Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-04-30
Drama to Be Played at
Chicago and St. Louis
lsMatchless Anywhere
Else in World.
Special to The Timcs-pispa,ch.l

Especial 10 The Times DispatrhI
WASHINGTON. April 2?.-So much
more stirrin: things have been hlliuc
the headlines of tho newspapers and
the hearts OF the people that it is
hard 10 realize the national prcsidcn-
iial conventions. which foreigners find
| tho most spectacular and peculiar fca-
lures IF American life, arc only "a lit
tie over a month OFT.
Although party politics has not this
year been tho biggest thing before us,
interest is SIN intense. perhaps more
intense than since the civil War
In the Coliseum at Chicago and the
new convention hall AT ST Louis will
he played this June Il drama match
less anywhere else in the world, for
here alone can one watch the great
figures OF nation play the game OF
politics i'll plain view with loo.o0o,00O
souls and the richest country ON earth
as the stakes.
M one can predict what n national
convention will lie like. 1t has phases
as varied and as unexpected as a great
title. II is generally agreed that
President Wilson will get the nomina-
ton of HE party by acclamation. This
is the only thing that is fixed, and one
well doubt whether this is as assured
as most people believe Like Il whi.l-
WIN new hcures often stalk into the
convention hall, grow to monstrous
size in few minutes and swcep all
before them.
Speaker Of the House of I;cprcscnta-
tive Champ Clark. who received a plu-
railt! on most Of the ballots taken i'm
the Baltimore convention four years
ago. but WAS finally defeated by Mr.
, Wilson. said last year:
IF President Wilson makes Il good
President he is entitled to denomination
and viii get it. II he does not. the
Democratic nomination will not lie
worth having"
SEVERAL. MEN DISCUSSED
For VICE-PRESIDENT
Even AT the Democratic convention
there will be lots of action. Who will
be Wilson'S running mate: VIII il he
Vice President Marshall, who is ready
to enter the contest again: VIII it
be Senator John W. Kern Democratic
floor leader. from MIR. Marshall's own
state of Indiana. or Senator j. Ilanil-
ton Lewis. carrying much weight i'm
his great state OF Illinois, or cx-Gov-
crnor Folk, Of Missouri, another man
discussed for the place in the halls of
Congress when once in a while the
international situation lets up Il lit
| tie:
The Democratic gathering will GER
tainiy he no cut-and-dried affair. But
in Chicago, one week earlier. will
come the real struggle Of tie giants
SO many currents will set in there
so many changing waves and tides Of
fierce opinion and partisanship, that
the seas are sure TO he dashed into "A
storm OF fierce grandeur which will
leave it's marks and he remembered for
many Il year.
| Out of tho ruck Of favortc sons there
stand two or three great figures. but
! none OF these is without its opponents
The possibility OF dark horse GAL
Looping through the field to first place
is not TO be dismissed. Prediction is
hopeless.
The Republicans have broken precc-
dent in the first place by deciding to
meet on June Z. one week before the
party In power. Only twice since the
| Republican par.y's history began has
the party OF the opposition selected its
! candidates first These occas ions were
the first nomination OF Lincoln in 1860,
and the first nomination of Mckinley
| In 1896. Curiously, both or these
| Presidents were prevented from COM
pleting a sccond/tcrm by assassina-
ton.
| For tho first time both conventions