Evening star., 1935-12-13
Conventions of 1886.


On the eve of a meeting Of the Repub-
hcan National Committee thoughts turn
to conventions and convention cities.
Where is the G. o. P. to hold the pre-
liminary bout in it's effort to stage a
comeback in 1896? That is q question
which the committee definitely will de-
eide when it meets here Monday. The
Democrats expect no preliminary bout at
their national convention. In fact, they
could probably do without the fuss and
feathers of a national convention next
year. After all, it is expected to be
merely a ratification meeting, where
President Roosevelt and Vice President
Garner are to be renominated and the
New Deal administration given an In
dorsement.
1t is doubtful that the convention city
plays an important part in the final re-
suit of a national election. A possible
exception is the effect that New York
City had on the selection of a Democratic
presidential nominee in 1924. What
chance had William Gibbs McAdoo OF
Georgia, New York and California before
the roars of Tammany'S thousands seat
ed in the galleries of the convention?
McAdoo went to the convention with
huge number Of delegates backing him.
But he never could get the two-thirdS
vote required under the rules Of Demo-
cratic national conventions for the NOM
ination of a presidential candidate.
On the theory that there is always an
off chance that the selection Of conven-
ton city may be advantageous po-
litically, the Republicans are expected
to go for their national gathering to
a city of the Middle West. 1t is there,
the Republican leaders believe, that the
big battle of the coming campaign is to
be waged. The winning Of the West is
the Republican, task ahead, just as the
keeping of the West is the job of the
Roosevelt Democrats. So it may be
expected that the G. o. P. convention
will be held in Chicago, Kansas City,
Cleveland or perhaps another of the
great cities west of the Alleghenies.
BY the same token, the Roosevelt
Democrats, confident that they have the
West Sewed up, with their benefit checks
to farmers who fail to plant wheat and
corn and to grow hogs, are looking to
the East for their convention city next
year. Under the constant urge of SEN
ator Joseph F. Guffey of Pennsylvania
the powers that be in the party have, it
is reported, agreed that the Democratic
convention should go to Philadelphia.
Staged in that city, which has been for
many years in the past a Republican
stronghold, the Democrats believe that
they may obtain a psychological advan-
tage. Pennsylvania was one Of the
States which stuck to Herbert Hoover
and the G. o. P. in 1882, although n
1884 it turned its back on former Sem
ator David A. Reed and replaced him
with Mr.. Guffey.
There is the danger that the Repub-
ncan business men in Philadelphia may
balk at putting up the money to enter
tain the Democratic hosts and that the
Democratic convention may go elsewhere
for lack of high bid. Senator Guffey,
however is resourceful The necessary
bid on the part of Philadelphia may be
forthcoming. After all is said and done,
money is required to stage one Of these
colorful political conventions. In addi-
ton the national committee would like
q little something on the side as nest
egg for the campaign fund.
Chicago is after the Republican ma
tional convention, and also the Demo-
cratic. 1t seems to have an excellent
chance to get the Republican meeting.
In 1882 the Windy City was the choice
of both parties for their national con-
ventions. There it was that the Repub-
licans renominated Herbert Hoover and
the Democrats gave to the world Roose-
velt and the New Deal. The Democrats
have been greater travellers than the
Republicans, more catholic in their
taSteS1 in the selection Of convention
cities. Since the World War, for example,
the Democrats have held national con-
ventions in San Francisco, New York,
Houston and Chicago. The Repub-
licans, on the other hand, have twice
gone to Chicago, once to Cleveland and
once to Kansas City, all the meetings
having thus been held in the Middle