The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1916-05-18

THE PRINCETON UNION: TT
semblages, an outgrowth of party poll
tics and controlled by party usage and
| rules.
Can you give the resolution that is
| the basic principle Of the convention?
| Answer.-This resolution was put be-
fore the 1882 convention by Andrew
Jackson:
Resolved, That each state be entitled in
| the nomination to be made of a candidate
| Tor the vice presidency, to a number Of
| votes equal to the number to which they
| will be entitled in the electoral college IN
der the new apportionment, in voting for
! president and vice president and that
two-thirds of the whole number of votes
| in the convention shall be necessary to
constitute choice
Instructed Delegates.
How do the delegates to the various
| conventions know for whom to cast
their votes?
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS are often in.
structed by the state conventions which
| elect them. In the case of direct pri-
! mary elections the candidate for dele
gate announces his favorite. and thr1s
the people can express their views d.
| rectly: The instructed delegates al
ways, or are supposed to, vote as they
have been instructed until they see
that it is impossible to secure a major
ity or two-thirds vote, as the case NAV
be. Then the delegates vote as they
see fit, and ballot after ballot is taken
| until the necessary number of votes is
secured to award the nomination.
However, many states send uninstruct-
ed delegates to the conventions. and
these lend their support to the man
who in their opinion stands the best
chance of defeating the nominee of the
opposition party
Opens With Prayer.
Of what do the opening exercises con-
sist?
Answer.-There is an opening prayer,
one day by priest, another by a min
lister, various denominations receiving
recognition.
Can you give the exact modus oper-
andi of the national convention?
Answer.-A temporary chairman is
nominated and makes an address, Fol
lowing this is the appointment of Sec
retaries, clerks and other necessary Of
icials, together with the adoption of
rules which are to govern the business.
Then the committees them
those on credentials, resolutions and
permanent Organization-are appointed
ana adjournment is taken to wait on
their reports.
What happens at the next sitting?
AnsWer.-This usually names the
permanent chairman, who speaks.
Then the report of the resolutions COM
mittee. which contains the platform or
the principles Of the party, is read and
ordinarily sustained. Then the real
business follows.
What is the real business?
Answer.-The nomination of candi-
date. The roll call by state is begun
and when Ohio, for instance, is sung
out from the desk prominent delegate
from Ohio arises, steps to the rostrum
and with oratorical flourish proposes
the Ohio candidate. The roll call is
thus completed, and when all candi-
dates, varying in number, have been
appropriately placed before the con
vention balloting begins.
How are the ballots cast?
AnsWer.-Each state delegation Sc.
lects one member as chairman The
roll is called by states, and the chair
man announces the votes of every dele
gate from his state. If each delegation
votes as unit the chairman merely
says that all his states votes are for
this or that man. If the delegates are
divided he gives the number for each
candidate.
Do the delegates from each state sit
together?
Answer.-State delegations gather in
certain sections of the building under
banners. Once in their places and with
the temporary officers presiding the
convention opens.
Number If Ballots.
How many ballots are necessary to
choose candidate;
Answer.-This depends entirely on
conditions. This year there probably
will be only one roll call at the Dem
ocratic convention and one ballot for
President Wilson. At Chicago there
probably will be a large number as
there is such variety of candidates
and possibilities. In 1862 the Demo
Gratis agreed on Franklin Pierce only
after forty-nine ballots had been tax
en-. The Wings in that year went four
better than their opponents in select
ing General Scott. Wilson was NOM
mated in Baltimore in 1912 only after
forty-six ballots. William H. Taft was
nominated that year by the Republic
ans on the first ballot. There were at