The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-06-03

was anathema four years ago and to
whom 1t isn't much else now.
Just to get the Republicans to agree
among themselves is a task for su-
preme diplomacy. To get the Progress
sives to harmonic among themselves
VIII DO just as big an operation: maybe
bigger.
And after you've got the Republi-
cans to agree among themselves. and
the Progressives to agree among them
selves. you still have ahead the prob
lem OF making the two crowds agree to-
gother. Some Performance. that.
Imagine what the situation may be
about u week hence. with the great rank
and file OF delegates In each eonven-
ton getting irked and dlsgusted over
the delays: the conventions killing time
with oratory-which Is always dan.
gerous. because nobody knows what
orator may prove a frebrand when h,
gets on his feet: conferees sent out
like doves OF peace from their respec.
| tive arks. to seek not only where they
may light. but where they can dwell to-
! gethei In harmony: the town full OF Q
| surginR mob that fills hotel corridor,
ana Hobbies and parlors to suffocation
Hotel Is damned.
Why, ] have seen three men start
, from one room In the Congress Hote
! that's the real political capital Of
the country. anyhow--to go to another
| room in the same hotel. and spend ar
| hour doing IL: simply because they
| couldn't get through the corridors
! couldn't get into the elevator. couldn'
/ reach stairways.
| It's easy enough to talk about "quie
little conferences" but there Is NJ
such thing as quiet little conference
when the world and his henchmen ant
the hoi poloi OF this town turn on
/
, And the time may come-it has com,
! In many another convention-wher
an hours delay in getting a confer
ence together may mean the turnins
! OF nations political tides.
There's one thing that augues. at thi
time. for the program of reconcilia
ton, 1t Is the fact that so many coo
headed men are already realizing
these dtfhculties. They are talking
about them. quietly planning to cop,
But destiny uses queer little nipple
ments TO switch the channels of grea
events, A spellbinder. a phrase. al
do. or to undo, the whole business.
| Who has forgotten the bimetalli,
charm OF Bryan's silver tongue anc
golden cross at the convention OF 90
II requires only longer memory I,
recall that right here In this sam,
old Chicago. near sixty years ago, tn,
Illinois adherents Of Lincoln packed
tne convention hall with n claqu,
while somebody else was holding
parade on the streets. and that tina
claque powerfully helped to jam tn,
Lincoln nomination through.
This is intended as ,ust a suggestion
or some difficulties which hedge abo,I
the Efforts of Leadership to lead in sucl
time and place.
To an unwonted extent, both conven
lions arc composed Of me, chosen with
out reference to their "deliverabiiity'
later on. The popular primary has pu
the business If delivering solid dele
cations pretty much on what III,
gamins call the blink. whatever thnt is
and a big majority OF delegates in boti
conventions are the products Of pri
There never was a convention 4,
which. at this'staye Of Droceedinws I
was harder to put your finger on tn,
men that could deliver the goods
Doubtless in retrospect, fortniSh
hence, we will be able to tell accurate
~ enough who were the big, domjnat
Ing, directing personalities OF this bi
iurcated heteT ogoneity of conventIone
put nj this moment the man who guess
es he can name 'em either Is n fool q
the seventh son OF seventh son. y