St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-07-13
THE 5TWo-THIRDs RULE
First Adopted in 1882, 1t Has Oper-
.1.as ated in Several Conventions
Since to the Surprise
So ;4% of Many.


day he was as much better known to the
country at large than, let us say, Carter
Harrison, as Harrison, is better known than
Josephig Chesterfield Mackin, but
& 1t is doubtful il there are dozen of the del
egates to- the present convention, except,
perhaps, those from North Carolina, who
will remember ever to have heard of him
even whenhfs name is mentioned
Romufiis Mitchell Saunders was the name
of him, described as being man of subtle
intellect and fond of intrigue, of Unsuitable
ambition, and with quenchless thirst for
office. He was born in North Carolina in
1871, and died there in 1867.
Fifty-two years ago, in May 1882, the first
national democratic convention was held in
the city of Baltimore. 1t was called only
for the purpose Of nominating candidate
for vice-president, as jackson was the presi-
dental choice of the party for asecond term.
At that first convention Mr.. Saunders in
PRODUCED the resolution that leach state be
entitled; in the nomination to be made of
candidate for the Vice-presidency, to num-
Der OF votes in the convention shall be ne
cessary to constitute choice.
The argument in support of the rule was
that it would give more weight to the nomi-
nation, and that it in fact would not thwart
majority but would strengthen it. The
rule was adopted, and Van Buren, was nom
mated for vice-president.
The conventions of 1886 and 1910 adopt
ed the same rule against very strong opposi-
tion,. though the answer was that each con-
yention acted for itself and that the rule was
not to be precedent. Both of these con-
ventions were entirely in favor of Van Buren,
for the presidency, SO the adoption of the
rule had no effect on the result Each time
Mr. Saunders was the mover of the resolu-
ton. 1t was not until 1874 that the true
double-edged effect of the rule came into
play. It undoubtedly gave weight to the
nomination of a candidate, but it just as I'M
doubtedly could defeat q candidate who was
the choice of a majority. This it did in 1874.
Van Buren, came into the convention which
assembled in Baltimore with clear ma jori-
ty of all the instructed delegates, but among
those who were instructed for him he had a
number of powerful enemies. His opposi-
ton to the annexation of Texas had aroused
the opposition of the south, and intrigue was
at once set on foot to defeat him. The two
thirds rule would defeat him. but that rule
could not be adopted without the consent of
majority of delegates, and majority of
delegates were in favor of Mr.. Van Buren,.
On the morning of the first day of the con-
vention, before committee was appointed
with only temporary chairman, and with
no permanent organization, Mr.. Romulus
Saunders came forward with his two-thirds
rule. A great debate at once took place, all
seeing that the fate of the nomination de-
pended on it.. OF those that opposed the
rule, the best remem bered names are Ma
than Clifford of Maine, and Benjamin F.
Butler, of New York, Jackson's Attorney
general, whose fame has been somewhat
obscured in recent years by the eccentrici-
| ties of his Massachusetts namesake. Robert
j. Walker then senator from Mississippi,
was the most eloquent supporter of the rule,
and succeeded in carrying it. Strange to say,
although each prior convention had declared
the rule to be only for that convention, and
not a precedent, it was on the ground of pre-
cedent that its supporters carried it. The
rule was adopted by the vote of the Pennsyl-
delegation, which was instructed for Van
| Buren,, but majority were in favor of the
two-thirds rule and cast the entire vote OF
the delegation for it under the unit rule.
| The convention then organized and ballot
ing commenced, all the states present except
! South Carolina. Two hundred and sixty-six
electoral votes were represented, of which
| 1874 would be majority and III two-thirds.
! Mr.. Van Buren, received Isl votes on the
first ballot, but never could command any
more. After several ballots delegate from
| Ohio moved to resolve, that ''Mr. Van Buren,
| having received a majority of the votes on
the first ballot was duly nominated and should
be so declared This gave rise to a furious
and most tumultuous discussion, with ire
mendous amount of recrimination. No di
rect vote was reached on the resolution, bu
! it was declared out OF order and an adjourn
ment to the next morning was carried.
! Eight ballots had been taken without result
A night of intrigue and bargain followed
! Among the candidates for president wa:
James X. Polk, Of Tennessee. His interests
had been with Mr. Van Buren's. When the
convention met the following morning Mr..
Polk had forty-four votes for president ant
on the next day-the tenth-was unanimous
ly nominated. Perhaps there are some dele
gates now attending the convention in Chi
cago who will remember of asking or being
asked the question, who is James X. Polk
Though Polk had been speaker of the house
In 1916 the rule was again adopted, bu
did not interfere with the nomination O
Cass, who was the choice of the majority, bu
in 1852 it was the means of bringing anothe
unknown to the front in the person o
Franklin Pierce.
In 1856 the adoption of the rule had no in
fluence, and the majority candidate, Mr. Blu
chanan, was nominated.
In 1860, at Charleston, Mr.. Douglas wa;
supported by a majority. The first contes
was over the platform, and the Douglas reso
lutions were adopted, whereupon the'extrem
Southern states withdrew. Notwithstanding
this, the convention adopted the two-thirds
rule, and at first construed it to mean two
! thirds of the entire number of votes the con
yention was entitled to have. AS is wei
known, the convention adjourned to Balti
more, where the baIlotings were resumed
On none of the ballots did Douglas obtail
two-thirds of the original or full vote of tn
convention, but on the fifty-ninth ballot h
received 1919 votes, and the convention
now resolved that, having two-thirds of it,
present strength, he was nominated.
In 1864 at Chicago, the rule was agail
adopted, but had no effect on Mcclellan
nomination, which was almost by acclama
ton.
In 1868 the rule was adopted at the con
yention held in New York, and probabl
caused the defeat of George H. Pendleton
who came within vote and half OF ms
jority. Could majority have nominate
him he could doubtless have found the nee
essary vote and half.
The three conventions since that time hav
adopted the unit rule as a matter of course
but it has neither made nor marred the fol
tunes of any candidate. 1t is a singular thin
that rule which it was declared should b
no precedent that no Democratic convention
would now dare refuse 10 adopt it.
Mr. Romulus Mitchell Saunders has lon
since joined the great army of forgotte
American statesmen, and has taken up hi
abode with Gerry and Ton kins, and Lowndes
and Macon, and Manguin, and a host of otl