Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-10-03
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This IL part Of . mSgasins article
pertinent to . nov again live subject

which they will be called For with the vast expan-
sion Of the country and It's growing population the
national convention Of today has become OF mastodon
proportions as compared with the pigtny sire OF ths
early years convention Of the two great parties
consists OF approximately 1000 delegates ana lVV
alternates while the officers, press correspondents
special guests spectators and followers are est-
mated from 5000 TO 10000 OF which at best only
small part actually be witness TO the proceedings
First-Though there is properly first nor last
the railway facilities bring this vast army together
and It's constituent parts to their homes after tne
close OF the convention are absolutely essential no
ons-rosd could funnel folks in that number In
and with sstsfantoTy promptness in the allotted
time
second-After the delegates and crowds as
sembed they must be decently housed and fed thew
must be permitted 30 sleep. eat and drink and pursue
cleanliness ana seek amusement The convention ex-
tends least over the greater part OF week but IL
in session az rule only few hours each day Oven
II all the strangers able to attend which they
not, they would have 20 be provided for when
the convention 10 not in session. II s the hotels and
restaurants refreshment places baths theaters etc
that be in reduisition. and the city best SUP
piled with these facilities will usually be overtaxed
Third-A suitable and safe convention hall must
be available. National conventions have been held
in times past in all sorts OF meeting pacesball room,
opera house, armory exposition hail wgwsm tent and
coliseum. OF late. however more exactng require
ments have been met-an auditorium OF fairly fire.
proof construction capable OF seating the 1900 dele
gates and aiternates floor level and Of holding
altogether from 1910 to 1900 1900 people, with not
iposable acoustic properties within walking diSanoe
of main hotels and easily reached by street car would
description In 1884 the convention that noml-
mated Cleveland held In tent pitched on Chi
cagos lake front In 1900 the Auditorium in which
Kansas City 10 house the democratic convention
burned few weeks prior to the date but new and
comInodious building at erected in It's
place and ready at the appointed time.
Fourth-Ths crowds the floor and in the CALLER
les not the only ones attending the convention;
the whole Newspaper reading public throughout the
length and breadth OF the land and over encr-
cling the globe wherever civilized nations exist
present by proxy in the persons OF the repre-
sentatives. The proposal has been advanced in
all seriousness to shut out all the spectators except
the newspaper reporters In the interest OF expednZ
business and for the protection Of the delegates from
outside influences and of relying the press to dis
semnate accounts Of what is happening infinitely
and graphically need be. Whether this doubtful
expedient Is adopted not. the proper
daton of the press gallery is fundamental; it would
be useless 20 hold convention, write platform and
nominate presidential ticket unless the Of 1t
could be gotten out
Ffftf-Flnaneial safeguards for the legitimate ex-
penses OF the convention must be provided. As the
convention city the profits OF money spent by
delegates and visitors. It is expected to foot the
bills. The customary way IL to raise guaranty fund
and deposit to the credit OF local author
lied to meet obligations they arise For 1903 Dem
yer put up 100000 for the democrats. as did also Ba
whatever outlay might be necessary for the repub-
licanssaid to have called for about $4,000 The
OF expenditure covers hall rent. music, decorations
tickets printing, badges salaries OF paid employees
and personal expenses OF officers In charge.
sixth-sentimsntal and political reasons may be
urged for particular convention location The repuh
licanS went back TO Philadelphia IN 1900 celebrate
the completion Of the first half century parys
existence In the place where start had been
made. The democrats fixed upon St Louis for their
convention In 1904 IN order TO enable those attending
to take in the Louisiana Purchase exposition at the
same time. Political considerations however are fac.
tors in the choice much often upon the theory
that city may be better for particular candidate
than another or that the award the convention may
help bring in the electoral Of the state thus
favored at least to aay fractional differences
and encourage the party leaders to unite in a more
vigorous onslaught on the political enemy.
To what extent these expectations actually real
lied s decidedly open question. The democratic
convention OF 1850 went 10 Charleston while the lower
ing clouds OF civil gathering with the hope
and design TO permit the southern slave states TO CON
troll and yet It quickly split on the rocks and both
wings found II advisable to adjourn to Baltimore 70
finish their work. To the fact that the republicans
assembled that year In Chicago instead of In a city
east OF the Aleghenies is Undoubtedly due the nomI
nation of Lincoln instead Of Seward. The Cincinnati
convention IN 1875 named Hayes after Blaine was
beaten out largely because OF local surroundings
and Harrison likewise enjoyed an ADVANTAGE OF prox-
unity to home folks in the Chicago convention that
last republican convention was hailed az a victory
for hs allies" against Taft who had no prospect OF
support from Illinois but 1t did not prove to be So
Neither Is Il possible for the convention location q,
be definitely measured In electoral votes Although
the republicans favored ST Louis in 1896 Missouri
went democratic usual but when the democrats
held their convention there In 1894 Missouri for the
first time In over third OF century went republican
The composition for the republican convention I'm 1908
lay between Kansas City and Chicago. and had there
haaW eE.ee
could have been thus eoaxed to the ticket the de.
csion would certainly have been reversed because no
one regarded Illinois as even debatable Colorado II
is true, gave its vote to the democratic ticket ate.
the democratic convention had been held In Denver
but the relation OF and effect "a uncertain
Where the nominating conventions OF all the great
parties brought to the same city II goes almost
without saying that they would naturally neutralIzs
one another 30 far appreciation ana reciprocitv
In the form OF gratitude votes are concerned