The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1916-06-13
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.

Washington, June 13. - Especial. i
The Republican national convention
was different from any ever before
held In view of the fact that the mar
mostly talked about from the be-
ginning was one who had made no
canvass, had no campaign manager,
no press agents and no one TO express
his views and was absolutely silent
upon everything pertaining to the po-
litical situation.
What made IL all the more interest
ing was to hear It asserted time after
time by his opponents that he was
supported by hand picked delegates"
that he was the candidate of the ma
chine;;'' that he was "being handled by
Bosses"
or course no one with political sense
swallowed anything Of that kind, and
that sort OF talk was not particularly
creditable to the earnest advocates OF
other candidates.
When a Combination Failed.
Time after time Ii was asserted that
there would be a solid combination of
all the candidates with a view of nom
all right and was all right when the
combination was to prevent the nomi-
nation of any one man, but II fell to
pieces as oon as the attempt was
made to combine on any N man. 1t
could be made effective under certain
conditions tn nrnvnnt notion hut e. FaII
down when 1t attempted TO name a
candidate. The trouble was that as
soon as the candidate was picked the
others were out.
"it's No Longer Done"
Ii is no longer good form mt political
conventions for n half dozen bosses to
name the president, pass out the vice
presidency as a peace Offering. make
the platform and attend TO all the bust
ness of national conventions. That
system passed out long ago.
1t Is either a one man convention or
the delegates take a hand In the pro-
ceedlngs. Two Republican conventions
were dominated by Mark Hanna, two
by Roosevelt, and the next was split
because the bosses and Roosevelt dis
agreed.
This years convention demonstrated
that the delegates wanted to run a
convention themselves. 1t was not
subject to one boss nor half a dozen
bosses. And, strange to say, there IA
n great deal of complaint about what
was done by many who stand for the
rule of the people.
"WiIi Not Be Recognized"
One of the bugbears constantly held
up 20 men at the convention was that
they would not be recognized by
Hughes II he was enacted president.
l think that put Fear into the
minds OF the bosses and those who
hoped for political rewards than 1t did
into the rank and file of delegates.
OF course many OF the delegates hope
to be powerful I'm settling patronage In
their localities, and they would like to
be recognized when they journey to
Washington, but there were many men
In the convention who did not allow
such influence TO sway them.
"citiren Fixit."
w. Murray Crane Of Massachusetts,
who has SO long been known as "Citi-
zen F1xit" In Republican politics, came
near losing his title. S. A. Perkins,
who owns many newspapers In Wash
ington state and is national commit
fnannnn from TINT ctntA n1pnACt tanlx
Cranes job away from him.
What Gardner Learned.
One Of the earnest advocates Of the
nomination OF Roosevelt was Congress
man Gardner of Massachusetts. But
Gardner was not long in Chicago be-
fore he found hat the general impress
sion was that Hughes would be nomi-
mated. He tried to tell that to some
of the Roosevelt people. but they could
not see II.
Come with me-" he said to one of
them. and going down into the lobby
OF the hotel he stopped one newspaper
man after another and asked each who
he thought would be nominated. Every
~ iiuShcS, coiuc Will
equivOcation and some directly.
Wanted 20 Be Right.
The dilemma Of a number OF delega-
lions illustrates some of the main
springs Of politics. Take those states
away down on the roll, for instance.
In case Of a stampede they get In SO
late they get no credit. If they make
a showing at all they must make their
declarations early. Quite a number Of
delegates from such states told me they
wanted to be right two or three days
before the voting began so that they
would not look like mere trailers.s
Too Close For New.
Chicago Is too close to Indiana" re-
marked Harry New. AS a candidate
for senator and with half the state
wanting tickets to the national con-
v~ention. l have had more than my
share Of hard work. I wanted the con-
vention at Newbern, N. c.. or Pocatsl-
10. Ida"