Evening star., 1948-06-08
The Political Mill
6. P. Convention Faces
Ordeal Of Speechmoking
Nominations to Take Seven Hours
Plus Time for Demonstrations
Bv Gould Lincoln

BY Gould Lincoln
Two weeks hence delegates and visitors to
the Republican National Convention-not to
mention millions of listeners on the air-will be
going through q terrible ordeal. For seven
hours (perhaps more) they are slated to hear
about "the man who" from all kinds Of speak
ers. some OF them Indifferent enough. Five
announced candidates for the Republican presi-
Dental nomination, and at least seven "fa-
vortte-son' candidates are expected to be
placed formally in nomination. It makes no
difference that some Of them haven't China
mans chance. Their virtues and accomplish-
ments will be given in detail to crowd Of
delegates anxious to get down to the job Of
balloting, and to crowd Of visitors just as
anxious to have the business get underway.
There seems nothing to be done about 1t,
however.
Under the rules for. nominating speeches ad-
vanced now by the committee on arrangements
for the national convention, principal nomi-
mating speeches are to be limited to Is minutes
no more. With such a plethora of candidates
to be placed in nomination this is pleasant
change from the old practice of allowing half
hour. The catch lies, however, in the rule
which authorizes four seconding speeches, linn
tied to five minutes each. This allows a total
of IS minutes for each of the IL prospective
candidates-or total of 420 minutes or
hours
Time for Demonstrations.
To this total must be added the time out
for demonstrations-when the band and the
organ blare and more or less frenzied men and
women, bearing banners and bowling like q
band of Comanche Indians, lurch around the
convention hall. It's all part Of the game, but
hard to take.
In the good old days when AL Smith, r. D. r.,
William Gibbs McAdoo were striving-at vari-
Gus times-for Democratic presidential NOM
ination, 1t was q point of honor with their
supporters to out-demonstrate each other. The
record demonstration period ran we'll over an
hour. The Republicans have been more re-
strained in their national conventions In
1910, 1t Is true, the Willkie followers staged
quite demonstration when he was placed In
nomination by Charlie Halleck of Indiana
now the ma jority leader of the House. who
may himself this time be placed in nomina-
tion as favorite son Of the Hoosier State.
But take it by and large, the Republicans have
been able to restrain themselves to a greater
degree than their Democratic opponents.
Under the tentative program for the coming
Republican convention, nominating speeches
for presidential candidates will begin Wednes-
day night. The trainers of the program say
hopefully they expect balloting to begin
Wednesday night also Unless, however, some
of these so-called favorite son candidates can
be prevailed upon not to have their names laid
before the convention, but merely have their
State delegations vote for them on the first
ballot, and as many succeeding ballots as they
wish, it will be early Thursday morning before
the nominating speeches are concluded There
seems-and is-no apparent way of drawing
the line. For example, who is going to deny such
candidates as Senator Martin of Pennsylvania
Senator Baldwin of Connecticut and Senator
Saltonstall of Massachusetts, (all former gover-
Inors) the delightful privilege Of having their
names presented to the convention? The
answer, Of course is mo one"
Candidates and Dark Horses. -a
The five announced candidates whose names
will be placed In nomination are Dewey of New
York. Taft of Ohio, Stassen of Minnesota, War;
rem of California and Macarthur of Wisconsin.
The unannounced are, in addition to the three
already mentioned, Driscoll of New Jersey Green
Of illinois, Reece of Tennessee, and Halleck Of
Indiana. One so-called darkhorse candidate
not so dark-Senator Vandenberg of Michigan
has urged the Michigan Republicans not to
place his name before the convention. They
may respect his wishes. Another candidate Of
similar hue is Speaker Joe Martin of Massa-
chusetts. If supporters of these gentlemen are
unable to hold back, the nominating period may
be considerably extended The Martin strategy
Is to hold back, however, until there is dead
lock in the convention over the first fight of
canddates-and then have the Massachusetts
and other delegations turn to him.
The Democrats this year may get off easier
indeed, they should. President Truman's name
will be placed in nomination and an effort made
to have the nominations rest there. The anti
Truman sentiment in the Southland In some
Of the northern and western states may burst
out and bring other nominations. Henry WAL
lace's followers at the New Party convention
will have many speeches made for one man and
let 1t 60 at that.
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