Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-09-20
A Scene Never to be Forgotten.

HOW GENERAL GARFIELD WAS NOMINATED AT THE
CHICAGO CONVENTION.
The following description of the scene in the
Chicago convention on June 8, 1880. when the
stampede occurred on the thrty-sixth ballot and
James A. Garfield was nominated by the repub-
lican party for President. is republshed from the
special dispatches printed in THE STAR at that
time.
s.West Virginia cast its nine votes for Garfield
amid thunders of applause. Grant and Garfield
were here nearly even, and the excitement was
on the increase until it eliminated in eighteen
votes from Wisconsin Every man was on
his feet but Garfield. aud for ten minutes
it was scene never to be forgotten
All the banners of the delegations now got to-
gether around him and were waved over his
head amid the din from ten thousand threats,
without guns firing. locomotives shrieking and
pandemonium reignng generally. The bands
struck up Hail to the Chief" BY this time the
entire convention conferred around Garfield, and
as each salute was fired on the lake shore out
side the roaring was taken up within. Garfield
sat all this time immOvabe but pale and dazed.
This lasted fifteen minutes.
The next rOl-callS were the territories and the
District of Columbia, who all voted for Garfield.
The 36th ballot was then announced and Gar
field declared the choice Con his 800 vOtes) of
the convention for President, the rOll-call first
being verified by a revision.
In the silence of the convention by this time
Garfield began to show signs of excitement; his
face was flushed. but otherwise he did not appear
nervous, and continued to chat with Gov. Den
nisOn. COnklng and Logan sat in their seats
quite flushed, but otherwise quiet AS soon as
the Seth ballot was officially announced another
scene of excitement followed. COnkling arose
at its end and moved to make the nomination
unanimous Logan seconded it. The cOnyen-
ton was at this point turned into a ratification
meeting, and delegates from Virginia and
Florida pledged the electoral votes of both
states to the republican ticket. Mr.. Norton, of
Texas, pledged every republican vote in the
south. Gov. Foster then read dispatch from
the oldest members of the House of Represent
atives. cOngratulating Garfield. 1t was warmly
applauded. He also read a dispatch from Sher-
man, appealing to the Ohio delegation to
vote for Garfield to insure his nomination.
Mr.. COnkling had a bad cold and could hardly be
heard. but he was glad to see the good temper
with which the nomination had been made He
hoped to see the Zealdisplayed here carrying the
lance OF the republican party into the ranks of
the enemy. lGreat and prolonged applause
Mr.. Logan briefly said that i'm union there is
strength. aud he hoped that whatever strife there
had been in this convention there would be peace
now. and the party would go into the campaign
with united hands and with assurance of victory
In November This was also greeted with APP
plause.] Mr. Cameron was called for but did not
respond The chairman of the delegation replied
however. saying one of their delegates had first
nominated Garfield. and Pennsylvania would give
aim the largest vote given any presidential caEdi-
date IN many years Mr.. Hale, of Maine, pledged
the Blaine forces to support Garfield to the end.
1t is notable fact that Caleb Taylor, of Penn
sylvania, first named Garfield in the convention
He first named Taylor in 1852, and one other
candidate since then, and in each instance he
was nominated and elected He always acted
Independently of his delegates and is an odd
character. Gen. Harrison. of Indiana who
threw the first big vote for Garfield said he was
called upon as the only defeated presidential
candidate on the floor of the convention to sec
Ond Garfields nomination, and to thank the mis-
guided delegate from Pennsylvania who had
named him. but who unfortunately had no stay
ing qualities. This was received with great
laughter. Then recess was taken until D. IN.
One thing which started the Garfield boom
was the tremendous applause which he got from
the galleries every time he came into the con-
vention and spoke. His knowledge of paria-
mentary rules made his speeches clear and con-
else and impressed the convention. Had not
Washburn made campaign he would undoubt-
edly have been the choice of the Grant men as a
dark horse; but they believed he betrayed
Grant.