American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1919-05-02

with q gentle smile:
"Bart, you have business In Canton,
| believe, with which triflng matters
like the choice Of a president and the
Mexican question cannot be permitted
to Interfere. You must take time to
spend a day or two at the convention
In Baltimore on your way. Il. . Re
port to our friend Fine, who Will look
after your comfort there. The expert
ence ought to be useful to a young man
who, / hope, will have work to do In
future conventions"
/ took the stage 10 Baltimore next
day-the twenty-sixth of May. The
convention thrilled me-the flags, the
great crowd, the bands the songs, the
speeches, the cheering-I see and hear
1t all In my talk. The uproar' lasted
for twenty minutes when Van Buren's
name was put in nomination.
Then the undercurrentl The South
was against him as Wright had fore
seen. The deep current of Its power
had undermined certain Of the north
ern and western delegations. Osten-
slbly for Van Buren, and ~stubbornly
castlng their ballots for him. they had
voted for the two-thirds rule, which
had accomplished his defeat before the
balloting begun. 1t continued for two
days without, a choice. The enemy
stood firm. After adjournment that
evening many Of the Van Buren, dele
gates were summoned to a conference.
| attended 1t with Judge Fine.
The ex-president had withdrawn and
requested his friends In the conven-
ton to vote for Sllas Wright. My emo
lions cun be more readily imagined
thnn described when / heard the
shouts of enthusiasm which greeted
my friends name. Tears began to roll
down my cheeks. Judge Fine lifted
stored he began:
Gentlemen, as a friend of the
learned senator and as a resident of
the county which Is the proud pos
SCISSOR Of his home, your enthusiasm
has a welcome sound to me; but | hap
pen to know that Senator Wright will
not allow his name to go before the
convention"
He rend the letter of which / knew.
Mr.. Benjamin II. Butler then said:
when that letter was written Sena-
tor Wright was not aware that Mr..
Van Buren's nomination could not be
accomplished, nor was he aware that
bis own nomination would be the al
most unanimous wish of this conven-
ton. / have talked with the leading
delegates from Missouri and Virginia
today. They say that he can be noml'
nnted by reclamation. Is 1t possible
that he-a strong party re
with whose help he has won lmmorta
fnme2 No, 1t is not so. 1t cannot be-
so. We must dispatch a messenger Il
him by horse at once who shall TAXI
to him from his friend Judge Fine
frank statement of the lmperlous de
mand OF this convention and a reques
that he telegraph a withdrawal OF hi
letter In the morning"
Q The suggestion was unanimously az
y proved and within an hour, mounte,
Q or one of the best horses In Marylan
so his groom Informed mel was o.
{ my way to Washington with the mes
{ sage of Judge Fine in my pocket, Yes
8 had two days to spare on my schet
$ ule of travel and reckoned that, by RI
turning to Baltimore next day 4 shoul
reach Canton In good time.
1t was the kind of thing that only
llthef supple, s~trong-hearted lad sue
as | was In the days of my youtl
n could rellsh-speedlng over a dar
y road by the light of the stars and
', half-moon, with a horse that loved I
IS kick up a wind. My brain was In
y fever, for the notion had come to IL
10 that / was making history.
d The lure of fame and high place hu
rled me on. With the senator In Il
1t presidential chair | should be we
'e cess. Then Mr. ii. Dunkelberg mig
1t think me better than the legacy
e, benjamin Grimshaw. A relay await'
Of me twenty-three miles down the roa
d. Well, l reached Washington We
y. sore, but otherwise in good form, SOC
lis after duybreak. l was trembling wi
~ excitement when l put my horse In Il
stable and rang the bell Mt our door.
h seemed TO me that l was crossing I
he divide between big and little things.
er few steps more and should be loo
la Ing down into the great valley of I
lc- future. Yet, now that l was there,
~, began TO lose confidence.
OF The butler opened the door.
Yes, the senator was up and h
IL Just returned from a walk and was
To- his study. l found him there,
2. "Well, Bart, how does this happen
In he asked.
vn "It's important business" i said,
his | presented the letter.
TX Something In his look and manr
~ as he calmly adjusted his glasses n
lat read the letter of Judge Fine broul
he the blood TO my face. 1t seemed
aid puncture my balloon, so to speak, q
ell was FILLING toward the earth and