Evening star., 1933-04-15
BY DOLLY GAM.

One of the hardest political battles
in my experience was that for the vice
presidential nomination in Chicago last
Summer. We of the Curtis camp had
not expected trouble. The impression
had been nearly unanimous that my
brother Charles would find slight oppo-
sition to denomination. With the ad-
ministration Loyalty behind him, Charles
seemed TO have no cause for uneasiness.
We had not counted on the prohibi-
ton controversy. Brothers adyerSaries
who popped up from all sections, gave
every imaginable reason why he should
be shelved. They said he was too old,
was physically unable to make an
arduous campaign. that he came from
the wrong part of the country.
Behind all these was heAreal reason
that he had been consistently a
stanch advocate of enforcing the pro-
h:bitory laws, although he has always
held that the voters should have the
right to decide.
Nearly two years before the 1882 con-
vention Charles had considered running
again for United States Senator from
Kansas His friends in Kansas urged
him to do this. He visited Kansas to
study the situation, and concluded he
could easily win. In Washington how
ever, many Republicans, administra-
tion officials in particular, advised him
to stand for denomination as Vice Pres
ident. If he should not they argued
that would be interpreted as showing
he thought the party's national ticket
would be defeated. So be announced
he would accept the renomination if it
were offered
When I went to Chicago with my
husband, Billy, arriving day before
the delegates met, whatever fight loomed
did rot promise a great thrill. Brother
did not attend. The legislative calendar
was such that even Republican Sena-
tors, elected delegates, could not go to
Chicago
Dawes Declines to Run.
Because CT lack of experience of the
men in charge it was difficult to learn
what was going on We had to do
much visiting around, and made
frequent check-ups by telephone to
ascertain who the candidates were of
whose activities we began to hear. and
what was being done which might
iniure the chances of cur candidate. l
made innumerable trips between the
Palmer House, where We stayed and
the Hotel Stevens, where the. Kansas
delegation lodged: also betWeen the
Blackstone Hotel, in sense admins
/, tratioa headquarters. and the Congress
Hotel, where the activities of the Ma
tfonal Committee centered. The Kansas
Gelegaticn was composed of our friends,
and each constituted himself a COM
mittee Of one to work with other dele
gat onS fer my brother.
The evening before the convention
it became clear the wet element would
dominate and as this developed the
candida cies of vice presidential aspir-
ants increased SO fast We could barely
I keep track Of them. Main interest
cente-cd in two or three wet candidates
PIT forward IN turn by tha Eastern
! States. Illinois and the Pacific Coast,
but by the morning Of the convention
! the sentiment of these groups was
! crystallizing in favor of Gen. Charles
! c. Dawes. However, he declined to
| run
Sporadic booms arose. At all times
| brother was the leading prospect. OPP
position oliques circulated reports in
tended to dispiace him, but they could
not get together on any one with suffi-
/ cient strength to be real menace
| Thus divided, they mged TariQus State
| delegations to vote for favorite sons.
/ The high spot CT the convention, SC
| far as concerned organized cheering
and noise, was the wet demonstration
l watched it with astonishment. While
Congress was wrestling with the great
| problems of unemployment and farm
relief, trying to find ways of saving
| the banks, to avert dele and breao
line the only thought of most OF
those at the convention, at least of a
considerable majority, seemed to b:
liquor.
The wet demonstration, to my way
of thinking, signalized betrayal OF trust.
No one yet knows what percentage OF
the Nations voters is for repeal OF
against. but ! am sure the delegates
of that convention had not been sent
there to go mad over prohibition and
forget major issues.
The perspective OF the delegates was