Evening star., 1940-06-24
A Veteran Reviews
Political Meetings
Representative BoIles Relates
Anecdotes Of Years
In Politics
BY STEPHEN BOLLEs,

BY STEPHEN BOLLES,
Member Of Congress from Wisconsin.
There is no convention in this land Of
conventions like the political conven-
tions of the Republican or the Demo-
cratic party.
There is every human element: in
trigue, color, drama In excelsis, swarm
ing peoples, hysterical mobs, parading
thousands, bedlam and the machinery
working where no one can see 1t to
definite result. a@
Philadelphia this week will be the
stage Of the 22d Republican Ma
tional Convention. They'began In Phila-
delphia in 1885, That first convention
opened June II. The Republican party
had been born in 1854. In Philadelphia in
1856, "a years ago, it put on pants and
high collar, nominated john G. FIRE.
mont and started the political revolu-
ton that placed Abraham Lincoln on
the Republican ticket four years later
the wigwam convention in Chicago.
OF these 81 conventions before 1910,
I have, as a newspaperman, attended 10
OF them, missing only two since 1892.
These have been much Of the same
pattern and on the same plan. In that
time I have been press representative
at six National Democratic Conventions.
They, too, have provided some drama,
as the one In Chicago In 1896, when
Bryan with his "cross Of gold" speech
sent solemn delegates out OF sanity into
an abortive frenzy. Most of these DEM
onstrations for candidates are organ
lied in advance with side-line "touters"
trained to do the job. But the Bryan
insanity was the most spontaneous
have ever witnessed.
Destiny sometimes hangs on a thread.
For instance, Irving Lenroot, able sena-
tor from Wisconsin, was the selection
OF leaders Il won't say bosses), In 1920,
as Vice President. But delegate from
Oregon shouted the nomination of CAL
win Coolidge. The convention, sore at
the Wisconsin La Follette-controlled
delegation for voting alone and against
everything. In which Lenroot had no
part made Calvin Coolidge President of
the United States.
And destiny is a peculiar and unstable
witch. Warren G. Harding had no idea
after the third day at Chicago that he
would be President. He had big head
quarters in the Congress Hotel Many
speeches had been made for him. Simeon
u. Fess eloquently presented his uualifl-
cations. But on Friday night before the
nomination, the room decorations were
taken down and the attendants said that
there was no money to pay rent ANY
more"
That "smoke-filled room" story is a
myth. There were a dozen conferences
that night. Lodge and Weeks and
others didn't want Coolidge It was
clear that Gen. Wood, johnson and
Lowden would rub each other out of the
picture. do not think anybody went
to bed before 3 o'clock The Harding
plan was to wait for ballot and switch
votes. Penrose, who is supposed, in the
fantastic story. to have been the Machia-
velli in the room of smoke, acquiesced in
the plan to kill Coolidge. Leonard Wood
desperately wanted this nomination. But
the Intervention Of Hiram johnson and
Gov. Frank o. Lowden made it impos-
sible. And wearied and worried con-
vention named Harding.
A handsome woman in a picture hat,
sitting or standing close to the outer rail
OF the balcony above the delegates at the
10th Republican National Convention in
Minneapolis was one unforgettable fea-
ture of my first Republican convention
in June. 1892. To my youthful eye, Mrs.
Carson Lake. wife Of political writer in
New York. with big blue silk parasol
which she swung back and forth and In
far-reaching voice, cheered for
Blaine! Blaine! James G. Blaine!" was
unforgettable. Mrs. Lake was flanked
by three more women who gave her
vociferous aid.
Neither ]. Sloat Fassett OF New York,
temporary chairman, nor William Nc
kinley, permanent chairman. could ouell
the Blaine parasol enthusiasm. A coun-
ter demonstration was put on by four
more women, who cheered for Benjamin
Harrison.
This 1892 convention was the first ever
addressed by a woman-J. Ellen Foster
OF New York. Tom Plat of New York
and Matt Quay, former political enemies
OF Blaine, were responsible for taking
harmony out Of what was expected to be
automatic remaining of Harrison, But
Harrison had some bitter enemies
Blaine had been voted for in every con-
vention since 1876. In 1884 he had been
nominated and defeated by 1,14e votes
IN New York State. In his fate. like
Henry Clay's, is written ambitious DO
litical tragedy.
Harrison was nominated at Minne-
apohs. Again fate played q trick. The
solemn Benjamin had driven his chariot
over Cleveland in 1888. Now Cleveland
running for third time, but only for a
second term, was to defeat Harrison.
I had gone to Minneapolis from Chi.
cago, where the Democrats had con-
vened week before.
There is one picture Of that Demo-
cratic convention never to be FORGOTTEN.
There was no such thing as order. The
chairman, William Wilson of West vir-
ginia, had high, thin, shrill voice. But
1t couldn't stop the snake dance around
the convention hall led by PHILADELPHIA
Qrollp sinrinr.