district delegates were chosen in the district conventions of the different parties, and the delegates at large in State conventions.  In some of the States all of the delegates were selected in the State conventions.

It now seems probable before another Presidential election that some form of the direct primary will be in use in all of the States.  The growth of sentiment in favor of the selection of delegates to the National convention by the direct primary has been most remarkable.  Oregon, California, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Michigan passed such primary laws prior to the election of 1912.  Pennsylvania had a modified primary law, and in a number of other States there were voluntary primaries.

Election of Delegates to the National Conventions.—­The National conventions of the Republican and the Democratic parties are made up of twice as many delegates from the different States as these States have representatives and senators in Congress.

The National Convention.—­The National convention is held in some leading city during the month of June or July of the year in which a President is to be elected.  A few days before the time set for the convention, the delegates, together with many thousands of politicians and sight-seers, flock to that city.  Headquarters are established and delegates are interviewed on behalf of the different candidates.  On the day appointed, the convention is called to order by the chairman of the National committee, under whose auspices the convention is to be held.  A temporary chairman is elected, and clerks and secretaries are appointed.  Committees are also appointed, the most important being those on credentials and on resolutions.  Each State delegation selects one of its members for each of the committees.  In the next session, a permanent chairman is usually selected, and the committee on resolutions presents its report, which sets forth the platform embodying party doctrines and principles.  Nominations are then in order.  The roll of States is called, and the various delegations place before the convention the favorite of their State.  A State often waives its privilege in behalf of some other State which has a candidate to present.  Again the clerk calls the roll of the States, and each chairman of a delegation announces the votes from his State.  In the Republican convention a majority of the number of delegates voting is sufficient to nominate; but no nomination is possible in the Democratic convention except by a vote of two-thirds of the delegates.  Then follows the selection of a candidate for Vice-President.  In this choice the attempt is made to secure some man who will add strength to the party, and who comes from a different section of the country from that represented by the candidate for the Presidency.  He may, as in the cases of Tyler and Johnson, represent a faction