San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-10-11

liiS tilC L IiiooSiPHko hAPOoA
ton at the time, but my en-
thusiasm reached a point
where ] decided to 60 to the conven-
ton with some Of the other boys-l
do not recall that any Of them were
as young as myself.
/ sold enough corn to secure the
small amount necessary, the railroad
fare being only a few dollars and my
other expenses being small, 1 recall
that ! stayed all night at East st.
Louis, sleeping in room with more
than 80 others on cots.
Next day 1 appeared at the conven-
ton hall. but not knowing anyone
from whom L could obtain u ticket, j
had to content myself with standing
around watching the distinguished
Democrats, to me unknown, go in and
ont of the convention. But here again
my lucky star helped me out. A po-
liccman, taking pity on me, put me in
through window and had the pleas
uFc tledTlHk JUN INriis M
famous speech against Tilden.
MISSES ONE CONVENTION.
That was my initiation into national
politics. Since that time / have at
tended every Democratic national con-
vention but three, and 1 was in close
touch with two of tie three, those OF
1900 and 1908. by wire. The Cincin-
natl convention OF 1880. therefore Is
the only one that / have actually
missed since ] was IL years old. / was
still n college boy in 1880. and Gin
cinnati was so far from Salem that j
was able to withstand the temptation
that oycrpowered me four years be-
fore.
When the convention of 1854 was
held in Chicago / was living at Jack
sonvillo. but my income was so menger
that l decided / could not afford a
trip TO Chicago, but here again for
tune favored me. was invited to de-
liver a Fourth Of July address at
Greenwood, few miles from Jackson
Vile.
EARNS CAR FARE.
4 In accepting the invitation, l an
swered the inquiry about compensa-
ton by saying that / expected moth
ing more than my travelling expenses.
When | was through speaking, the
chairman of the committee asked me
about my expenses. When / stated
the amount, something less than So,
he handed me a $50 bill with the re-
mark: That will cover your ex-
penses."
I was so surprised that almost
forgot to thank him. l decided that i
would construe my good luck as q
proyerbial provision for convention ex-
penses and arranged to go to Chicago.
On the train fell in with Carl Epler,
son of Judge Epler, one of the circuit
judges presiding in the Jacksonville
circuit. and we made the trip together.
At Chicago we went from one head
quarters to another and listened to the
arguments in favor Of the various
candidates. My personal preference
was Senator Bayard of Delaware. In
one of the "senates" OF which l was q
member when school boy l repre-
scented Delaware and took the name
of Senator Bayard. was open to con-
viction. however. and ready to .hurrah
for the candidate who won the con-
vention.
TICKETS SCARCE.
As II is in all national conventions,
1t was difficult TO get n ticket. Find
ing the Hon. Telas w. Merritt OF
Salem, a prominent politician, at the
Illinois headquarters, ] asked him If
he could not secure tickets for Epler
and myself. He said he could not Sc
cure any tickets, but that he knew one
OF the doorkeepers, whereupon he took
us to Josephus Chesterfield Machin, a
Chicago politician, and said in his
stammering way Joe, p-pa pass, these
b-b-boys in" Joe passed us in, and
We returned to his door regularly dur
ing the session of the convention.
| am sorry to have to remark in
passing that Joe was soon after sent
TO the penitentiary for ballot box
stuffing." This was through no fault
Of Mr.. Merritt's or of ours, and /
only mention it because / never think
of the incident without also thinking
of what befell Josephus Chesterfield
after we had thus become acquainted
with him.
:Then the 1883 convention was held
- st. Louis, was resident of Ne.
'oraskn, having helped elect Hon. J.
Sterling Morton delegate. and had
10 difficulty in getting ticket to the
coSention. / remember being very
much impressed By nominating
speech made by Senator Daniels Of
Virginia.
BAKING FRIENDS EASILY.
"he Democratic national convention
* 1892 was held ut Chicago. / was
member Of Congress then, and yas
renominatcd few days before the con.
venuon. BY this time | had become
acquainted with good many public
men and also with a good many poll
ticians.
| spoke at Creston in the Boise cam.
paign in the fall of 1901. Here met
prominent Democratic, politician Of
that section by the name of Duggan.
| happened to meet him at Chicago
and learned from him that he was
doorkeeper. He offered to let any OF
my friends in, and soon | found out
how easily one could add TO his list
Of friends when he could reward them
with admission to Il national conven
ton. Before the session was ever ]
had put liberal number or western
Democrats under obligation 10 me by
bringing them into acquaintance with
Mr.. Duggan.
At the Chicago convention heard
Bourke Cochran make his celebrated
speech against the third nomination Of