Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-07-08
CONCERNING DEMOCRATIC CON-
MENTIONS.
The District DelegatiOn-TwO-thi
Rule-fiistOry of the Last Thirty
Years.

The national democratic convention, now In ses-
sion at Chicago consists OF SOC delegates with
votes Two delegates from each territory and two
from the District OF Columbia are admitted to
seats, but are denied the right to vote. At each
recurring national convention for years these COM
plimentary delegates have commended for the privi-
lege of ballot, but 1t has invariably been denied
them on the ground that the territories and Dis
trict cannot contribute to the election OF ticket
they should not have a vote in making one. At
Cincinnati. four years ago, the District delegates
united with the territorial delegates in making a
and 1t was then cided that the District had made
mistake In joining its fortunes to the territories
IL was contended and delegates to the convention,
as well as members OF the national committee. ad-
United that there was merit In the claim OF the Dis
trct OF Columbia which the territories did not pos
SesS IL was then Determined and that determine
ton was subsequently ratified by the District
democracy, 10 make separate and independent
appilcation to the Chicago convention Tor the en-
REIMBURSEMENT OF the District delegates The plea
Ior the DISTRICT Is that IL has wel-OrganiZed de-
mocracy, which does active, useful work in every
canvass, and cOntr1but thousands Of dollars for
campaign purposes, and that it is entitled to party
recognition.
UNDER THE Two-THIRps RULE,
Wnlcn prevails in democratic conventions, 1t Will
require 534ss votes to nominate Several efforts to
abolish this rule have been made, but always un-
successfully 1t was adopted at the first party con-
Ventlon, and has prevailed whenever there was any
cohte over the nomination. In 1856 the last dem
ocratlc presidential andidate who was successful
was nominated at Cincinnati The con est was be-
tween buchanan and Douglass, Cass receiving a
lew votes. On the 10Th ballot Buchanan received
loo votes TO 12l for Douglass, and ON the next bal
lot The tenl>ylyanian was nominated by acciama-
tlon In 1860 came the party split with two tickets
Id the held. resulting In the election OF Lincoln.
In 1864 Gen. McClclan was nominated on peace
Platform, ami In 1868 the convention met In New
York on July 4th. At the outset PendietOn, An
drew Johnson, Hancock, Hendricks and others We're
voted1or. but the fight finally narrowed down to
Hancock with 135k votes and Hendrick 1872 woes,
Seymour received every vote.
Inc next convention assembled in Baltimore on
the 9Th OF July, 1872, and 1t was but tail to the
Cincinnati kite. The liberals had nominated Greeley
at Cincinnati, and after animated internal contest
tne Greeley democrats got the upper hand. They
controlled the convention and accepted both the
liberal platform and candidates. Tins result was
so distaSteiul to StraightOut democrats that a
once started 1t was, In fact, however, failure A
SHINY attended convention at Louisville nominated
Charles OCOnor, OF New York, and John Quincy
Adams. OF Massachusetts, but the ticket only re-
ce1ved $4,000 votes in the country.
On the 2Sth OF June, 1876 one OF the largest dem
0cratic conventions ever held assembled at St
Louis. The first ballot gave Tilden 4U4H, Hendricks
14OH, Hancock 49, Allen Oh.Ol 81 Bdyard 33, and
scattering 81 On the second ballot TiIden was
nominated, and then. with great unanmity and a
big hurrah. Hendricks, 1iden's principal competi-
tor, was put on the ticket Tor second place.
In 1880, on June 23d, the next convention met in
Cincinnati, and on The first ballot divided between
Hancock, Bayard, Payne, Thurman, Field. Morrison
and Hendricks with the two first named in the
lead On the second ballot Hancock was nominated
with a hurrah. Undt r the congressional reappOr-
t1Onment, which Increased the membership or the
House b. the number OF the convention ha, been
Guiding the non-voting delegates from the district
and territories.