Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-06-21
BIG CITIES SEEK
1924 CONVENT IONS
SAN FRANCISCO WANTS REPUB-
LIcAN MEET AND NEW YORK
INVITES DEMOCRATS.
OTHERS ARE POSSIBILITIES
Aspirants for the Presidential Nom
ination Have Their Preferences
Soon They viii Be Selecting ora
tors to Present Their Names.
BY EDWARD 3. CLARK

Washington.-Half dozen cities of
the country are striving for prefer
ence as host to one or the other great
national political conventions which
are to be held one year hence. San
Francisco is making a special effort
to secure the Republican convention,
and New York city a special effort
to secure the Democratic convention.
Other cities want either one or the
other, or both if possible.
Men who have presidential ambi-
tfons have their personal preference
among cities. Politicians who are
favorable to one candidate above all
others also desire to bring about the
selection of a city whose inhabitants
are more favorable to their candidate
than to any other There is a certain
gallery psychology" which supposedly
makes itself felt on the delegates to
any convention. It is said that cheer
ing galleries have nominated more
than one candidate partly against
the wishes of the assembled delegates.
There will be at least two candi-
dates for the Republican nomination
for the presidency next year, and, of
course, possibly more. Already there
are at least half a dozen candidates
not personally announced, but an
nounced by their friends, for the Dem
ocratic nomination. Soon every man
with presidential nomination longings
will begin to think on the selection of
some one to present to the delegates
his claims for preferment. 1t is a
historic fact that on several occasions
nominating speeches have turned the
delegate tide toward the man in be-
half of whom the speaker was making
bis effort.
Bryan Nominated Himself.
In this connection, Of course, one
case which comes most quickly to
mind is that of William J. Bryan, who
received his first nomination for the
presidency in Chicago in 1895. This
is a case with a difference, however,
for Mr. Bryan was his own speaker on.
that occasion, although so far as was
known, of course, he was not sup
posed to be speaking in behalf of him
self. No politician can be found today
who is ready to dispute the statement
that William J. Bryan's "Cross of
Gold and Crown Of Thorns'' utter
ance in Chicago in 1896 was the prime
cause Of his receiving the nomination.
The writer heard an old campaigner
say the other day that a short speech
never nominated anybody for the pres
idency. There is sufficient authoriza-
ton for saying that the veteran party
man was mistaken. Senator Shelby
M. Cullom of Illinois once said to the
writer that he thought he had made
the shortest successful nomination
speech In behalf of presidential can
didate that ever was delivered. The
senator then handed the writer a copy
of the speech which he made at the
Republican convention of 1872 nom
mating Ulysses S. Grant for a second
term Here it is:
Gentlemen of the convention: On
behalf of the great Republican party
of Illinois and that of the Union--in
the name of liberty, of loyalty, of JUS
tice, and of LAWN the interest of
economy, of good government, Of peace,
and of the equal rights of all-remem-
bering with profound gratitude his
glorious achievements in the field and
his noble craftsmanship as chief mag
istrate of this great nation-T NOM
mate for president of the United
States for second term Ulysses s..
Grant,
Orator Gave BIaine's Name Wrong.
Occasionally a nominating speech
comes pretty close to undoing a candi-
date. James G. Blaine of Maine was
a candidate before several conven-
tons of his party prior to the time
that he finally received the nominal
ton in 1884. In the convention Of
1880 an absolutely inexcusable error
was made by the man who placed
Blaine in nomination. He was a man
who had known the Maine statesman
all his life, who was familiar and init
mate with him socially and yet he
committed the objectionable bull of
getting Blaine's name wrong when he
reached the nominating climax.
In presenting the name Of the Maine
man the nominating orator made a
great speech. It was said to be one
of the finest deliverances ever heard
in a convention hall. He neared its
conclusion, summarized the achieve
ments of his favorite, and then, woe
is woe, he gave his name as James
B. Blaine"
When this slip was made the dele
gates and the people in the galleries
gasped and then Uttered. The whole
force of the speech was lost, for a tit
ter is deadly. The situation came near
being saved. however, by William P.
Frye of Maine. He quickly sprang to
the platform and made a ringing i'm
promptu speech in behalf of his fell
low citizen of Maine. 1t hardly need
be said that Senator Frye got the name
right. He gave it in full and ring
ingly, James Gillespie Blaine.
Uncle Sam Grows Rather Paternal.
Uncle Sam today is engaged in all
kinds of benefcent work. He is look