The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1916-06-17
VOTE FOR ORDINANCE "A'-
COP. CONVENTION MEDIOCRE.

In its work and leadership the convention was
marked by dull mediocrity.
Meeting in a momentous history-making period, this
great political party did nothing and said nothng-said
nothing in its platform, which deserves place in
history outside Of the bare chronicles the times.
Nor did any man who spoke before it, with hardly
an exception other than Dr. Nicholas Murray Butler
utter words that showed comprehension of the
vital questions of which plain citizens every
corner Of the country thinking and talking. The
party in its failure to grasp the needs of the
nation, failed in its duty to itself and to its countrymen
Just as mediocrity marked the convention, so, from
start to finish. expediency dictated It's
It Is simply stating fact to say that leaders saw
to the exclusion Of almost everything ese solid block
of votes that the sefconstituted leaders of German
Americans declared that they could deliver these
votes in their spelled victory they deliberately
planned their action to make Of winning them
Some of the Old Guard managers gave couragement
to tho movement to nominate Hughes for president
by Of his judicial Office nobody knew of
his views.
For these reasons In the end all the members of the
Inner party circle, the who shaped the conventions
course, went over to Hughes They did Hughes
They dislike him, matter of fact heart we're
opposed to his being nominated But their chief desire
was to get votes and so they adopted him.
The platform was formulated with the same purpose
IN views The aim was to win support from those who
would be aenated by plain, firm, unequvocal language
and yet not to ALLEVIATE the kind men who from the
time was founded have been the backbone the party
The platform pronouncements Americanism are high
sounding they contain words that glitter they are
not golden words.
They are meant to please ALL The neutrality plank
is designed to catch folk coming and going.
Not only was the convention mediocre time-servnp
and characterless but sess feless as to
De depressing The absence of sentiment and of en-
1nus1asm was remarkable. The patriotic which the
band played from time to time did arouse the crowd
to anything like the degree that they had always done
MOSfo NJ fho tiroo
whatever. The spirit of the delegates seemed to he
stunned The men and women in the galleries. however
we're more alert in responding to patriotic
demonstration of this kind emanated from them and
was maintained by them.
The delegates did not seem to he rrea+v 1n+eres+od
IN the platform in anything else except the fortunes
Oh tnelr candidates the msfortunes of other candi
oa'e Ins attitude was manifest very clearly when the
nomination of Hughes became certain The demonstra
on 'nat followed was brief and perfunctory The dele
gates appeared to take part matter of formal
1ty than anything else The spectators for the most
part, sat stark and silent.
~ may be that the delegates simply went through
the motions because that was all that thew were pven
opportunity to do. bossridden convention can
naroy DO imagined. Nothing was left either to the
initiative the decision of the delegates Theirs was
merely the duty Of carrying orders For instance
'n convention adjourned after the Ballot Friday
evening" because the command FORTH although the
erect OF adjournment might have been the defeat Of
WV 1AeAe uoys Out the next DAY the DELEGATES
urneo IN and voted for Hughes favorite sons and
other candidates withdrew because of new orders ia
nominate Hughes without delay.
IL is Interesting to recall that on Monday evening
ono OF the big bosses stated privately that Hughes would
De nominated on the third ballot It was on the third
na4ot tnat nc was nominated The bosses simply chose
ne Time and set the STAGE The delegates were as sheen
1ono"1ng the belwether Not fractional part Of
inc independence that characterized Republican
ven''on OF 1908 was evhced An the convention which
las CHOSEN Hughes as its standard bearer.
For all the world it was Tammany meeting on a
large scale.
The low standards of the convention its eouivocal
course and Its stlessness and Indifference together
WITH the failure to heal the breach the Progressive
parry nave cast gloom the participants Manv
lett the city in state of utter
some OF the delegates who capable of giving
esnp to the gathering had they had the opportunity
left in disgust
Many prominent from different parts Of the
country who spent days in Chicago because they
oeepy interested IN the work opportunity of the
convention openly express their anger and Indignation
because OF the manner in which the Republican party
jhlleo 10 meet Just and reasonable expectations.
It SO many were not planning on vacations II misht
be timely to suggest something about doing the Christ
mas shopping early.
Joshua was the original saving daylight man be-
cause he ordered the stand stiA and then
ceded TO thrash III ensnnles severely. 5.