Evening star., 1924-06-11
Politics at Large
by N. O. MESSENGER

|
Once in four years the Republican
managers and war horses through
out the country get together in what
ever city is chosen for the national
convention and there ensues a politi-
cal "old home week" on an enthu-
siastic scale. In every state there is
a quota of regular boarders" in the
| Republican management, men who
seem to hold on to their leadership
perennially, with an infusion of new
| blood, just enough to keep down in
surgency in the young and ambitious
climbers. The top-liners among these
managers make it a point to attend
national conventions with the new
crop In tow and well in hand, glad to
| be in the seats with the mighty.
Why, some Of these old graybeards
among the delegations I have seen in
conventions since these twenty years
How they manage to keep their lead
ership only they can testify. 1t is
very seldom that one of them is
bucked out of his seat by some spir-
tied political broncho. FAew die and
/ almost none resign. ~
| * !. X x.
| One notable instance of retirement
| is witnessed In the case of Fred w
Upham, treasurer and that passer" OF
the Republican national committee,
who will be seen no more perambu-
Iating the orchards of producers
and shaking down the plums luscious
with campaign contributions.
| In Fred Upham's case, however, it
| was not question of his seeking
man. They picked for good secre-
tary who would bring home the ba-
con early in the game, and thereafter
would not let him go. Not on your life, -
they said when he complained. 1--WE
know a good thing when we see it
| here you be and here you stay,
| until finally the task became toe
they had finally to let him surrender
the job. ~
The national committee is con-
sidered by Republicans. and Demo
Gratis, too. for that matter, as the
goal of political ambition, whence
| membership in 1t carries vast au-
thority in home political affairs. The
Republican national committeeman in a
state where the two United States SEN
ators are Democrats wields vast power,
especially in the southern states,
where the Republican committeeman is
arbiter Of patronage when the Re-
publicans aro in national control.
This gives him a big leverage with
the folks at home.
The delegations to the national
convention reorganize the national
ing from their ranks the man to be
national committee man for that
| state, so, as he is under obligations
to them, they feel that they have an
| important share in the management
| of party affairs.
The quadrennial national conven-
| tions also constitute an "oid-home
week for the newspaper writers,
usually the political experts of their
respective papers, winning their
seniority by long experience, with a
4
succeed them and carry on for their
paper" The first thought in such
| STATS is ito serve the paper. cover
Covering q national convention is
| case of keeping everlastingly at It.
| The correspondent must keep in
touch with leaders from every sec
| tion, as well as virtually sleeping in
| the bosom of his own delegation. He
must collaborate and apply the in
formation he receives from the big
| men in other delegations. There is
| good spirit among the newspaper
men. If one man. is not in close
1 touch with a leader or national COM
| mitteeman from distant state, he
| digs UP a colleague from that state,
| relations with the man he wants to
| meet. The work of covering a ma
| tional convention has SO many angles
| and covers such a wide geographical
| field that it is only by such Gssspera-
ton they could ever get anywh ere
with results. During the convention
| sleep and regular diet are negligible
| consid erations., The crowds one has
to virtually battle with slow down
the obtaining of results. In addi-
| gates and alternates, with the in
| Vulnerable followers of politicians
| who are hangers-on of the party, the
| townspeople. attracted by novelty
and curiosity, gum up the cards"
X + X
| What the newspaper men dread
most in conventions where the issue
as to the candidates to be selected
is close and I'M doubt is the am.
secret meetings, where a handful Of
| leaders get together and decide W hiah
| way to swing their respective forces
so as to make a showing OF strength
Of the candidate they have agreed
rival, through his friendship with a
| man on the resolutions committee
will be slipped a surreptitious copy of
| the platform. It has been done. When
one gets an advance copy of the
platform friendship ceases" and his
spear knows no brother" as Col
| Roosevelt would say. -
They all fear that in the present
| circumstances of the uncertainty ever
the vice presidential nomination
meeting and something WIN be "put
over" by some lucky guy.
+ +,
In the interim OF talks over the
vice presidential nomination Repub-
lican politicians assembled here take
keen interest in the Democratic
presidential nomination situation.
wherever men from different states
assemble, usually old friends who
have eft, bled and died in many a
campaign with the common enemy"
the first question asked is, who will
the Democrats out your way favor
nominating for PRESIDENT" and "Who
is going to get it in the end?" The
replies cover the range we have all
been writing about for weeks-the
| sdva nj q of this candidate and the