The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-06-16

any convention--has come to order. The
chairman announces that nominating
speeches shall now be heard. There Is
shuffiing OF chairs and feet on the plat
form. The galleries lean forward In
anticipation Of surfeit Of oratory.
THE MAN WHO 10 about to make
his bow by proxy. s
Unless one has attended political con-
ventions he hasn't an intimate acduain-
lance with the man who" A conven-
ton could no more be staged without
the man who" than without gavel.
seats for the delegates, or q brass
band. No political orator omits mem
ton Of him. and q nominating speech
| that does not run the gamut Of praise
Tor "the man who" II as devoid OF
conventionality as Hottentot dance. y
SO the convention crowds 70 from
| this wonderful man whose Identity
changes at the will Of the speaker. II
an 1owan IL speaking the convention II
told that "the man who" halls from
that noble State. II New Yorker seeks
The man who" may be either Demo-
crat, Republican, Progressive, Socialist,
or Prohibitionist. He was born some
where, some time. somehow for the
benefit OF the particular party whose
half. ~
American institution.
He Ia an American institution Of i'm
perishabls fame and quadrennial resur-
rection. He Ia the stock In trade Of dis
tinguished oratrs who nominate others
for high office-but always hope that
somehow the lightning might be d.
verted and strike the nominator. Robin
son Crusoe and his man Friday never
enjoyed closer association than the con-
vention spellbinder and "the man who
as they stumble around on the desert
isle Of politics.
Suppose again that the convention is
in order and the nominating speeches
are on. A finished orator-who will
soon finish his audience-steps forward
and holds out two big hands 70 still
wipes perspiring forehead with an
already moist handkerchief, clears his
voice and begins.
The earlier portions Of the speech are
devoted to n review CT the accomplish
ments Of the party Of which the speak
er happens to be q member. There II
a reference occasionally to the SINS Of
STs.S4 q e the be scs sv esry ny hn
that he's about TO nominate somebody
for something. So far as the initiated
may know. he Is merely delivering him.
self OF certain wei defined o pm h y
going to nominate the Hon. Joshua
Binks for President, Vice President, or
some other high office.
He Rambles On.
He rambles on reviewing the history
Of the nation. With q duaver In his
voice he tells of the perilous journey
Washington took across the Delaware.
There is feeling references to the War
of 1912, the Indian wars. the carnage OF
Gettysburg. the assassination Of LIN
coin. the career Of Grant. probably
word or,two about Mckinley; or s Gro oyer
war and Manila bay. and gradual
working W. to the present
About this time some delegate or
Sst IN ns tine s q The ha c ds
in on the secret: he knows the fellow
speaking is going to nominate some
body. whereupon the spellhinder.
he were making =. panoramic ,picturc:
Of the convention hall. plants himself
sauarely in the center Of the platform.
guips down a cough drop. and comes
1T speak here today" he says, for
has been the mother OF Presidents and
Vice Presidents. When the nation has
with her sons whose names are en-
blazoned today upon the brightest pages
(Business Of taking a drink Of water
while waiting for the applause.)
"She comes here today" he continues,
with the man Of the hour. A grave
crisis has erisen in our national affairs.
We stand on an abyss and indication at
for us. our children and our children's
children. In this crucial hour the State
of (Anywhere) presents to you her ia
vorite son -
"Man Who" Appears.
"A man who was born in a log cabin
among the hardy pioneers: a man who
was Graded In the lap OF adversely and
whose earlier opportunities presaged
naught Of the triumphs Of this moment |;
a man who rose through sheer ability
and determination to place OF eminence
among his fellowmen; a man who has
hewn faithfully to the line OF duty and
has met day In and day out the expec-
tations OF those who entrusted him with
their confidence; a man who has been
tested in the crucible Of experience and
found pure; a man who In mind con-
science, and vision has no peer today
throughout this glorious land Of ours /;
a man whose heart beats In sympathy
for the human race: man who,
though ne walk with kings. would not
and could not lose the common touch /;
man who is at home whether he be in
farmhouse on the fertile prairies OF
the West or the drawing-rooms of the
effete East: a man OF stainless charac-
ter. OF purity of soul. of nobility OF pur-
pose, OF conservation to public duty; a
man who lives where the heart Of
| America beats; i man who typihes,
yea; a man who 10. the American spirit.
Confident that here il a man and
here Is the man of this hour, II Is
my glorious privilege to present to
you the name of the Honorable
Joshua Binks. and to nominate him,
in behalf of my State, as the party's
standard-bearer in this crisis"
Then Comes Noise.
Then comes the demonstration. led
by the delegates and shouters of the
State whose favorite son has just
been placed in nomination. The NOM
| inatOf wanda hts Wav tnuara A. =.