Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-06-19
POLITICAL ADDRESSES
Nominating and Other Kinds
From Blaine and Bryan Down
to Wheeler, Who Helped
Hiram johnson on to
Defeat at Chicago
BY GEORGE NOX Mccain

A CCORDING to veracious Democratic
n chroniclers, William Jennings
Bryan will, as usual, muss things up
at San Francisco. That is, IL he can't
boss the show.
sat within twenty five feet OF him
when he electrified the vast convention
with his now celebrated speech, the
concluding sentence of which, You
cannot cruelty mankind upon cross of
gold" lives in history.
That speech won him the Democratic
nomination for President. First a
newspaper correspondent and then
congressman. he was virtually unknown
up to that moment.
1t was the most sensational and spec
taculnr entrance ever made before or
since in the history Of the Democratic
or any other party.
mention this merely to contrast it
with another recent episode in which
another convention speech, in addition
TO associated conditions, helped to blight
the chances Of a distinguished Repub-
lican for receiving the presidential nom
ination.
WHEN Charles S. Wheeler, of San
w Francisco, stepped out between the
red plush ropes that hemmed in the
restricted area Of the chairman and the
official rostrum at the Chicago conven-
ton, the vast audience awaited ex-
pectant clarion call.
They knew he was to place Senator
Hiram Johnson in nomination. Chair
man Lodge told them so.
Lodge started every speaker who
mounted the platform on his way by
announcing the name Of the candidate
he was to present. Just why he did 1t
no one has yet discovered.
1t handicapped every orator from
the outstart. 1t converted his perora-
ton into an anticlimax.
1t is the only instance of the kind
I have ever known in a convention. l
heard at least one distinguished gentle
man who made one of the nominating
speeches curse Henry Cabot Lodge in
regular up and down and out and out
fashion for this breach of precedent and
good usage.
II take pleasure in presenting Mayor
Moore, of Philadelphia, who will place
the name of Governor Sproul in nomi-
nation" was the invariable and
wretchcd formula for every speaker.
WHEN Mr.. Wheeler, of San Fran
w cisco, was presented all the John
son men on the delegates floor natu-
rally rose to their feet and howled.
There was nothing else to do. Preced-
ing candidates had received the same
demonstration at the mention of their
names.
When the tumult had subsided Mr..
Wheeler. who is big man, tall and
| built in proportion, with what might
be described as an imposing forensic
| front, began to speak.
He had q commanding voice and the
convention settled itself in anticipation
of one Of those history making addresses
that live in memory through the sweep
of years.
But Mr.. Wheeler had not talked for
! three minutes until he demonstrated out
| of his own mouth that he was 'dud,'
| in the world war vernaCular, a dead
one
He was not only a dead one, but he
helped to kill Hiram Johnson's chances
| That is. what had not already beer
killed by William r. Hearst.
He had neither oratorical ability MOI
political common sense. He treated his
candidate as though he we're a prisoner
at the bar and he had been retained as
chief counsel for the defense.
He explained and apologized. HI
| invited jeers. snecrs and cheers of deri-
sion from the convention. And he got
them.
The murmur of amaZcment that swep'
| over the convention was succeeded by
| laughter at the spectacle. He was in.
terr,Ipted with "boos" which were pen
! etrated with shrill questionings from
the gallery.
The worst Of it was that Mr.. Wheele,
| seemed to think he was making q hit
| And he was. He was hitting Hi John
| son.
1t was oratorical manslaughter.
! ONE other notable instance along thii
" line that recall occurred during
the Blaine campaign of 1884. 1t wa
at Massillon, o.
was one of the five correspondent
who accompanied James G. Blaine OIL
that wonderful campaign tour which
he made through the Middle West.
1t was an ovation from start to finish
and then BurChard, the greatest ex
ample of a preacher misplaced in poll
tics, killed the Plumcd Knight politi
cally in one sentence. 1t ultimatel.
killed him physically. for he was neve
the same man after his defeat.
At Massilon all tho school children
and the populace for miles aroun,
turned out to hear and see Blaine
The schoolgirls, dressed in white, forme,
a double line a square in length, hold
ing hoops twined with evergreen as al
arch under which Mr. Blaine and hi
party marched to a pyramidal platform
from which he spoke.
He made n beautiful address. Their
was not a word of politics in it. II
referred 10 no national issue. He wa
Blaine the distinguished citizen, no
Blaine the presidential candidate an
political leader. 1t was not the time no
nlace for nnlitical .nrnanhment