed the constitution.
nor are they the conscious contriv-
ance of some master mind. They
are, in fact. a political inheritance
handed down to the present day by
generations Of political ancestors who
found increasing difficulty In choos-
ing suitable candidates to head the
party as the years rolled around, and
the country grew in size.
No Conventions ut First.
In the first days Of the republic
the presid nominations were not
made by convention at all. Presi-
dental aspirants received the votes
the-pr presidential electors -tF4aHf-
nous consent. Indeed, in the first
two election. those Of 1852 end 1893.
there was no ell for presidential nom
nations, for the whole nation wanted
General Washington as It's chief ex-
ecutive.
II was not until 1900 that the first
germ of what has grown to be the
greatest political show in America
vas planted. Its establishment came
through the hesitancy Of the Demo
'cratic) Republicans In the choice OF
a vice presid emit To SFHa with Thomas
Jefferson, and It's birth took place
when a small body Of congressional
members met to recommend Aaron
Burr for that office.
From 1900 to 1924. nominations
we're made by congressional caucuses.
This practice. However. received its
death blow through its alleged
usurpotlon OF the rights Of the peo-
pie. The selection OF presidential
candidates was then delegated to the
State Legislatures, popular meetings
and spontaneous endorsements #
'favortte sons"
1t vas not until 1910 that the pres
ent form Of national eonventto re
oeived fts try-out. Since then there
the form by which the president thai
choices are made coming down to the
present day with little change.
The presidents established by this
long list cF nominating conventions
are ironot1d, and control absolutely
every action OF the national BODY
The only action therefore that could
possibly break the routine of the
Republican national convention
whom it meets IN the auditorium at
noon On Tuesday. is the bolt Of either
Taft or Roosevelt factions. Such m
action has not occurred since 1895
when Senator Henry NJ Teller. as
Colorado, led bolt from the Repub-
lican convention Of thar year on the
free silver question. Even Il bolt,
however, would hut momentari,v nm
set the routine of the convention. the
presidential candidates being chosen
by the remaining delegates under
the same rules that have guided ma
tonal conventions for decades