“THE PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD,”

Hokitika Guardian, 6 July 1928, Page 4

“THE PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD,”

(Auckland “Star.”)

Since it was clear that the Democrat National Convention at Houston. Texas, would accept Mr Alfred E. Smith, commonly known as Al. Smithit might he asked why the Convention did not proceed to Lis nomination and allow the delegates to get back home again without further delay, llie answer is, in part, that the delegates must have their fun. They might not use the term “fun,” hut they were determined that the business of tlie Convention should proceed along those lines that have marked these party gatherings for so long, and are a wonder and a puzzle to other nations. It is amazing to foreigners that such a huge /“circus” should accompany tho preliminaries to the choice of the nation’s ruler. The assembly at one of the conventions is like nothing else anywhere. I" his classicwork on/the American Commonwealth. Bryce describes a convention as the hugest mass meeting the world knows of,” and this host, “far larger than the army with which the Greeks conquered at Marathon, has an issue ol the highest and most exciting nature to decide.”

The astonished foreign observer is tempted to think that on such occasions Americans’ sense of humour . deserts them, entirely. Take the Tammany special trains from New York with judges of the higher Courts whispering to delegates that there must be no drinking; the march round the huge ball by a cowboy band; tlie touch of piety, at the same time, provided by women of Georgia standing on chairs and singing hymns; the whistling' and ringing of cow-bells; the fight between the delegates of Georgia, and Tennessee (perhaps on the question of evolution); the pa.ados up and down; tlie long-drawn-out organised applause—all this in fierce heal —and behind the scenes a few men making the decisions that count.

What is a foreigner to make of it all? That the delegates enjoy themselves one can hardly doubt, and oeitainly they make our New Zealand efforts look poor. The most we can do is to make our conferences coincide with race meetings . In fairness to the Americans it must ho borne in mind that at these conventions candiTlates are chosen for the leadership of a nation of 120,000,000 people, inhabiting a vast country. It is salutary to remember also that scenes on the British hustings in the old days, such as Dickens described jn “Pickwick,” are almost as incomprehensible to us to-day as are tho organised demonstrations at Houston. Texas. Crowds behave more foolishly or viciously than the individuals of which they are composed, and the American loves a crowd. Indeed, the “Babbitt” type is never Happy by himself.

Bryce writes a very acute analysis of the American character as exemplified in these demonstrations. The American is ecol in some tilings, hut his emotions can be quickly . ,-and strongly stirred. Ho likes excitement and he likes size. The vastness of his country helps to form lils ideals, so that whereas in Europe it is novelty that interests, in America it is immensity, tlie lateral extension rather than the profundity of an idea or emotion. 'Social equality is a factor is such orgies of sentiment as we are witnessing. In England the upper class is shy of taking part in demonstrations, hut in America that class long ago formed the habit of parading along with tlie masses with banners and bands; and a thosnnd lawyers shouting the names of a Presidential candidate in the streets have “no more sense of making themselves ridiculous than the European noble who backs with repeated obeisanc-es out of the presence of his sovereign.” Ail tin's, says this unequalled observer, explains tlie disproportion that strikes a European between the merits of a Presidential candidate and the blazing enthusiasm lie evokc-s. AL Smith is an outstanding figure, hut the convention would have l>eon the same “circus” if the chosen man had been a carpet-bagger from Main Street. It is the game of politics, rather than the man, that goes to tho head 1 ike prohibited wi.ne.