Evening star., 1923-12-13
TALKS and TALES
Wifh ard about
CAPITALS GUESTS

city for G. o. p. warriors in 1924,
and Judged by the applause that
swept through the upper floors of
the New Willard Hotel when Chair
n.&a John T. Adams announced to
TIE republican national committee
meeting the result of the vote. the
lake froS+ community is now in line
for congratulations from all
True, ten stat" representatives,
figured San Francis. the logical
place for the big conclave. while one
favored Des Moines, but sectional
pride was accountable for this, and
when it was realized that the jig
was really up, they. too, hoped on
the band wagon and the vote was
made unanimous-atta spirit!
One Chicago wag did ask his neigh
nor if Cleveland was in Indiana,
little knowing, perhaps, that bidding
for huge conventions is nothing new
o the Forest city, and that at
tains way back in the long ago, the
offering of her hospitality to the
powers that were nearly precipitated
a riot, with her sponsor being threat
ened with expulsion from the hall.
Strange how like the present sit
uation is to that when Harrison ran
against Grover Cleveland in 1892"
unused Joseph c. Manning of New
York, battle-scarred politician of
many campaigns and incidentally one
of the organizers of the old populiSt
party in the early COS, on hearing the
announcement
The farmers alliance. a secret or
ganization out of which grew the
in 1890 as result of agricultural
conditions. 1t had both old-line or
Ganizations up in the air, and so per-
turbed was Perry Heath, chief work
er for John c. New. campaign man
ager for Mr.. Harrison. that a group
OF Minnesota farmers were invited TO
Washington to see what could be
done, it having been deemed eHpe-
dent to suggest to them the holding
Of the 's2 republican convention in
Never shall forget that commit
tee meeting. 1t was held at the old
Arlington Hotel. Gen. James S.
Clarkson was in the chair. and after
cred by John M Thurston, later
United States senator from Nebraska.
the chairman suggested that the
choice of convention city be taken
up, knowing full well that Minneapo-
lis was to be selected.
How about Cleveland"" shouted a
stranger, who had entered the hall with
Robert p. Porter, famous tariff writer
and at that time director of the census.
For Il moment Gen. Clarkson was
llVid with rage. Aware that the owner
Of the stentorian voice was not a dele
gate, the chairman was about tc have
him elected. when Mr.. Porter explained
that the man was merely an enthusias-
tic Clevelander, Mark Hanna, by name.
Four years later-weI, you know the
rest
= !: x :.
1t was this same Joseph C. Manning
who nominated Gen. J. B. Weaver of
Iowa to head the populist party during
the 1892 campaign, and. according to
him, it was due to the superior bargain
ing proclivities of democratic leaders
with the populsts of the west, while
republicans were losing time with
those in the SOUTH" that had much to
do with the defeat of Gen. Harrison
II was only twenty-five years old at
that time said Mr.. Manning, "and was
news editor of the American Press As
sociation at Atlanta. The farmers then,
as now. were putting up an awful bel
low. and after talking with some of the
Alabama leaders, suggested that the
farmers alliance, which had many ad-
herents III the west, be turned into a
political power. with candidate Of it's
own for President.
"A few old-time political speeches
made em all take notice. Shortly.
Ignatius Donnelly of Minnesota, Gen
Weaver. II. E. Taubentck of Illinois
and myself had a meeting, plans
were outlined, a convention called for
July 4. 1892. at Omaha, Neb., and
nominated Gen. Weaver for Presi-
dent.
Chris McGee, the Pittsburgh boss,
soon got wind of our activities, came
south to talk over trades. but while
we rested on our oars the other side
was talking business out west with
that section of our party, and the
answer is, they beat the G. o. P.
to it,
Mr.. Manning soon after returned to
the republican fold, and was an inde-
fadgable supporter of President Nc
kinley.
Despite the fact that his city re-
ceived but one vote, r. II. Faxon Of
Des Moines, general manager of the
National Selective Mortation, who
presented the Iowa capitals invita-
tion before the special committee of
the national committee, was around
the hotel yesterday and seemed per-
fectly satisfied now that Cleveland
has been chosen.
:'Des Moines offered her hospitality
and that was all she could do we
we're confident Of handling the under
taking, and are most desirous of
letting the country know that we
have a regular mans size commu-
nifty. There will be other conven-
tions, however. and Des Moines will
never rest easy until she secures
one" was the way the Iowan put 1t
as he prepared to check out.
How'd they take the Presidents
message out in your section OF the
country. Mr.. FaXon?'
"All right" was the reply. "Of
course, it's hard to gauge sentiment
on the bonus phase of it. President
coolidge's sympathy with the farmer
and his tax-reduction proposals natu-
rally met with general favor. No,
Hiram Johnson has not much sup
port in Iowa This was demonstrated
when former. Senator Kenyon stump
I'd for him. and you know Mr.. Ken
2on has quite following still"
X u 4 =
David Belasco couldn't have asked
y better Interpretation of the lines
han that given by Mrs Lindsay Pat
terson. associate member from Win
.S"ler1 y. G.. when, in protesting
against any reduction in her states
.t,.-stn,.t.Ion aC the coming conven-
ton, she dramatically cried, But
don't make il too hard for u.s. don't
make it too hard for us-that's ALL"
Many in the rear of the hail. includ-
ing Gus karger of the Cincinnati Star,
Star, were reaching for -handkerchiefs.
When you can make Gus reach you're
Duse class.
Wise is the owl that can fathom
the innermost thoughts of the f1n-
ished politician by his exterior
actions. At certain points in Senator
Willis address Tuesday, which
seemed moct favorable to the avowed